Consecration
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race. “He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of
many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:12
.
But what do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart,
for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His
matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all! I am ashamed
to hear it spoken of, ashamed to write it.
God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best
interest to retain. In all that He does, He has the well-being of His
children in view. Would that all who have not chosen Christ might
realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are
seeking for themselves. Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice
to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God.
No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows
what is best and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of
transgression is the path of misery and destruction.
It is a mistake to entertain the thought that God is pleased to
see His children suffer. All heaven is interested in the happiness
of man. Our heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to
any of His creatures. The divine requirements call upon us to shun
those indulgences that would bring suffering and disappointment, that
would close to us the door of happiness and heaven. The world’s
Redeemer accepts men as they are, with all their wants, imperfections,
and weaknesses; and He will not only cleanse from sin and grant
redemption through His blood, but will satisfy the heart-longing of all
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who consent to wear His yoke, to bear His burden. It is His purpose
to impart peace and rest to all who come to Him for the bread of life.
He requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to
heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. The true,
joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within, the hope of
glory.
Many are inquiring, “How am I to make the surrender of myself
to God?” You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in
moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your
life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You
cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The
knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens
your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that
God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to