CHOOSE.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 326, 19 January 1907, Page 3

CHOOSE.

Gad Dam Hot Ini ArbltvMT VaveoAOKiablci Coanmanda, Bat Sc<« Before W Facta. Time has no meaning for God: f jr Him ■who is, and was, and is to be, there is no yesterday and no to-morrow. Hut we are creatures of time. A hundred years ago we were not; in another hundred years wt shall not be—not, at least, in the risible world, taking part in itn social or political affairs, nor in the risible church sharing her struggles and asphations. We lock before and after. Our past may kindle inspiration or remorse, according as. we have been faithful or unfaithful tlo the best that we knew. Our future may fill us with hope or despair according to our temper of mind, and to our use or misuse of the past. But of the past and of the future we are not masters; we command nothing but the present. The past is past, the future is God’s, the present alone is ours. We cannot choose in it is gone, and with it ail power of modifying it by the free exercise of our will. We cannot choose in the future; we may never see the day to which wc postpone our decision; some future certainly we shall never see. The present only is the time of choice.

It is often said that most men live in the present. In one sense, that is true; in another sense, it would be nearer the truth to say that few men really live in the present in any profound sense-of the word “live” nt all. The old man lives proverbially in the past, witlh its memories of the good old times; the young man lives in the future, when the toils and hardships of the present have won for him means and leisure. We live in any day and erery day but the day that is ours, the day that is passing—to-day.

It ia mo hard to realize the infinite rftlue of the present day. The past, which we think to be so fair, as it lies in the golden light of memory, was once the present. Did we think it fair then? The future, whose rosy brilliance beckons us across the year®, will one day be the present. Shall we think it so radiant then? No sane man would dream of despising the pleasures of memory or hope ; but the present, with its clamant opportunities and its solemn responsibilities, ought to be as inspiring a force in our lives as the past with its memories, or the future with its hopes. The present, which we think so commonplace, will some day be a past, which we shall probably think beautiful. Why should we not think it beautiful now? This day holds in its bosom the memories of the past and the hopes of the future. But it is greater than the future and the past, for we have it, but we have not them. We,, then, who arc alive this day, breathing God’s air, looking up to His Heaven, have still the present in our hands, therefore let us choose. It is to-day that is the accepted time—to-day, and .no other day. Day by day God is pouring upon His thoughtless children His treasure of golden hours. They will pass all too soon away —and then?

We are yet- in the enjoyment of health and strength and unclouded mental vision. Whether our brain ■will be clear to-morrow, and our powers of resolution unimpaired, we do not know. Reserves come like a thief in the night. The indecision of to-day cripples the resolution of to-morrow, “It is always to-day with God,” said Origen—but it is not always to-day with us. Therefore, while it is called to-day, let us harden not our hearts, but choose. If we refuse to enter now into the beautiful house in which Christ is longing to spread His table before us, there may come a time when the door will be shut.

The importance of choice is obvious, the time to choose is to-day. But •what are we to choose? The path of service. “We will serve the Lord.” The noblest and the rarest choice is the choice of service, and the wisest service is the service of the highest and best. The only choice on which anything really vital ever depends is the choice of that which we shall serve. Serve something we must. We were born to serve. Day by day we have humbly to serve Nature's great and unerring laws, or she would sweep ns outl of existence: and hour by hour, in the problem* that cross our path, we are serving God and Christ or ourselves—if not God or Christ, then our-, selves. No man is so profoundly the slave of himself as the man who thinks he is his own master. Jesus’ choice was the choice of service. “He wa» in the form of God,” sharing His ineffable glory; but “He made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man, and humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death.” Thai was the hard, rough path that Jesus deliberately chose for us men and for our salvation; and, as the Father sent Him, sc He sends us on a mission of service tc all whom we can help. It is this that gives unity to His life. “I am among you as he that, doth serve.” And if was He Himself who taught us that serve Him by serving those who netyj our service. “Inasmuch as ye -have done it unto one of the least ot these my brethren, ye have done it ..

(Continued from last issue,