The Essence of Christian Living # 1

The Essence of Christian Living # 1

Coal tar is a dark, sticky, unattractive substance of little apparent value. But by chemical processes, a great number of different chemicals are extracted from it which are used for many purposes. Some make dyes, some flavors; and by properly combining other chemicals - rich perfumes of various sorts are produced. Looking at the dark, unlovely coal tar, we would not dream that it contained anything so desirable, but under the magic of the chemical's power, many things are brought out of it to serve useful purposes.

In the same way, the human heart in its natural state is unlovely. It is like the coal tar. But when the divine Chemist by His wisdom and power separates the evil from the good, and makes Christians out of sinners - He produces a life-power within, so that we may live a life within and without that will have the same purpose and beauty as the lives of the angels in paradise.

But Christian living is not a single thing. It is a compound. It is made up of a number of things. Four of these we shall notice:

1. The first element that goes to make up Christian living of the attractive and worth-while kind, is living NEAR Christ. The Bible teaches that the Christian lives in a close relationship with Christ. We are "no more foreigners and strangers," but children of the Most High God. We are no more "afar off," but are "brought near by the blood of Christ." His invitation is, "Come unto Me." So to live the kind of Christian life that will breath out a fragrance to all those around us, we must live near to Christ. It is our privilege to live near to Him. There are too many who live too far away from Him. To them He is "Lord and Master." He is enthroned in majesty, and seems all too unapproachable.

This is the Christ of the universe. This is our Christ - but it is only one side of His character; still it is the only side that some people seem to see. He is not only Lord and Master - He is Brother; He is Saviour; He is Keeper' He is Companion along life's way. He dwells in our hearts. It is not His relation of Lord and Master which brings out in us the beauty of Christian character, but that more intimate relation of Brother and Friend. It is the Christ to whom we draw near in full assurance of faith without fear, and without shrinking, without timidity, and without a sense of His overpowering greatness.

Christ is our Lord and Master, but He condescends also to come down upon a level with us and lets us approach Him in the same familiar way as Mary approached Him when she sat at His feet, and as the disciples did in their daily fellowship, and as the children did in their play.

Ah, yes, we can draw near Him unafraid, unabashed by His greatness, or by the sense of our weakness. We can live near Him every day. We an be in the inner circle of His friends. We can have His presence with us. We can have with Him that sweet sense of understanding that we have with our dearest and most-loved friends. Yes, He comes closer than even our dearest friends. He understands where they cannot understand. He can help where they cannot help.

So we need to come close to Christ, to live close to Him. We need to cultivate that intimate relationship, that union of soul which gives one a continued sense of His presence and friendship, and more than all, of His tender love. Without this intimate, personal sense of Christ's bring with us and helping us, understanding us, and shedding the beneficent influence of His life over us - our life will lack one of the sweetest qualities of genuine Christianity.

It is our blessed privilege to be near Him. But to have this association, we must cultivate a nearness to Him and a sense of nearness to Him - by daily drawing near to Him, and communing with Him and pouring out our love to Him. There is nothing that draws us to Christ, like loving Him. And love is cultivated by drawing near to Him each day and many times a day, and pouring our our soul's love and devotion to Him. We can live near Him even in the most troublesome times. And when we live near Him, our lives will never be stale nor lack the sweet perfume of holiness.

~Charles Naylor~

(continued with # 2)