What I Am by C. L. Taylor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 22, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 37.

What I Am

By C. L. Taylor

WHAT I am is the all-important question in my relations to God.

How very, very often it is that professed Christian people are not what their brethren suppose them to be, nor yet what they themselves really regard their lives to be!

God deals with men neither after their reputation nor after their own mistaken opinions. He looks to what they are in fact. "Man looketh on the outward appearance; but the Lord looketh on the heart."

THEIR NAMES MEANT SOMETHING

In olden days, God gave to people their names. Invariably those names expressed the character of the individuals named.

A certain man was named Jacob, named by express direction of the Lord, because, in his inmost nature, the man was a supplanter, or thief. See Gen. 27:36.

But when that same man had submitted himself to the gracious workings of the Spirit of God, and was soundly converted, God gave him another name, a better name, a new name, the name Israel. Gen. 32:28. "Israel" signifies prince of God, overcomer.

When Jacob's character had been changed, then was his name changed. What he was gave him his first name; and what he was gave him his second name.

ARE TO BEAR NEW NAMES

All who enter the everlasting kingdom of God are to bear new names. Rev. 2:17; 3:12. In other words, all who are redeemed from earth are to be changed in character. Character alone, character fashioned after the divine, is the only passport into the presence of Divinity.

THE NEW NAME AND OUR CHOICE

The new name privilege depends wholly upon the choice we make. Man must choose righteousness if he would have righteousness. Likewise he must choose not to love unrighteousness. Because the Lord Jesus loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, He was anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows, and to Him was given the most exalted place in the universe — the place at God's right hand.

To Jesus, sin was abhorrent. He could not look on iniquity. Selfishness in all its varied forms was detestable. And though He took our fallen natures, with all their varied tendencies to evil, still His choice to be right — absolutely right — gave Him complete victory. His triumph over sin was complete. For us He worked out an example. He purchased for all mankind a new name.

What am I? Do I know myself? Is my experience one of profession or possession? Am I really able to confess Christ, knowing Him to be within my soul?

NOT KNOWINGLY

Perhaps I may not really see my real self, and understand how sinful I am. But this much I may know, that I can be satisfied with nothing but the purest and best. My purpose is, to be perfect. I will not knowingly be selfish or untrue. Then it is my privilege to claim the promise found in Phil. 3:15.

Whenever any soul, like Job, seeks to be absolutely sincere and upright, then it is that God fully assumes the responsibility of making him all that he needs to be to stand in the presence of his Creator.

What am I? O, I care for naught but this,—that God shall answer in my life the prayer of the psalmist, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me."

C. L. TAYLOR.