Doubts of Our Personal Acceptance.
By R. F. Cottrell
A certain writer, speaking of the Christians of apostolic times, says, “The vision of Heaven was in their eye; and until they reached it, their Lord had engaged to provide for all their wants, and had engaged to do this solely that they might give their undivided attention to his service. Of doubts and fears about their personal interest in his love they appear to have known nothing; that is a disease peculiar to the morbid and selfish piety of modern days. The element of activity and benevolence in which they lived secured them against such a malady, and produced a race of Christians, vigorous, holy and happy.” Those who simply seek their own salvation, making no effort for the salvation of others, may well have doubts and fears respecting themselves; for they do not manifest the disposition of Him who for our sakes became poor to make us rich, and suffered death for us that we might live. And if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his. One of the poets has sung:— “’Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I his, or am I not?” Now the best, and the only sovereign remedy to quell these anxious fears, is to follow Christ in his example of self-sacrifice and benevolence. Go to work in his vineyard. If with a genuine love of souls we engage in active benevolence to save our fellow-men, and steadfastly continue our efforts, our doubts will be dispelled, and our time will be better filled than it is while selfishly and anxiously brooding over our fears respecting our own interest in our Saviour’s love. R. F. COTTRELL.