THE TEST OF OUR FIDELITY.
By R. C. BAKER
How instinctively the natural heart shrinks from suffering. How our human nature faints and falters at the many crosses that have to be lifted, and the many obstacles to be surmounted in our heavenward journey. How we long for the “joy unspeakable and full of glory,” while we turn from the toil, the pain, the self-denial, connected with the Christian warfare. Peter, James, and John, on the mount of transfiguration, with the light and glory of Heaven resting upon them, and the divine Saviour before them, radiant with transcendent glory, and the two celestial visitants talking with him, their own hearts overwhelmed with rapturous awe, could ardently say, “Lord, it is good for us to be here;” and fondly desire to take up their abode there. How delightful to dwell in such a heavenly atmosphere, with the marks of God’s approbation resting upon them. How glorious a privilege to be a disciple of Jesus then. But let us follow the Man of Sorrows to the lonely shades of Gethsemane. These same three disciples are chosen to be with him in his agony. But alas! through that scene of unutterable anguish, when the weight of sin and woe wrung from his sacred lips that agonizing prayer, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” they were wrapped in unconscious slumber. They follow him afar off, to the place of trial and crucifixion, and the zealous Peter, even, denies his suffering Lord. Alas for poor human nature! If God were not infinite in mercy who of all the fallen race could hope to be saved? So with many of us in these last days, when blessed with outward peace and prosperity, and God sets his seal of approbation to our feeble efforts to serve him, and cheers us with the presence of his divine Spirit, we feel like saying with the poet; “My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
Till called to rise and soar away
To everlasting bliss.” We feel to rejoice that we are disciples of Jesus. We glory in the name. We feel, like Peter, ready to follow him to prison and to death. But when the test of our faith comes, when storms of affliction and temptation beat upon us, threatening to overwhelm us, like Peter we are ready to deny our Lord; if not in word, at least by our lack of faith and fortitude. We forget his precious promises, and Satan tempts us with doubts and fears, and feelings of discouragement. Instead of cheerfully bearing the trials and crosses which are among the “all things” that God designs shall work together for our good, we shrink from them, following Jesus afar off. How much easier to follow Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, than up the rugged slope of Calvary. Here comes the test of our fidelity. “If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.” Some of the ancient disciples191could rejoice that they were “counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” How our hearts need to be transformed by grace divine, before we can rejoice in tribulation. But very little have we suffered yet for Christ’s sake, and I fear that the most of us have not endured that little as meekly and patiently as we ought. Truly we need the patience and faith of the saints in this time of Satan’s power. If we could realize the depths of corruption in our own hearts, and the matchless love and condescension of God as manifested in the death of his Son, we would be ashamed of our murmurings at the straitness of the way, and our lack of courage and faith in God. May God help us as a people to be more willing to do and suffer for Christ. R. C. BAKER.