Christ our Guest by E. R. DEWEY

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 28, 1871

Christ our Guest.

By E. R. DEWEY

WE sometimes hear people express the wish, that they had lived in the days when Christ was upon earth, that they might have seen and conversed with him, or welcomed him to their homes and entertained him, if for only a few days or hours, even. What happiness it would be, and how greatly blessed would that household be, who thus received this distinguished guest. Did you ever try to realize how it would seem to have him an inmate of the family? To have him present every moment in the day? What feelings would it produce to have him a witness of your every word and act?

Would you go on with your accustomed, daily conversation? Would you relate the trifling gossip, or discuss the failings of your neighbors? Would you give way to little fits of petulance, when things went amiss? Would you wish to meet the reproving glance from his eye for such conduct?

How watchful would you be not to do anything that would grieve or offend him! How careful in choosing topics of conversation, to select only those which he would approve! How intently would you listen to every word which fell from his lips, striving in all things to carry out his wishes, and to follow him in every good word and work!

But may we not, even now, enjoy his presence? Yes, if we will but obey and love him; for he said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” And again, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

Blessed assurance! that if we are truly the children of God, there is not a lonely instant when we are without his guardianship. What a comfort to the lonely ones who are striving to do his will.

It is to those who are possessed of holy characters, that this blessed promise is given; to those “who reflect the mind of Jesus, imbibe his Spirit, take his word as the regulator of their daily walk, and make his glory the great end of their being; to the humble, lowly, Christlike, Heaven-seeking Christian.”

If it be a worthy object of ambition to be loved by the great and good upon the earth, what must it be to have an eye of love ever beaming upon us from the throne of the Creator, and to have Christ for our friend and companion at all times. His is no fitful companionship—present in prosperity, gone in adversity. He never changes. He is always the same. His promises never fail. Then is it not worthy our best endeavors to secure him for our friend, and shall we not strive yet more earnestly to overcome every thing in ourselves, which is unlike Jesus, that our hearts may be made a fit place for him to grace by his presence? Then, indeed, we may have Christ for our ever-present Guest.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in, and sup with him, and he with me.”

E. R. DEWEY.

Montpelier, Vt.