THE PERFECT MODEL by Elder T. H. Starbuck

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 19.

THE PERFECT MODEL.

By Elder T. H. Starbuck

BY ELDER T. H. STARBUCK.

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Heb. 12:1-2. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14. The Christian life is a profession. Among the many professions known to men some are regarded as more honorable than others; but what is highly prized among men may be lightly esteemed of God. The heart filled with the love of the world may place a fictitious value upon that which is of little merit, and lightly estimate things of infinite worth. The highest calling in this universe is to be a Christian. No other calling so ennobles the character, and it is the only one that can fit men for the joys of the bright eternal. Yet there are comparatively few who choose this noblest of professions. There are few who estimate it at its real value, either for time or for eternity.

When one contemplates the choice of a profession, an ideal is essential to success. Worldly wisdom leads men to imitate the great masters in the varied professions of life. One who is about to choose a literary profession studies carefully the lives and productions of those authors whom he most admires, that he may acquire their skill and modes of thought. Many a schoolboy has had the character of George Washington held up before him as a perfect model. There is no doubt but men are made better in some respects by the choice of an ideal to which they desire to attain. God, who fully understands the needs and tendencies of our fallen human nature, has placed before the world a perfect model in the life and character of Jesus Christ. The contemplation of no other model so transforms the character. He has not only placed this consummate ideal before the world, but he has also made it a law of nature that to place the affections upon any object is to become assimilated to it in character. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” We become like that which we love.

Transformations acquired by this law often take place in men unconsciously. To choose evil companions, who love the saloon, is to be transformed into a drunkard. To choose refined and cultured society is to become refined and cultured. To love the perfect and sinless life of Jesus is to be transformed into his image. Our hope of heaven will change to glad fruition if we become like Christ, the Ruler of heaven. Without this transformation the pearly gates will never open to us. God is love; and his wonderful love was never so displayed as when he gave his only-begotten Son to become the Captain of our salvation. With such a perfect character before us, there is no limit to the lessons to be learned by looking unto Jesus. Looking unto him draws the affections from every worldly object to that which is most worthy of imitation. To know Jesus and his love is of itself an inspiration. He, the Creator of all things, and upholding all things by the word of his power, became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. His dominion is a great dominion, for there is not a world in existence over which he is not supreme Ruler; but for our sakes he exchanged his throne for a manger, and, instead of its glory, he took upon himself the ignominy and shame that properly belong to us, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The object in looking to him should always be to learn the lessons which God intended for us to learn when he set that perfect life before the world. We may not be able to grasp every reason why Jesus did so much to save a lost world; but his principal object was the infinite joy of saving souls. Heaven is a place of eternal joy, and life is very precious; but their real value is best understood by considering what Jesus did to purchase them for us. Life and heaven never look so precious as when viewed in the light of the cross of Calvary. Were it not that he has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, it is doubtful whether this life would be worth living; but his mission to earth adds new dignity and glory to existence, and reveals its real worth as nothing else can do. Sin has so darkened man's understanding that he is not able to correctly estimate eternal things; but Jesus knows their true value, and we can trust his estimate of their worth. To know that the Majesty of heaven gave his life to secure life to us, is to arouse our interest and assist us to lay hold on eternal life.

By looking unto Jesus we can learn how to become like him. By beholding we “are changed into the same image from glory to glory.” By viewing the sinless perfection of his character, we gradually approach the same standard. As the sun attracts the worlds that circle around it, so the loveliness of Christ becomes the magnet of the soul, and the desire to be like him takes full possession of the heart, and becomes the inspiration of the life.

By a study of his teachings we can learn to lead others to him. The shining of the stars reveals the fact that there is a great light in heaven imparting to them their glory; and so may the Christian's life reveal the light of him who is the light of the world, and the light of the stars also. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” To know Jesus is to have the heart filled with the same love, and to have an unutterable longing to lead others to the Light of the world. To be sent as an ambassador to represent one's native land at some foreign court is among the highest of earthly honors; but Jesus confers a much more exalted dignity upon his followers. He makes them ambassadors to reveal the glory and dignity of his government to those who are lost in sin, but yet capable of being enlightened and elevated to become citizens of the commonwealth of Israel.

To look unto Jesus is to be made a sharer in his joy. There is joy for the ransomed, and that joy begins here. No joy is like that of being translated out of the kingdom of darkness, where all things are against us and contrary to us, into the kingdom of light, where all things work together for our good, because we love God. It is a condition where even the trials and sorrows of this life are turned into stepping-stones to a brighter existence—additions to the glory that shall be revealed in us hereafter.

To look unto Jesus is to become like him in glory with the Father. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” No earthly profession presents an attainment so sublime and felicitous as to occupy the throne with the King of the universe. The most perfect of all models is the sinless life of the Crucified One. The highest of all professions in the universe is to be an ambassador for him, to assist others to become clothed with his light. Some men reach positions in society where they shine very brightly in this life; but when the events of time have tested all men, the brightest lights among the children of Adam will be those who were light bearers for Christ.