The Love of Christ Constraineth Us
By George W. Reaser
We have reached the time of supreme importance in proclaiming the third angel's message to the world. Each swift-f fleeting year brings us nearer the close of our pilgrimage, nearer the consummation of all things earthly, nearer the coming of the Lord. Each hurrying moment narrows the rapidly closing space between to-day and the limit of probation for all mankind, while it lessens the sum total of our opportunities for doing good, for preparing for the great change to be brought “at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” and for saving souls in his soon-coming kingdom. Nothing of eternal worth, nothing that will be counted of enduring value before the judgment bar of God, is performed without the inspiration of an unselfish11motive. This being true, would it not be well for us, as individuals, to stop a moment, adjust the search light, and consider the motive power which prompts us to action? Is it simply the idea of securing our own salvation, or does a broader, higher, and more noble mainspring actuate our lives? Do we wholly consecrate our lives, our all, for Christ's sake, being inspired by the love which prompted him to exchange the courts of glory for the manger, Gethsemane, and Calvary? or is there another motive power seated on our heart's throne? Considering the thought that Christ could not enjoy the bliss of heaven while he beheld our lost estate, can we settle down complacently and be at “ease in Zion,” assuring ourselves that our personal salvation is secure, while we permit the blood-bought souls at our very doors to perish for want of a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus? Brethren, does the love of Christ constrain us? Do we fully sense the force of the truth that, since he died for us, we, to whom life is given solely by virtue of his atoning sacrifice in our behalf, should not henceforth live unto ourselves, but “unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”? We are debtors to all men. Are we each ready to say, As much as in me lieth, I am ready to carry the everlasting gospel to all men? The moment we lose our love for perishing souls around us, that moment we virtually dry up our own spiritual blessings, for the Lord will not continue to bestow spiritual blessings upon us, unless we, in turn, are channels of blessing to others. We cannot get a large supply of the blessing of the Holy One, and bottle it up in our hearts; it will certainly leak out, and leave our souls barren and desolate. We are in a fallen world, peopled largely by lost members of the human family. We have only a limited time to remain here. The glorious possibility of eternal salvation lies just before us, if life is improved. In view of this solemn fact, the only course that wisdom can dictate is to improve the passing moments, to consider the present from the standpoint of eternity. The central figure in the great plan of salvation is an all-sufficient Saviour. The central thought in this plan is love divine. The Father gave the Son, the Son gave his life. That which prompted the Saviour to make the greatest sacrifice known to the universe, was the prospect of eventually seeing “of the travail of his soul,” in the blood-bought, redeemed throng, who will finally share his life and glory in his everlasting kingdom; and this alone will fully satisfy him. He will soon be satisfied. Shall we, in that day, share in the joy of our Lord?