'Steps to Christ -
Chap. 10 - A
Knowledge of God
Many are the ways in
which God is seeking to make Himself known to us and bring us into communion
with Him. Nature speaks to our senses without ceasing. The open heart will be
impressed with the love and glory of God as revealed through the works of His hands.
The listening ear can hear and understand the communications of God through the
things of nature. The green fields, the lofty trees, the buds and flowers, the
passing cloud, the falling rain, the babbling brook, the glories of the
heavens, speak to our hearts, and invite us to become acquainted with Him who
made them all.
Our Saviour bound up
His precious lessons with the things of nature. The trees, the birds, the
flowers of the valleys, the hills, the lakes, and the beautiful heavens, as
well as the incidents and surroundings of daily life, were all linked with the
words of truth, that His lessons might thus be often recalled to mind, even
amid the busy cares of man's life of toil.
God would have His
children appreciate His works and delight in the simple, quiet beauty with
which He has adorned our earthly home. He is a lover of the beautiful, and
above all that is outwardly attractive He loves beauty of character; He would
have us cultivate purity and simplicity, the quiet graces of the flowers.
If we will but listen, God's created works
will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust. From the stars that in
their trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed
path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the Creator's will.
And God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created. He
who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same time cares
for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble song without
fear. When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayer;
when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the rich
man feasts in his palace, or when the poor man gathers his children about the
scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father. No tears are
shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that He does not mark.
If we would but
fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not
be so filled with disappointment as now; for everything, whether great or
small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the
multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed by their weight. We should then enjoy a
rest of soul to which many have long been strangers.
As your senses
delight in the attractive loveliness of the earth, think of the world that is
to come, that shall never know the blight of sin and death; where the face of
nature will no more wear the shadow of the curse. Let your imagination picture
the home of the saved, and remember that it will be more glorious than your
brightest imagination can portray. In the varied gifts of God in nature we see
but the faintest gleaming of His glory. It is written, "Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.
The poet and the
naturalist have many things to say about nature, but it is the Christian who
enjoys the beauty of the earth with the highest appreciation, because he
recognizes his Father's handiwork and perceives His love in flower and shrub
and tree. No one can fully appreciate the significance of hill and vale, river
and sea, who does not look upon them as an expression of God's love to man.
God speaks to us
through His providential workings and through the influence of His Spirit upon
the heart. In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily taking
place around us, we may find precious lessons if our hearts are but open to
discern them. The psalmist, tracing the work of God's providence, says,
"The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." "Whoso is wise,
and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness
of the Lord." Psalm 33:5; 107:43.
God speaks to us in
His word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His
dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. Here is open before us the
history of patriarchs and prophets and other holy men of old. They were men
"subject to like passions as we are." James 5:17. We see how they
struggled through discouragements like our own, how they fell under temptation
as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of
God; and, beholding, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As
we read of the precious experiences granted them, of the light and love and
blessing it was theirs to enjoy, and of the work they wrought through the grace
given them, the spirit that inspired them kindles a flame of holy emulation in
our hearts and a desire to be like them in character--like them to walk with
God.
Jesus said of the
Old Testament Scriptures,--and how much more is it true of the New,--"They
are they which testify of Me," the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of
eternal life are centered. John 5:39. Yes, the whole Bible tells of Christ.
From the first record of creation--for "without Him was not anything made
that was made"--to the closing promise, "Behold, I come
quickly," we are reading of His works and listening to His voice. John
1:3; Revelation 22:12. If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study
the Holy Scriptures.
Fill the whole heart
with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning
thirst. They are the living bread from heaven. Jesus declares, "Except ye
eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you."
And He explains Himself by saying, "The words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they are life." John 6:53, 63. Our bodies are built up
from what we eat and drink; and as in the natural economy, so in the spiritual
economy: it is what we meditate upon that will give tone and strength to our
spiritual nature.
The theme of
redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science
and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it
not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite mercy and love of
Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call for the most serious and solemn
reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and
Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save His
people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and
love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to
God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be
intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a
daily, living experience in His power to save to the uttermost all that come
unto God by Him.
As we meditate upon
the perfections of the Saviour, we shall desire to be wholly transformed and
renewed in the image of His purity. There will be a hungering and thirsting of
soul to become like Him whom we adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the
more we shall speak of Him to others and represent Him to the world.
The Bible was not
written for the scholar alone; on the contrary, it was designed for the common
people. The great truths necessary for salvation are made as clear as noonday;
and none will mistake and lose their way except those who follow their own judgment
instead of the plainly revealed will of God.
We should not take
the testimony of any man as to what the Scriptures teach, but should study the
words of God for ourselves. If we allow others to do our thinking, we shall
have crippled energies and contracted abilities. The noble powers of the mind
may be so dwarfed by lack of exercise on themes worthy of their concentration
as to lose their ability to grasp the deep meaning of the word of God. The mind
will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of
the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with
spiritual.
There is nothing
more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures.
No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the
faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God's word were
studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of
character, and a stability of purpose rarely seen in these times.
But there is but
little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Scriptures. One may read the
whole Bible through and yet fail to see its beauty or comprehend its deep and
hidden meaning. One passage studied until its significance is clear to the mind
and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the
perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive
instruction gained. Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it;
fix the texts in your memory. Even while you are walking the streets you may
read a passage and meditate upon it, thus fixing it in the mind.
We cannot obtain
wisdom without earnest attention and prayerful study. Some portions of
Scripture are indeed too plain to be misunderstood, but there are others whose
meaning does not lie on the surface to be seen at a glance. Scripture must be
compared with scripture. There must be careful research and prayerful
reflection. And such study will be richly repaid. As the miner discovers veins
of precious metal concealed beneath the surface of the earth, so will he who
perseveringly searches the word of God as for hid treasure find truths of the
greatest value, which are concealed from the view of the careless seeker. The
words of inspiration, pondered in the heart, will be as streams flowing from
the fountain of life.
Never should the
Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the
enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given. When Nathanael came to
Jesus, the Saviour exclaimed, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
Nathanael said, "Whence knowest Thou me?" Jesus answered,
"Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw
thee." John 1:47, 48. And Jesus will see us also in the secret places of
prayer if we will seek Him for light that we may know what is truth. Angels
from the world of light will be with those who in humility of heart seek for
divine guidance.
The Holy Spirit
exalts and glorifies the Saviour. It is His office to present Christ, the
purity of His righteousness, and the great salvation that we have through Him.
Jesus says, "He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you."
John 16:14. The Spirit of truth is the only effectual teacher of divine truth.
How must God esteem the human race, since He gave His Son to die for them and
appoints His Spirit to be man's teacher and continual guide!'
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