| Strength and Beauty |
Chapter 15 |
Page 4 |
Persons sometimes think that religion imparts qualities of character, traits of disposition, elements of spiritual beauty, without any cost of effort to him who receives these gifts. But it is not thus that even Christ helps us in the making of our life. He came to give life and he gives it abundantly to all who will take it. It cost him, too, to bring this blessing of life within our reach – he died that we might live. He did not merely bring heaven’s gifts down to earth as one might bring flowers, and scatter them at our feet. He paid the full price for the blessings which he bestows. Nor, while they are free gifts to us, can we pick them up as we would flowers. It costs to become a friend of Christ. His followers are transformed – old things pass away, and all things become new. Those who believe in him are fashioned into his image. But these blessings do not come easily. The heavenly graces are not put into our life as one might hang up lovely pictures on the walls to adorn a home. They can become ours only through our own experience. They must be wrought into our life in a sense by our own hands. We must work out our own salvation, although it is God that worketh in us both to will and to work.
For example, patience is not put into any one’s life as one brings in a piece of new furniture. You cannot merely accept patience as a gift from God. The spirit of patience is put into your heart when you admit Christ into your life, but it is only an inspiration, a heavenly vision, a divine impulse, as yet. It is yours to accept this inspiration, and let it rule in your heart. It is yours to take this heavenly vision, and make it a reality in your own life. This can be done only through long and watchful self discipline. Patience is a lesson to be learned. Christ is the teacher, but you are the scholar, and it is the scholar who must learn the lesson. Not even Christ can learn it for you to spare you the effort. Nor can it be made an easy lesson for you even by the divine gentleness. It costs to grow patient, and you must pay the price yourself.
The same is true of all the elements of a noble and worthy character. They come from God – they are parts of the life of God brought down and incarnated in us. But they can enter into our life only through our own co-working with the divine Spirit.
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