THE UPSPRINGING LIFE by S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 14.

THE UPSPRINGING LIFE.

By S.

The controversy of the ages between Christ and Satan has been reproduced in each individual in the perpetual struggle between Soul and Self. Satan would place himself above God and rule the realm for his own glorification, unapproachable monarch, unyielding tyrant. And Self has set for itself the same object—the “rule or ruin” of the soul of man. Every soul lost through the triumph of Self is a fitting figure, an eloquent and sad object lesson, of what the rule of Satan would have meant in the universe of God. Satan would have trampled upon and exterminated, if he could, that One who was the Source of life itself, and thus have brought death to every creature including himself. The rule of Self over Soul means the same thing and brings the same result in the individual. His purpose was the purpose of death. It meant death in its working out; whereas the purpose of God meant life, eternal life, not only to those then living, but to all who yet should live in the unfolding providence of God.

In the unfolding of that purpose of perpetual love and life this world has made the acquaintance of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God-with-us; and to us “who were dead in trespasses and sins” that purpose has brought life and immortality through the atoning life and sacrifice of the Son of God. In His baptism into death He held the hand of the human race; and when He came forth from the tomb, He held the guarantee of a race’s resurrection from the dead. So “out from among the dead ones” Christ will bring every soul that has, through His strength, “gotten the victory” over Self in the controversy between Self and Soul. That victory symbolizes the final triumph of truth and righteousness over error and iniquity, and is in itself a part of that triumph. It means for the individual what the triumph of Christ means for the universe. It means the setting up of the throne of God in sole sovereignty in the individual heart.

Christ Himself said of His mission, “I am come that ye might have life.” Again: “In Him was life;

and the life was the light of men.” And as death could not hold Him, He came forth from the tomb bringing with Him life for every soul that wills to do the Father’s will. The believer follows Him through the symbol of His sleep, and rises from that symbolic grave to “walk in newness of life.” The same physical life is in the body, but Soul is no longer chained to the chariot wheel of Self to do its bidding and perish with it. God is acknowledged sole Ruler of that realm—the soul is manumitted. Every day lived by such a soul should remind the world of the resurrection of Christ, and preach His power to save from sin and sinning. Our old nature has gone to the tomb in the crucifixion of Self, and now must be made manifest in our lives the saving and vivifying power of the life of Christ in us. We thus become partakers with Christ in the death which He died, “were baptized into His death.” Out of that He came forth triumphant to live eternally to God. So out of the symbolic grave Christ bids us come forth to live to Him for time and eternity, and to preach Him in the new life which He gives us grace and power to live. So let us who have followed our Lord in the likeness of His death, arise with Him, and walk with Him in that newness of life which will preach the resurrection and the power which it gives. Let us “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us.” Let us also remember these words of Christ Himself: “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” He was sent into the world for the salvation of men. He accomplished His purpose by His life among men. Christians are here for the same purpose, to carry forward the same work of salvation. They can not do it if their life is out of harmony with the message of life which they bear. They must subjugate the fleshly mind and accept in its place the mind of Christ; dead continually to the ambitions and lusts of this world, and thus truly “alive unto God in Christ Jesus.” Then the light of God’s truth will shine out in us, and glory come to Him in the sheaves which we will bring with us from the tare-strewn field of this world. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.” Let us, therefore, arise and walk in that “newness of life” which His life and resurrection have made possible for us.