Our Great Need
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the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” As a people who believe in Christ’s
soon appearing, we have a message to bear—“Prepare to meet thy
God.”
Amos 4:12
. Our message must be as direct as was the message
of John. He rebuked Kings for their iniquity. Notwithstanding that his
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life was imperiled, he did not hesitate to declare God’s word. And our
work in this age must be done as faithfully.
In order to give such a message as John gave, we must have a
spiritual experience like his. The same work must be wrought in us.
We must behold God, and in beholding Him lose sight of self.
John had by nature the faults and weaknesses common to humanity;
but the touch of divine love had transformed him. When, after Christ’s
ministry began, the disciples of John came to him with the complaint
that all men were following the new Teacher, John showed how clearly
he understood his relation to the Messiah, and how gladly he welcomed
the One for whom he had prepared the way.
“A man can receive nothing,” he said, “except it be given him
from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not
the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the bride is
the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and
heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this
my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:27-30
.
Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height
of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to
lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon
the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the
wilderness. Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the
eyes of all might be turned to the Light of life.
Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not
seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love
for Christ. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did
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John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world.”
John 1:29
. They will lift up Jesus, and with Him
humanity will be lifted up. “Thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy
place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive
the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isaiah 57:15
.