第96章

"For which cause," Paul declared, "we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Paul felt the power of the enemy; but though his physical strength was declining, yet faithfully and unflinchingly he declared the gospel of Christ.Clad in the whole armor of God, this hero of the cross pressed forward in the conflict.His voice of cheer proclaimed him triumphant in the combat.Fixing his gaze on the reward of the faithful, he exclaimed in tones of victory, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."Very earnest and touching is the apostle's appeal that his Corinthian brethren consider anew the matchless love of their Redeemer."Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," he wrote, "that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."You know the height from which He stooped, the depth of humiliation to which He descended.Having once entered upon the path of self-denial and sacrifice, he turned not aside until He had given His life.There was no rest for Him between the throne and the cross.

Point after point Paul lingered over, in order that those who should read his epistle might fully comprehend the wonderful condescension of the Saviour in their behalf.Presenting Christ as He was when equal with God and with Him receiving the homage of the angels, the apostle traced His course until He had reached the lowest depths of humiliation.Paul was convinced that if they could be brought to comprehend the amazing sacrifice made by the Majesty of heaven, all selfishness would be banished from their lives.

He showed how the Son of God had laid aside His glory, voluntarily subjecting Himself to the conditions of human nature, and then had humbled Himself as a servant, becoming obedient unto death, "even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8), that He might lift fallen man from degradation to hope and joy and heaven.

When we study the divine character in the light of the cross we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice.We see in the midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the marks of the suffering endured to reconcile man to God.We see a Father, infinite, dwelling in light unapproachable, yet receiving us to Himself through the merits of His Son.The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and despair, in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God:

Live, sinner, live! ye penitent, believing souls, live! I have paid a ransom.

In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of a love that is measureless.We endeavor to tell of this love, and language fails us.We consider His life on earth, His sacrifice for us, His work in heaven as our advocate, and the mansions He is preparing for those who love Him, and we can only exclaim, O the height and depth of the love of Christ!

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."1 John 4:10; 3:1.

In every true disciple this love, like sacred fire, burns on the altar of the heart.It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through Christ.It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love through blameless lives.Thus sinners will be led to the cross to behold the Lamb of God.