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Helping the Tempted
107
a value that exceeds finite computation. By the mystery and glory
of the cross we are to discern His estimate of the value of the soul.
When we do this, we shall feel that human beings, however degraded,
have cost too much to be treated with coldness or contempt. We
shall realize the importance of working for lost souls, that they may
be saved and exalted to the throne of God.
The lost coin in the Savior’s parable, though lying in the dirt
and rubbish, was still a piece of silver. Its owner wanted to find it
because it was of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin, is
in God’s sight accounted precious. As the coin bore the image and
superscription of the reigning power, so human beings at creation
bore the image and superscription of God. Though now marred and
dim through the influence of sin, the traces of this inscription remain
on every soul. God desires to recover that soul and to retrace upon it
His own image in righteousness and holiness.
How little do we enter into sympathy with Christ on that which
should be the strongest bond of union between us and Him—com-
passion for depraved, guilty, suffering souls, dead in trespasses and
sins! Our inhumanity toward others is our greatest sin. Many think
that they are representing the justice of God while they wholly fail
to represent His tenderness and His great love. Often the ones whom
they treat with sternness and severity are under the stress of tempta-
tion. Satan is wrestling with these souls, and harsh, unsympathetic
words discourage them and cause them to fall a prey to the tempter’s
power.
It is a delicate matter to deal with minds. Only He who reads the
heart knows how to bring people to repentance. Only His wisdom
can give us success in reaching the lost. You may stand up stiffly,
feeling, “I am holier than you,” and it matters not how correct your
reasoning or how true your words; they will never touch hearts. The
love of Christ, revealed in word and act, will win its way to the soul
when reiterating precepts or arguments would accomplish nothing.
We need more Christlike sympathy not merely for those who
appear to us to be faultless but for poor, suffering, struggling souls
who are often overtaken in fault, sinning and repenting, tempted and
discouraged. We are to go to our fellow mortals, touched, like our
merciful High Priest, with the feeling of their infirmities.