THE JOY OF A CONSECRATED LIFE.
By A. O. Tait
A LIFE that is fully consecrated to God is a life that is full of the most perfect joy. This is the simple statement of a fact that every one knows who has really given himself unreservedly to the service of the Master. There are many who hesitate to give themselves wholly to God for fear that they will have to give up so many things that they will be rendered gloomy and unhappy. Indeed they look upon the consecrated life as uninviting and full of penances and rounds of service that are dark and disagreeable. But what a mistaken notion this is! The consecrated servant of the Lord, it is true, will have things to do that are not inviting, neither always pleasant when looked at from one point of view. But when viewed in the true light of service, and the eternal consequences that are involved, that which would seem unpleasant immediately becomes a pleasurable duty. We look at things from God's standpoint, and our eyes are not so much on the present unpleasantnesses as they are fixed upon the future glorious possibilities. By faith we see and know God and His purposes, and any inconvenience of the present is lost sight of while we are enthusiastically co-operating with the Father in heaven in working out His great plans for the salvation of men. The man who is working out some great design will have many things to do that, if they were considered in themselves alone, would be very unpleasant. Before the beautiful structure is erected it is usually necessary to go down deep into the earth, sometimes even through the mire to lay the foundation. None of this work is pleasing unless we keep the picture of the finished building in mind. The careless observer might see in the excavation and placing of the foundation nothing more than an unsightly hole in the ground. But he who has been taken into the confidence of the architect sees the finished edifice, in all of its symmetrical beauty, every time he looks at these uninviting beginnings. The soul that is consecrated to God has been taken into the most intimate confidence with our Father above. The Lord has taken particular pains to outline fully in His Word what His plans are for this fallen world. He has told us clearly what He proposes to do for humanity as fast as men and women will come to Him. And the most blessed part of it all is that as fast as we come to Him He makes us full partners with Himself in working out His great designs. The plans of God not only cover this present time and this present life, but they reach on and on, through eternity. "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God!" The one who is a co-partner with God is all absorbed in the working out of the Father's plans, and hence consecration is not a matter of high-keyed effort, but a divinely natural outgrowth of the heavenly influences at work within the soul. The trouble with so many is that they look only at this world. And even when induced to raise their eyes to God and heaven they look at them through the world's murky atmosphere. God invites us not only to look up but to come up. And when we draw nigh to Him, He draws nigh to us, and consecration to His service becomes our greatest delight. It is a positive truth that perfect consecration to God affords the highest, the fullest, the keenest, and the most profoundly satisfying pleasures that may be experienced anywhere. Indeed, after one has tasted the real joys of the Master's service, the so-called pleasures of this world become not only undesirable, but wholly unendurable. "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!" Ps. 34:8. A. O. TAIT.