With and Without Christ

In Boston, an educated man who was a Christian-without-Christ asked me: “If God is Love, why does He hide Himself from the world? He should show Himself and save men from their error and destruction.” I teplied, “Once He revealed Himself to the world in Christ, and now He shows Himself to every soul of man who seeks Him with His whole heart. It is true that He is Love, but He is at the same time a consuming fire (Heb. xii. 29), for He consumes all things that are unclean and unholy and contrary to His will. The sun by its heat and light helps the growth of a tree, but if there is any sickness or defect in the tree the same sun and its heat wither it up instead of helping it. This is no fault of the sun, but it is due to a condition in the life of the tree itself. So the God of Love, the Light of Life, gives every man every kind of help for his spiritual growth; but man, by the condition of his own nature, turns this life-giving light to his destruction. In no other way is there anything in the whole universe of God which can injure man, who ig made in God’s own image and likeness, un less he, by his disobedience and foolishness, brings injury on himself and becomes his own enemy.”

When a man, by living without God, has already injured himself to such an extent that his spiritual perception and feelings are dulled, then he begins to do injury to others, and he is no longer conscious that he is causing injury to others who are members with himself. If he were spiritually awake to the feelings of others, then he would seek their good instead of their hurt, and so would fulfil the purpose of the Creator in his life.

In Europe I once met a man of considerable wealth, who was also well read in philosophy. But neither his wealth nor his learning had brought him peace of heart. Shortly before I met him, he had travelled through many countries in search of a place in which he could pass the remainder of his days in peace. What he had looked for was a country that was neither too hot nor too cold, where there were no deadly diseases nor poisonous insects, and where the social and moral condition of the people was pleasing. “In such a place,” said he, “I will spend the rest of my days in peace.” When this Christian-without-Christ, like Noah’s dove, had found no place to rest on the face of the earth, he had in disgust returned to Switzerland. In conversation with me he said: “My object in travelling about the world was that I might escape from the worries and troubles of life; but what is your object in coming to Europe?” I replied: “There is nothing in the world, and no place, which can give you or any man peace from that inner craving, for that craving is not physical, but spiritual, and it can be finally satisfied only in Him who has created the soul and its craving. My main object in taking this tour is not like yours. I come to give my witness to the Living Christ who has filled my soul with peace. My second object in coming to these so-called Christian countries is that

I may study the lives of the people and see what their lives are like, with and without Christ. After having been through several countries I have seen this, that those that have received Him are happy in their lives in spite of all worldly troubles and difficulties; while those who are separated from Him, though surrounded by all their luxuries and possessions, are without peace of heart. I find true Christians as happy in huts as in palaces, while so-called Christians, even in palaces, have not that happiness and peace which even the poorest of true Christians have in their

“This same difference,’ I continued, ‘‘is seen between Christians and non-Christians, not only in the West, but in the East as well, and thus we have it demonstrated to us practically that Christ is a Universal Saviour. As there is only one sun that shines in East and West alike, so there is only one ‘Light that lighteth every man coming into the world.’ ” People of the East and West are sons of one universal mother, and, apart from a few superficial differences, human nature and its needs are the same all the world over. Experience abundantly proves that there is One only who can completely satisfy the needs of all men, and even that is possible only when they live according to His will.

Then he asked: ‘““What do you think of materialism, for Eastern peoples often call us materialists?” I said: “Neither matter nor any other thing is bad in itself, but the consequence of its misuse is evil. If matter is kept in its proper place it is all right, but if, in the attempt to satisfy spiritual desires, it is given a place in our hearts, then it takes the place of God, deadens our spiritual perception and makes our soul as lifeless as it is itself. This materialism is found more or less in both East and West. The proper use of matter is that we should use it as is necessary for the upkeep of the house of our soul, and use it in moderation. When we exceed the limits of moderation in its use, we relegate the soul to a secondary position and exalt matter to the place of worship, and the final result of this is the destruction of our souls.”

A short time ago, an Indian Prince invited me to visit him, and I stayed in his palace for two or three days. He had travelled in Western countries and had to some extent been influenced by Western materialism and ways of life, but not to such an extent that he was indifferent to spiritual things. One night he privately told me his story. “I thank God daily for the blessings I have received through Jesus Christ, and I also asknowledge my weakness that I cannot confess Christ openly. I know that, if I do so, not only my own subjects, but the British Government, which is called Christian, would at once remove me from my throne. I can therefore call it only a British, not a Christian, Government, that cares less about religious duties than it does about political affairs. Of course I know that I should think more about my religious duties than about having to give up my rights. As a ruling prince I ought to be prepared to leave my throne for Him who left His heavenly throne for me.

