Our Dependence on Christ by Hugh Macmillan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

Our Dependence on Christ

By Hugh Macmillan

It may be said that man can perform good actions of several kinds without Christ, as the heathen did by nature the things contained in the law; but all the good thoughts and feelings and actions of those who know not Christ are, nevertheless, in reality inspired by Him; they are the dawn, or the twilight rays, of the True Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. We can do absolutely nothing that is good without Christ. And everything that separates us from Him reduces us to the weakness and impotency of self. In the natural world, it is a well-known fact that every dark day, every cloud that intercepts the sunshine, prevents the bringing forth and ripening of the fruit on the tree; and it is equally true that every hour of unbelief, every shadow and cloud of faithlessness that comes between Christ and the believer, hinders the development of his fruitfulness. Every time that the soul is forgetful of Christ’s presence, alienated from His love, turning to the world, the process of its ripening is retarded. But on the other hand, when the soul is living in the sunshine of His favor which is life, then it is stimulated to bring forth much fruit. Without the consciousness of Christ’s presence and love it can do nothing; with this consciousness it can do all things. Without Christ the believer’s soul becomes like a besieged city cut off from its supplies, and must surrender to its enemies; with Christ there is no imaginable blessedness that is not within its reach. —Hugh Macmillan.