Christ in You by Oliver Eaton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 17, 1910

Christ in You

By Oliver Eaton

OLIVER EATON

THE word Christian is broad in meaning, including everything that the true child of God should be. To be Christlike, a Christian, is not an easy mark to attain. The ladder of perfection must be ascended step by step. “Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” Each round of the ladder must be taken as it comes. Effort is required to reach the top, but Christ says, “My grace is sufficient.” Aim high, aim at the mark of perfection,—Christlikeness. Never will any one reach a higher standard than he himself has set.

Those who expect to have eternal life must have the perfect character of Him who lived on this earth a sinless life. Being called a Christian is not being a Christian. Christ described the class who wish to hide their own evil ways under the name Christian. “Ye are like unto whitened sepulchers,” he said, “which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Paul says that not all that are of Israel are Israel. “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Partaking of the divine character, obtained only through perfect submission to the Father’s will, is the only way to obtain the crown of life laid up for the faithful, Christlike child of God.

Having partaken of his likeness, we become soldiers of the cross, ambassadors of the government of heaven, representatives of Jesus. Paul sums it up thus: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” When Christ is taken into partnership, self must die; Christ must live in us, his life must shine through us. Partaking of his divine nature, we live a perfect life, becoming an object-lesson to the world.

The world is saying to you and to me, “Sirs, we would see Jesus.” But whom do they see? Is Christ seen, or self? Does the world see the Master in you? By our profession we say: “I am a representative of Christ, an ambassador of heaven. In me abides the Spirit of Christ. The old man of sin is dead, and in my life only the character of the Saviour is seen.” It is a solemn thing to be living in this time of trial. Christ is saying: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. . . . And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” We are to be living epistles, known and read of all men. Therefore it behooves us that they read in us the divine life of the Saviour.

“We would see Jesus,” is still heard from those who are longing to see him. But “what have they seen in thine house?” How sad is the answer: “All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among all my treasures that I have not showed them.” But have they seen Jesus? Those friends who came to see you from afar were sent by God to see Jesus. You showed them all that was in your house, but Christ was not there. They did not see in you the life of the Saviour.

In the theater, in the ballroom, in the home, they saw not Jesus. He did not visit the places you visited. Your guardian angel left you at the door, or turned and wept at your conduct; the heart of Christ was pierced afresh by your indifference and neglect. Those who came to see Jesus went away still longing to see him.

“We would see Jesus,” comes the call from your own hearthstone. Your children, your brothers and sisters, perhaps your father and mother, long to see Christ in you. They might be led to the fold if they could see something in you that they themselves do not possess. Or that father and mother may be praying that you may lay hold of the strong arm of the Almighty. Choose you this day whose character shall be reflected in you. Now is the day of salvation.

“We would see Jesus,” is the cry from far and near. “What have they seen in thine house?” Make sure that those who come see Jesus in your life, and that the Life-giver has taken up his abode with you. “Choose you this day.”

Madison, Tenn.