WHAT JESUS IS TO ME by D. Hildreth

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1860

WHAT JESUS IS TO ME.

By D. Hildreth

He is my advocate, my anchor, my beloved, my buckler, my burden-bearer, my captain, my comforter, my counsellor, my deliverer, my example, my friend, my fortress, my guide, my guardian, my hope, my helper, my hiding place, my intercessor, my judge, my king, my leader, my life, my master, my physician, my protector, my redeemer, my rere-ward, my righteousness, my rock, my sun, my shield, my saviour, my strength, my shepherd, my sacrifice, my teacher, in short, Jesus is my all; he is the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely; without him earth would be a wilderness, life a farce, and death an eternal sleep. How could I bear the ills of life without Jesus to lean upon? What attraction would there be to a daily round of labor, if there was no reward for well-doing, if there was no God to glorify, and death was to close the scene forever? The soul would soon become sick of life and its turmoil, if there was no hope beyond the grave. Death would be chosen rather than life. But with Jesus for a hope, life has a thousand attractions. We can glorify him here, be instrumental in saving others, and enjoy him hereafter.

What a consolation to know that the King of heaven cares for us, that he walks with us daily, and participates in our griefs, our sorrows and our afflictions. Yes, what a consolation to know that we have a friend who is always a friend. In adversity, when earthly friends forsake, Jesus stands by to comfort, to console, to raise the drooping spirits above the afflictions and gloom of earth to those bright worlds where sorrow never comes. Blessed hope! Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Num. xxiii, 10.

But Jesus will not be formed within, the hope of glory, by simply wishing for it. A protracted effort is necessary on our part. It is in vain to hope for salvation without taking hold of the work, and that in earnest. But while we take hold of the work, we must not take hold of it in our own strength. How helpless we are! The Father must draw us, Jesus must take us and cleanse us, we lying passive in his hands. The whole work seems to rest on this point: our wills must be laid entirely aside, and he will become ours; and we can never do this alone, he must help us. So little of the work is accomplished by us that when saved there will be nothing to boast of. Submission is a glorious virtue, crossing to nature: but all must be given into his hands.

Professors of religion go on for years without making a whole sacrifice, without giving up all. They frequently say, "I want to be the Lord's," and "I wish I was the Lord's," but why do they not say, I am the Lord's! Ah! that is the question—the all-important question. Why can't I say, I am the Lord's! Will not Jesus have me? "Him that cometh to me will I in no wise cast out." John vi, 37. Then the difficulty lies entirely with me. It is because we will not give ourselves to him. Some plead their unworthiness, but this is no excuse. He tells us to give ourselves to him, guilt and all.

But there is a real excuse, and it is this: we do not want to give ourselves to the Lord without reserve, for fear he will require more of us than we are willing to perform. This is it. There is a fearfulness on our part. What if the Lord should require me to do this or that? says the fearful soul. O I couldn't do it, and then he would cast me off. It is true the Lord blesses the soul that tries to find the way and give himself to Jesus; but never is perfect peace found till a whole sacrifice is made. There are many hangers on who wish they were the Lord's, but are not; who wish for a full consecration, but do not obtain it. They want to be consecrated in their own way—they want to know what the Lord is going to do with them, and if they think they can endure it, they will submit to it. My brother, this will not do. This kind of religion will not stand the severe tests which are approaching. Why will so many be shaken out? Because they have not given up all, and resolved to go through, come life or death. What if the Lord should require us to lay down our lives? We are no better than he who said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." It is our privilege to say, "I am the Lord's." I feel it, I know it, I have the daily evidence of it. We know whether we have given ourselves to the Lord or not, just as well as we know whether we are loyal subjects to an earthly government or not. Give yourself to Jesus without delay, without reserve. Make a full sacrifice. Until you do this you will be a stranger to the peace which Jesus gives. When we give all for Christ we are his, because he hath bought us. We and ours become his property. If the thief steals what is in our hands, it is the Lord's; he stole it from him, not from us.

If we are prospered or hindered in our worldly business, he is doing just right with us. If he sends lingering disease, it is not a waste of time; it is very profitable to our souls, and will enrich us to all eternity. How blessed it is to lie down at night, saying, I am the Lord's; to view the approaching tempest, saying, I am the Lord's, whether I am destroyed or preserved, it will be well; to say, Thy will, not mine, be done. What a privilege to cast all our cares upon him and we go free! No fears about the result of our efforts in his service; it will be well.

The Lord will not, cannot, work for us mightily, until we make a full surrender. Launch right out, trusting in his mercy, risk your life and your all in his hands. Believe that he loves you, and will do all he can for you. If there is any one thing that is needed more than another, it is faith. Faith seemingly lies at the foundation of all the virtues. We must believe before we can repent, before we can love, before we can hope. As Satan is vigilant to hinder the most important steps in the Christian walk, be sure he will try to hinder you from making a full consecration. He will persevere for years in blinding the soul to this important step.

But as the message advances, light will be given on every important point. Be careful then to receive all truth. Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids until you can say, The Lord is mine, and I am his.

"You may have this world, but give me Jesus."

D. HILDRETH.

Morrison, Ills.