“T also regret to say that before I visited socalled Christian countries I was better, spiritually, than Iam now. I was shocked when I went there and saw ‘the darkness that lies beneath the lamp.’ Had I known about it I would never have gone. My real motive in going there was that I might go to the old

Mother Church and drink its pure milk and eat its strengthening food, so that I might return prepared to fulfil my spiritual and State duties; but, instead of finding this milk, they gave me liquor, and instead of bread gave me a stone; and I returned worse than I was before. There are other things as well, but I don’t want to mention them. I do not mean by this that Christianity is a failure, but people have failed to follow truly. And this refers not only to ordinary people, but to religious and political leaders as well. Well, let us leave it at that. Now pray for me that God may help and guide me that I may do what I ought to do.”

This is another incident that gives a chal- © lenge and a warning to that Christianity which is without Christ, that it may awake and see how far from the real thing it has fallen. As the Lord said in Rev. ii. 5, ““Remember... and repent... or else I will remove thy candlestick out of his place.” So far, as the Maharajah pointed out, “‘the darkness is beneath the lamp,” but if through disobedience and indifference the lamp itself is removed from its place then how great will be that darkness.

In spite of repeated warnings people tremain thoughtless and indifferent, and, shutting their eyes to the light, walk in darkness. Once in summer, when I was in Northern Europe, where even at midnight the sun does not set, a Swedish friend wrote tome: “We are glad to see you in the Land of the Midnight Sun.” I replied: “It is true that it is the Land of the Midnight Sun, but in winter it is also the Land of the Mid-day Night, and there are many in this land who still pass their lives in darkness, in spite of the life-giving rays of the Sun of Righteousness.”

Many live their lives like the beasts of the field. They have tongues, but no powers of speech, and are as dumb as animals, with no message for themselves or for others. Animals indeed have tongues, but have no ability to speak, because they have nothing to talk about beyond some animal feelings, which they express by sounds and movements. Those without spiritual life are like animals, but in a sense they are worse, for the ox knoweth its owner and the ass its master’s crib, but man, who is the crown of creation, does not know His Creator (Isaiah i. 3). His tongue is very swift to utter falsehood, but is slow to speak truth, because he does not know the Lord his God (Jer. ix. 3).

We often wonder at the worldly success that we see in the lives of those who have not received the Spirit of Truth, neither know Him. But, then, they are not restrained by any spiritual consideration, and to gain their end they are at any time prepared to set aside the voice of Truth and refuse to follow Him (Luke xvi. 8; 1 Cor. it. 14). Many wear the cross on their necks, though many of them, but by no means all, are little better than Simon the Cyrenian, who carried the cross of Christ because he had to (Mark xv. 21). Such people are willing neither to go to the cross with Christ, nor to follow Him daily bearing their Cross.

The Lord said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me,” that is, Infinite Love revealed on the cross will, like a magnet, draw to it every man that has in him the capacity to be drawn, and His desire is that where He is there may also His servant be (John xii. 26). But as the magnet draws steel, not gold or silver, so the cross of Christ draws sinners who truly repent and turn in their need to Him, but not those who trust in their own goodness and are satisfied to live without Him. Of the two partners of Christ’s crucifixion one repented, and in his need turned to Him and heard Him say, “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise’; the other, feeling no need of repentance, did not turn to Him for help, and so died in his sin. And this will be the end of all those who die without Christ. They will see Abraham and all the Prophets and they of the East and West and North and South in the Kingdom of God, but they—Christianswithout-Christ—will be “thrust out” (Luke xiii, 28-29).

REAL Christians are not only with Christ, but they live in Him and He lives in them, and because He lives for ever, they also will live for ever with Him, who through death — has conquered death (John xiv. 19). But in this new life they will live, not for themselves but for others, for men’s social instincts demand that, besides having fellowship with God, they seek the intercourse of their fellows, and on their interest in the well-being of each other their mutual happiness depends. A common happiness is poisoned by selfishness; hence, when our Lord said, ““Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” He meant that where there is true love it expresses itself in a desire for the welfare of others, and it asks from others only that treatment which it is itself ready to give. In this way, in the presence of the Heavenly Father, the mutual happiness of His children is maintained.

Selfishness is the root of all the evil and unrest of our souls. A selfish man overlooks a thousand kindnesses of others, but never forgets the one kind deed that he has done; and he forgets his own thousand shortcomings, but makes a mountain of any small failing in another. For this reason our Lord said: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke ix. 23). That man who denies himself to do God’s will fulfils his own will as well when he does the will of

God who created him. For instance, I, in my ignorance, imagine that my way is best, but I find that I can do no other than take the way that God indicates. When once I give up struggling against God’s way, and yield to His will, I find my peace restored in being again in harmony with Him. When I surrender my will I find my peace in doing God’s will. On the other hand, if I insist on doing my own will, not only is my will not fulfilled, but I destroy the very capacity for fulfilling it, for this will is not in harmony with God. In other words, he who denies himself finds himself and God and all else; but, if he does not deny himself, he commits soulsuicide by opposing self to God’s will.