Whatever their reasons, there are men today who propose a revolution against Jesus in thought and life, in word and action. When I ponder this, I wonder where would we go in our hour of deepest need if there were no Christ, if Christ had never come to earth? As our bodies need food, our intellects crave truth. But where shall we find it, if the truth were taken away? When men were starving in World War II, they sought a substitute for wheat in the roots of the trees and field. But what could you substitute for Christianity? It cannot be found in religions with dead leaders, for only a Living God can meet our needs.
No, you know as do I that the living Christ has the only rational explanation to the problems of life. He gives the only antidotes for human selfishness and greed. He gives the only true and blessed philosophy of life. He gives the only true motive for service and heroism. If there had been no Christ, there would be no hope, for immortal hope perishes with Him.
If it should be as these men wish, and the light that was given was withdrawn, why then henceforth for love there would be hatred, for peace there would be war, for hope there would be hopelessness and for liberty there would be license.
The brilliant author Henry Rogers once wrote a book called The Eclipse of Faith. In it, he imagines that some powerful hand has wiped the influence of Christ out of civilization, as a hand wipes chalk from off the classroom board. First he discovers in his library that every vestige of Christ’s life and words has wholly disappeared. The law books are emptied of laws safeguarding children and labor, the art history books showed only emptied frames where masterpieces had been depicted, and the greatest poems of Dante, Milton, Wordsworth and Browning were just empty leaves of paper. As Rogers continued his imaginary journey of discovery, he discovered to his horror that the great cathedrals were nothing but great gaping holes; schools, hospitals and beautiful philanthropies were all perished as if shaken down by some cosmic earthquake. No, Rogers concluded, he would not want to inhabit an earth where the influence of Christ was not known. There, death would be only a leap into the dark.
When Jesus’ feet stood on our earth, His message concerned life immortal. What others talked about and questioned, He answered authoritatively. With a personal knowledge of that which lay beyond man’s horizon, He plucked fear out of men’s souls. He taught men that dying was a home going, and that heaven was the Father’s house. The sweetest music that ever fell on the ears of humanity was the words, “In my Father’s house are many mansions, and I go to prepare a place for you.”
It is His coming into this world as a babe, in the glorious quest for salvation for man, that we honor this Christmastide. It seems to me that we should be greatly concerned that our devotion for Him and our gratitude to Him increase. As we plan our Yuletide festival this year, let us make Christ the very center of it, as is proper and fitting. It is His birthday we celebrate, so let us join the celestial choir and the great Christian host throughout the world in acceptable worship to Him, whose name is Jesus.
Dearest Father, Your love has infinite reach. Thank You, Lord, for reaching out to me. Amen.
(From Classic Christianity: A Year of Timeless Devotions, Vol II.)
No, you know as do I that the living Christ has the only rational explanation to the problems of life. He gives the only antidotes for human selfishness and greed. He gives the only true and blessed philosophy of life. He gives the only true motive for service and heroism. If there had been no Christ, there would be no hope, for immortal hope perishes with Him.
If it should be as these men wish, and the light that was given was withdrawn, why then henceforth for love there would be hatred, for peace there would be war, for hope there would be hopelessness and for liberty there would be license.
The brilliant author Henry Rogers once wrote a book called The Eclipse of Faith. In it, he imagines that some powerful hand has wiped the influence of Christ out of civilization, as a hand wipes chalk from off the classroom board. First he discovers in his library that every vestige of Christ’s life and words has wholly disappeared. The law books are emptied of laws safeguarding children and labor, the art history books showed only emptied frames where masterpieces had been depicted, and the greatest poems of Dante, Milton, Wordsworth and Browning were just empty leaves of paper. As Rogers continued his imaginary journey of discovery, he discovered to his horror that the great cathedrals were nothing but great gaping holes; schools, hospitals and beautiful philanthropies were all perished as if shaken down by some cosmic earthquake. No, Rogers concluded, he would not want to inhabit an earth where the influence of Christ was not known. There, death would be only a leap into the dark.
When Jesus’ feet stood on our earth, His message concerned life immortal. What others talked about and questioned, He answered authoritatively. With a personal knowledge of that which lay beyond man’s horizon, He plucked fear out of men’s souls. He taught men that dying was a home going, and that heaven was the Father’s house. The sweetest music that ever fell on the ears of humanity was the words, “In my Father’s house are many mansions, and I go to prepare a place for you.”
It is His coming into this world as a babe, in the glorious quest for salvation for man, that we honor this Christmastide. It seems to me that we should be greatly concerned that our devotion for Him and our gratitude to Him increase. As we plan our Yuletide festival this year, let us make Christ the very center of it, as is proper and fitting. It is His birthday we celebrate, so let us join the celestial choir and the great Christian host throughout the world in acceptable worship to Him, whose name is Jesus.
Dearest Father, Your love has infinite reach. Thank You, Lord, for reaching out to me. Amen.
(From Classic Christianity: A Year of Timeless Devotions, Vol II.)
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