HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST?
By L. E. Sufficool
L. E. SUFFICOOL
(Merrill, Wis.) “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The influence of the life of Christ is in itself magnetic. For one to live with Jesus and not experience a change of heart is impossible. Connect a piece of steel with a magnet. The very moment they are connected, the steel partakes of the nature of the magnet, and at once begins to attract other bodies. This power is not its own; it simply comes as a result of the connection with the magnet. When once this connection is broken, the steel returns to its former inactive state. The usefulness of man is dependent on his connection with Christ, the great magnet. Educational attainments, human ability, and man's capability can not save the soul. When the human soul is connected with Christ, the life partakes of the divine nature. It is just as impossible for man, when united with Christ, not to partake of the divine nature, as for the steel to connect with the magnet and not be magnetized. When connected with Christ, the life becomes a power to draw souls to Him; when separate, the life is a power to drive souls to destruction. Steel may be manufactured into a sledge hammer, then used to do an effectual work. Each blow leaves its impress on the recipient as it is driven downward into the ground. So it is with the human soul. If the life is not in that living connection with Christ, if the soul does not reflect the character of Christ, its work consists in driving souls to the acceptance of theory. Theory can never save the soul. It may be based on the word of God, yet if it lacks the power of salvation, it falls short of the gospel; for “the gospel . . . is the power of God unto salvation.” Not until Christ is accepted into the life, can any soul keep the commandments. Anything outside of this is justification by works. The sad feature of the work of this life separated from Christ, is that in consequence of its manner of labor it is ruinous to the soul as well as to the Church. Like the dead sledge, it works by the pounding process, every blow leaving a mark on the character, and driving the soul downward, into the earth. This manner of labor, instead of drawing the soul heavenward, will drive it away from the Church into the world of sin. It is a sad fact that many of our youth have been driven away from our churches by this harsh, unloving spirit. The Church is dying for love. The home needs it; and sinners are dying in their sins for want of it. The Spirit of God says, “Come.” Rev. 22: 17. Workers in the Lord's harvest field, have you received this spirit of “Come”? Parents, does this spirit, made manifest in your home and in the world, say, Come? Churches, does your influence in a lost, perishing world say, Come? “Have ye received the Holy Ghost?”