THE NEW LEAF by Walter E. Gillis

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 22, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 12.

THE NEW LEAF.

By Walter E. Gillis

BY WALTER E. GILLIS.

Of all unhappy mental and physical conditions, it is a state of vacillating Christian experience. Can it be possible that we must go through this life, after a happy experience at conversion, in a deplorable state of uncertainty and die in despair because the harvest brings nothing but leaves? Dear reader, such was never the intention of our Redeemer, who is reproached and dishonored by so many such examples of Christian (?) living.

These sufferers from nervous Christianity are always turning over new leaves, and more especially as Christmas and the New Year approaches. This proceeding is well illustrated by the experience of an engineer, who was daily turning over a new leaf in his note book because of the soiled condition of the old one; but never considering it worth while to wash his hands, the new one very soon became equally well soiled and offensive to the eye. The difficulty is we so often forget or neglect to wash our hands. We read God's promise of cleansing from sin and fail to grasp the latent power in it. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. "As many as received Him, to them gave He POWER to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12. Have we confessed our sins? Have we believed? Then appropriate the power. Heaven will empty itself if need be to supply your demands. It is God's purpose that we shall never fall, and He has revealed the way to attain this happy condition. 2 Peter 1:5-11. Is there no royal road? — No. It must ever come by the way of "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope," and so shall we not be ashamed. If we would attain the crown, our life must ever be characterized by aggressive warfare against sin. A passive Christian is abominable in God's sight. "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth." Rev. 3:16.

But there is another side to the Christian career; it is the phase so seldom earnestly sought; tho often sighed for. It is to this experience we should all be hastening. The Saviour has given us the key to the treasure house, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6.

Have you ever thirsted and hungered for water and bread so long that you would sacrifice everything on earth for a drop of water, a morsel of bread? When you got the drop, or the morsel, were you satisfied?—No, indeed; you would not be satisfied until you were filled. Is it not here we find the secret of our failure? We are too easily satisfied with spiritual food. The drops of blessing appease our too-feeble appetite; we do not seek long and earnestly for the showers. It is no wonder the Saviour utters that mournful complaint, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always." Deut. 5:29.

"Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18) is the command of the Lord to us, and to those who long to be filled He says, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Ps. 81:10. How easy! Have you faith as a grain of mustard seed?

Listen, here is a beautiful illustration and promise. It was fulfilled to Christ; it is for us. God's promises are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus to usward. 2 Cor. 1:20. "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." Isa. 50:4.

Here is a wonderful promise fulfilled to Christ, and through Him still advanced to us for acceptance. Just consider its worth. It says that the Lord would awaken him morning by morning and teach Him wisdom for the day.

Yes, I hear some one say, that is all very well when you consider to whom the promise first applies, but it is too much to suppose that we can ever claim or receive it.

Well, let us follow the matter a little further. The promise must needs have been fulfilled to Christ. Scan the record of His life and note the manner of fulfilment. "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Mark 1:35. In the early morning hours when most men prefer to sleep, the Saviour bowed Himself to earth, His form wet with dew, and prayed. Was this a royal road?—No, no! But the Son of Man came as man to do as man must do, and in childlike faith claimed the promises of God and received their face value upon demand. What does He say to you and me?—"Ask, and ye shall receive." Not ye may receive, but "YE SHALL."

Have you ever retired to rest with the prayer on your lips that the Lord would fulfil His promise by awakening you early that you might arise and in the fulness of your heart offer praise and thanksgiving to Him? And did you then, with your Bible in your hand, claim the promise of counsel for the day just dawning? Try it; and thus will the new leaf be ever clean and writ upon with promises fulfilled in fruit garnered for the kingdom.

Mountain View, Cal.