The Life in the Flesh by L. A. Hansen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 18, 1910

The Life in the Flesh

By L. A. Hansen

L. A. HANSEN

“THE life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.” These words not only admit of a literal application in Christian living, but they demand it. They indicate that the life of faith is a material one. It does not consist merely in creed or doctrine. It is more than a profession; it is an actual experience in the real things of life. One finds it comparatively easy to be spiritual-minded when at devotional exercises, and to maintain there a suitable and proper bearing. It is not so difficult to express faith in the company of those who are like-minded, or while contemplating the promises of God. The way does not appear so hard when viewed from the standpoint of the Sabbath sermon. But when we go out from the sanctuary of God or the company of fellow Christians, we find things different.

In the home life, in the workshop, and in the outside world, we find things of an earthly nature. The spiritual atmosphere seems wanting. People are not all saints; things are not altogether congenial. We meet with annoyances; we come in contact with folks who worry and try us. We are made to realize that we are still “in the flesh,” and that this life in the flesh is a very material one.

To be “in the flesh” does not necessarily mean of the flesh, any more than being “in the world” means to be of the world. So it need be with no discouragement that we recognize the real state of our existence. On the contrary we can the better know what we have to meet, and be the better prepared to meet it.

The real test of our religion is in the every-day life. It is generally acknowledged that faith is essential to the proper performance of spiritual duties. This is no less true in the affairs of daily living. It is well that we feel our need of Christ in the preaching of the sermon, the teaching of the class, ministering to the sick, or distributing the printed page. Just so should we feel our need of him in meeting the day’s demand of physical toil, home instruction, social visiting, or business transaction.

It may not be out of place for one to cherish the desire to occupy a place of large usefulness or to do big things in life. But it is not every one who will be called to the place of highest responsibilities. All will not be asked to do great tasks. Few will constantly occupy the field of heroic deeds. But every one has a daily life to live, all the time; and some of us have it to live under conditions that give little promise of apparent greatness. It is here, in this daily life, that most of us need help, and probably the most help.

“Life is chiefly made up, not of great sacrifices and wonderful achievements, but of little things. It is oftenest through the little things which seem so unworthy of notice, that great good or evil is brought into our lives. It is through our failure to endure tests that come to us in little things, that the habits are molded, the character misshaped; and when the greater tests come, they find us unready. Only by acting upon principle in the tests of daily life can we acquire power to stand firm and faithful in the most dangerous and the most difficult positions.”—“Ministry of Healing,” page 490.

Takoma Park, D. C.