When Christ said to His disciples in that memorable meeting in Galilee, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," it was not only to the disciples that He spoke, but to all who believe on His name. That includes you and me. If we should regard that as a personal promise to us, just as if He had called us by our own given name and said, "John, Mary, though I am leaving the earth, and going to My Father, yet while you live I will be with you," it would give us great confidence and joy.
Christianity is an experience as well as a faith and doctrine. The experience is all important, the most vital part of religion. Without experience and a revelation of the presence of Christ with us, religion becomes something hard, and often degenerates even to cruelty. It makes of men Pharisees who glory in forms and ceremonies, who bask in ostentation and parade, and who become judges of what others must believe and do. Such religion is not a saving faith; it is a cold, heartless profession that is about as bad as sin itself.
But when one has been "born again," and has received Christ not only as a Saviour from past sins, but as a divine Person ever with us, real though unseen,--who communes with us though there is no audible sound, who gives us comfort when we are crushed by anxiety, who keeps us true and loyal to right when we are naturally passionate and sorely tempted,—then it is that one can say, "I know Christ, and He is my Friend."
Someone may say, "I believe that Christ forgives all past sins; but I do not have any comfort in prayer. It brings me no tangible help." That may be the experience of not a few. Wherein lies the trouble? First, let me ask, "Are you conscious of some wrong, some cherished fleshly lust? are you living in some forbidden indulgence? If so, you will find neither comfort in prayer nor joy in the Holy Ghost. The thing you need and must have is a new experience, even though you be a gospel worker. Prayer will not bring comfort till victory is claimed by surrender and faith.
A brother about forty-five years of age was relating his lack of getting any help when he prayed. When asked, "Are you living in some known sin?" he said, "I am a very weak and sinful man." "Yes," said the minister, "but are you conscious of some particular wrong that you allow in your life?" "Oh, yes," he said, "every day I confess my sins to God, but I get no help. The next day and the next I sin over and over again." The minister said, "You say you are a sinner; that must mean that you are conscious of definite sin. What is wrong in your life?" The man said, "I know God is not with me. nor do I get answers to my prayers." The minister said, "You and God know what is the matter. Unless you put sin out of your life, you are lost." Then the man said, "I am using tobacco. No one knows it but God. My wife does not suspect it, nor does the church. I buy it where I am not known. Once I had victory; but I lost my faith and drifted back to my old habit. Pray for me." This man found help in prayer and lived a victorious life till he died.
The Christian life must not be a double life; it must be honest and sincere; it must not profess one thing and do another. There is no need of talking about the Holy Spirit's dwelling in us while we cherish known sin. The divine presence—the Holy Spirit—will not dwell within the heart when that heart lives willingly in transgression of God's law. Neglected duty is one of the enemies with which we must constantly contend.
Men were once physically with Christ. They heard Him preach and teach, they witnessed His mighty healing power, they saw Him raise the dead to life; and yet their hearts were not touched by His grace. Judas went from the very presence of Christ and bartered with the priests to betray his Master. Near the close of His ministry, Christ said to Peter, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:32. Thousands have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and yet have failed to bear the fruit of the Spirit of God. So we must not trust to our position or responsibilities or creed as the means of salvation. We must have Christ within.
"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," is a promise we must cherish by faith, and know of a certainty that it is fulfilled in our personal experience.
I. H. E.
