Christ Precious! # 2

Christ Precious! # 2

He is the CORNERSTONE. That which unites all believers together as one living temple, and keeps them together to be a habitation of God through the Holy Spirit. The union, the strength, and the beauty of God's church, arises from Christ being the cornerstone. He unites all the parts together, and the whole church to God. He preserves all who believe on Him from apostasy, shame, and danger. "He who believes on Him shall not be confounded." Every believer shall be bold in the judgment, confident in God, and safe - let whatever will come on the earth. Now, as God's foundation of our hope; as God's elect, or chosen one; as the glorious uniting cornerstone of the whole church; and as the Saviour from confusion, shame, and danger - He is precious to every believer.

There are some SEASONS in which Christ is especially precious:

Christ is especially precious when the soul is first converted. When emerges from darkness to light. When it sees Jesus as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. It sees all that flows from Jesus, and deeply feels its obligation to Him. Through Jesus it enjoys justification, eternal life, and a good hope of heaven. O how precious does this render the Saviour!

Christ is especially precious to believers - when the emptiness of the world is discovered. The soul having tried the world, has found it false and fickle, and empty cistern, a dry well, a cloud without water, only vanity and vexation of spirit!

The Christian has experienced that the world's pleasures - end in pain, its honors - end in disgrace, and its wealth - ends in absolute poverty.

Now turning from the world, to Jesus - it finds solid happiness, substantial pleasure, full supplies. It obtains a deep and lasting peace which passes all understanding, unsearchable riches in Christ, and honors which will never pass away.

O how precious is Jesus, when this world appears to be a valley of tears! Almost everything earthly is at times calculated to cause sorrow, fill us with sadness, and draw forth tears.

Losses, crosses, disappointments and bereavements - all conspire to make us sad. Earth is to us a Valley of Achor - the place of trouble and sorrow.

Now turning to Jesus, we find a friend who loves at all times, and a brother born for adversity. He makes up for every loss, He sanctifies every disappointment, and He fills for us every relation.

His presence is like a flowing spring - in a dreary desert, like a cheering fire - on a piercing winter's night, and like a happy home - to the exhausted traveler.

O how precious is Jesus now!!

Christ is especially precious at the throne of grace. What could we do without Jesus there? What could we plead? Realizing this, and perceiving the infinite worth and worthiness of Jesus, and His glorious sacrifice, and believing that He stands between us and His Father's justice, how precious Jesus is! We dare not go to the throne without Him, nor expect the least blessing but through Him, and for His sake; but with Him, and through Him, we may expect the greatest, the richest, the best blessings, which God can bestow!

Christ is especially precious when satan comes to harass us, and reflections on the sins and infirmities of our past lives, are calculated to deject and cast us down.

Christ is especially precious in the hour of death. However much we may need Christ for life - we shall need Him more in death. He is the only antidote of death. He alone can give us victory over it. He alone can make us triumph in it.

How precious have multitudes found Jesus to be in the dying hour! They have been able to defy its power, smile at its pains, and court its final stroke! Through Him they have cried, and cried in tones of triumph, "O death, where is your sting! O grave, where is your victory!" Yes, when earth appears to be receding and eternity drawing very near to us. When every earthly prop gives way. When clear light shows us that our very best works are but splendid sins. O how precious is Jesus then!

~James Smith~

(continued with # 3)