"FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING."
By Sarah E. Lindsay
We often read these words, but do we always realize their full import? Let us go back, dear brethren and sisters, to the time when our first parents disobeyed the law of God, and the penalty of death was pronounced upon all our race. Then had it not been for the interposition of the Son of God, we should have been doomed, after a short and painful existence upon this earth, though once so beautiful, but now filled with sin and misery, and bearing all the marks of the curse, to death with no hope beyond the grave. Let us view him as he condescends to leave his heavenly home, to take upon himself the form of a little child, being made a little lower than the angels: He came to this earth, lived a life of self denial and suffering, seeking only to benefit our race. View him in the garden of Gethsemane, "exceeding sorrowful even unto death," praying, "O, my Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt." Behold him upon the cross, when for the space of three hours even the great luminary of the heavens refused to look upon his sufferings. He died, but rose again. Spake comforting words to his disciples, and promised the Holy Spirit for a comforter even unto the end of the world. He ascended to heaven but angels were commissioned to bear the glad tidings to his sorrowing disciples, that, "this same Jesus which is taken from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven". Let us now follow him with the eye of faith to the sanctuary, not built with hands, in the most holy place, and there behold him interceding with the Father for us. O how consoling to know that "we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin." Heb. iv, 15. Without his continual help and intercessions, even his death perhaps would not avail our salvation. "O let us exalt him," let us adore him as indeed the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. Surely it is no marvel that he said, "without me ye can do nothing." Dear brethren and sisters, let us strive more earnestly to heed his precious counsel; avail ourselves of his merits, by keeping all his requirements; confide in his promises; and willingly suffer with him here a little longer that we may dwell with him forever in that place which he has gone to prepare. And he hath promised to come and receive us unto himself, that where he is there we may be also. Yours, hoping to be among that company.
SARAH E. LINDSAY.