12
The Sanctified Life
When a man professes to be sanctified, and yet in words and works
may be represented by the impure fountain sending forth its bitter
waters, we may safely say, That man is deceived. He needs to learn
the very alphabet of what constitutes the life of a Christian. Some who
profess to be servants of Christ have so long cherished the demon of
unkindness that they seem to love the unhallowed element and to take
pleasure in speaking words that displease and irritate. These men must
be converted before Christ will acknowledge them as His children.
Meekness is the inward adorning, which God estimates as of great
price. The apostle speaks of this as more excellent and valuable than
gold or pearls or costly array. While the outward adorning beautifies
only the mortal body, the ornament of meekness adorns the soul and
connects finite man with the infinite God. This is the ornament of
God’s own choice. He who garnished the heavens with the orbs of
light has by the same Spirit promised that “he will beautify the meek
with salvation” (
Psalm 149:4
). Angels of heaven will register as best
adorned those who on the Lord Jesus Christ and walk with Him in
meekness and lowliness of mind.
There are high attainments for the Christian. He may ever be rising
to higher attainments. John had an elevated idea of the privilege of
a Christian. He says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (
1 John
[17]
3:1
). It is not possible for humanity to rise to a higher dignity than
is here implied. To man is granted the privilege of becoming an heir
of God and a joint heir with Christ. To those who have been thus
exalted, are unfolded the unsearchable riches of Christ, which are of a
thousandfold more value than the wealth of the world. Thus, through
the merits of Jesus Christ, finite man is elevated to fellowship with
God and with His dear Son.
[18]