GOD'S OBJECT LESSONS. NO 7.
By H. F. PHELPS.
THE law of God demands obedience. The natural heart is at enmity with that law. Paul says the carnal mind "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." We do not naturally love to obey God. Man's ways are not God's ways; nor are our thoughts God's thoughts. Man's ways and thoughts are low; God's ways and thoughts are high. Man's ways are all wrong; God's ways are all right, and just. Yes, his ways are righteousness, and all his paths are peace. To follow the inclinations of the human heart is death. To obey the commands of God is life. It is terrible to die—to die without hope; the soul to go out in darkness! But, thank God, a ray of light comes to the soul, of life beyond this world, beyond the tomb. Man resolves to lay hold on that hope. He says, "I will change right about; I will do right." But his resolves are worthless; he resolves but to fail. When he would do good, evil is ever present. He finds that he is sold to a most cruel master—sin. What he would do, he fails in doing; but what he would not do, he is almost sure to do. His very resolution seems to mock him as only a failure. His very strength is but weakness. His every effort is fruitless; and could he do as he desires to do, and should at last stand before God, clad in his own righteousness, it would be but the very slime of filth itself, the very essence of sin. Yet he must obey; he must do; for in doing, in obeying, is life. All the object lessons heretofore considered are but warning upon warning, each saying, Do this and live, do that and die. But his own strength is a failure. Where is the example of a perfect man? Is there one? Turn to man with a hope, and that hope is blasted; for "they are altogether gone out of the way, there is none that doeth good, no, not one." "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?" who shall save me? Is there no way of escape? no hope? I read of the promised "Seed." I read of Shiloh, Prince of Peace; of One who is mighty to save; of a Deliverer, a Redeemer; of One who is to be King of kings; of One who will dash in pieces the nations, and save his people. I read of that "Rock that is higher than I." I read also of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," and of the "Lamb of God." I read of the Messiah of Daniel who was to be cut off. I read of Isaiah's "Man of sorrows," who was "acquainted with grief." I read of Him who is the "Captain of our salvation, made perfect through suffering." Then I turn my eyes to Calvary. I see the cross and Him who was lifted up upon it. Is there life in Him? Will His death save me? I remember the object lesson, and in it I see the answer to the question which my soul asks. There were very many who were bitten by those fiery, biting serpents. I see the swollen limbs and faces, and the blood-shot eyes. Many died because of the poisonous bite. There is mourning all through the camp. Soon all will die, if no remedy is found. But a God of love provides a way of escape. That God against whom the people have sinned speaks to Moses, and a serpent of brass is raised upon a pole, high, where all can see it if they will. A herald cries, Good news! Look and live! Some have faith. They look; they live. Some may be too sick to move without aid; assisted by friends, they raise their languid eyes, and although it seems but the last look before death claims his victim, they live. Suddenly they are made well. The fevered brow grows cool again. The parched tongue is parched no more. The swollen limbs assume their natural shape. It is life from the dead. This is an object lesson. Those who had no faith, died. Their lives went out in sin and shame. No hope—they went down in darkness. Faith then, at that time, active, living faith, was life from the dead. All have been bitten by the serpent, sin. I turn my eyes within, and I see no hope. There is no hope in man. I look to Him whom by faith I see hanging upon the tree. I look at His life of trial, of unselfish labor for others. He lived that I might live. He set me an example. He was tempted as I am tempted. "Despised and rejected of men" for me. "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;" "was wounded for our transgressions." All for me. "All we like sheep have gone astray," yet the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. And now I behold him as "the way, the truth, and the life." He is my Saviour. He can save me in temptation. He is my comforter in distress. He has become my joy and my salvation. He makes my bed in sickness, is my helper in every trouble. He will and does carry my burdens. He is my companion all day. He is my guest, and yet he feeds me. My Lord and Master, yet my servant. My light in hours of darkness, my hope in times of trial. He is my counselor and adviser. He is my helper, yes, my partner;4partner in my distress, and in my joys. He will never leave, he will never forsake me. He will never forget me, for his eye is ever upon me. If I go through deep waters, they will not overflow me, or if through fire, it will not burn. He feeds, clothes, and shelters me. He loves me as his child. Am I sinful, he will wash me and make me clean. More than this, he will help me to love and obey him. He gives me a clean heart, and writes his law upon it. He has become my teacher. He is my all in all, a never-failing fountain of love, and faithful to all my best interests. I find in him a never-failing stream of living water to my thirsty soul; a fountain for sin and for uncleanness that will never run dry. He will wash me and make me whiter than snow. He will take me to his bosom at last, to enjoy all the fullness of Heaven forevermore. Why need I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid? If God be for us, he is more than all that can be against us. Indeed, here is an object lesson of God's love to man. Let my soul magnify the name of the Lord; for that his name is wonderful his works declare.