07 - CHAPTER 5: NONE CAN IMITATE CHRIST

NOT THE IMITATION OF CHRIST BUT HIS INDWELLING PRESENCE IS THE REAL SECRET OF CONSTANT TRIUMPH. Have we grasped the fact that the Victorious Life is not secured GRADUALLY, nor by effort and striving on our part? We know that a partial self-control can be obtained and IS obtained for a time by men who give no thought to pleasing God. An athlete will "flee youthful lusts" and to a great degree "keep himself unspotted from the world" simply to gain Victory in the world of sport. A business man or a shop-assistant will "control" his temper merely to secure orders, or keep a situation. A society lady will remain "sweet" even if you ruin her smartest dress by upsetting your tea over it. A Christian man may "school" himself in the same manner-but this is not necessarily the Victorious Life. Do not misunderstand me. There IS a fight-and a strenuous fight- against a world of sin. But to fight against sin IN THE HEART is to mistrust Christ and is sure of failure in the long run. What then CAN we do to get this Victorious Life? Many of us have tried the IMITATION OF CHRIST.

We may call this THE PROMISING WAY... because it looks so attractive and right; and so likely to succeed. Surely it is a splendid thing to imitate Christ. But can you do it? "Oh, well," you reply, "I can try." As a matter of fact, no one ever lived who imitated Christ. It cannot be done. Nor are we told to attempt it.

CHRIST OUR LIFE

One of the world’s masterpieces of religious literature is called THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. Most of us know it well. It is, indeed, a delightful book, and has helped countless thousands- but not to imitate Christ! John Newton, the blaspheming slave raider, was led to Christ by reading this book. Read it again, for your soul’s good, and you will notice that from beginning to end there is nothing about imitating Christ. It is full of helpful counsels and advice, of meditations, and prayers and exhortations. The title well might be THE APPROPRIATION OF CHRIST, or THE ABSORPTION OF CHRIST.

Christ is to be more than an example-He is OUR LIFE. Someone has gone so far as to have declared that the "idea of imitating Christ is a hoax of the devil"! And he is really right in his strong assertion, For although no harm, but only good, can come from attempting to imitate the Lord Jesus, failure is certain to be the result. Good is always the enemy of "best." We know how hopeless it is to try to imitate the holy men and women whose friendship we value. How much more difficult it would be to imitate Christ! THE BIBLE ON IMITATORS But we must not rely upon human opinions. What does the Bible say about this question? Has it ever struck you that nowhere in the New Testament are we told to be like Jesus Christ-or to strive to be like Him-or to pray that we may be like Him? Is it not so? This is very startling. The nearest approach you get to such an idea is found in Romans 8:29, "Whom He foreknew He also fore-ordained to be conformed to the image of His Son." In his wonderful commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, Dr. Moule, the late Bishop of Durham, says, "The Greek here is literally ’conformed ones of the image’-as if their similitude made them PART of what they resembled."

Paul also says, "Ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 1:6). But in what way? In the matter of being afflicted for the Gospel’s sake. The servant is not above his Lord. If the world persecuted Christ, it will persecute us. The same idea is brought out in 1 Peter 2:21. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that ye should follow His steps"-i.e., in suffering patiently (even though He was sinless) the contradiction of sinners against Himself. "But," you ask, "does not St. Paul tell us to be ’imitators’ of God?" Yes, but always and only in this matter of showing a forgiving spirit. (See Ephesians 4:32 and Ephesians 5:1.) We may and can and should imitate some acts of Jesus Christ-but to imitate HIM is impossible. And, moreover, when we think we are "imitating" Him, it is in reality Christ Himself working IN US. One day we SHALL BE like Him-but not by any attempt at imitation on our part. "When He shall appear we shall be LIKE Him for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).

CHRIST IN OUR HEARTS

There would be little harm in trying to imitate Christ, if such an endeavour did not hide from us what our Lord really desires; and so keep us back from "life more abundant." He wants to come Himself into our lives, to dwell in our hearts and live His life in us. What a wonderful thing this is! We should despair if Christ simply left us an example to "follow" or "imitate." But He says He will come and dwell in our hearts by faith. Surely this is much better than having Christ as my helper, or than getting "power" from Christ. Paul sums up this great privilege in a sentence. "For," says he, "it is God which worketh IN YOU both to will and to work, for His good pleasure" (Php 2:13). The word means work mightily, effectively." Remember it is not an "influence" or a "spiritual force"-it is God Himself dwelling in the heart of the believer.

We are sometimes urged to "possess our possessions," but we would rather invite all true believers to possess their POSSESSOR-Jesus Christ Himself, "Who is all and in you all." In fact, the word "imitate" really means "a going into." In this sense there is imitation indeed: for we enter into Christ, and Christ enters into us. So that we can say with Paul, "For me to live is Christ" (Php 1:21); "Christ Who is our life" (Colossians 3:4).

We must remember that Christ IS already in the heart of every believer. But unless He has FULL possession, and FULL control, we cannot have Victory.

Forgive a homely illustration, which the writer used in speaking to lads. He asked the question, "Would you like to play football as well as B---?" (a celebrated professional centre-forward). "Yes, sir," "Well, it’s quite simple- imitate him." "We can’t do it, sir." "But if I could endow you with all the strength of B---, would you not play as well?" "No, sir, for we should still lack his skill." "But suppose that with his strength I could also impart his mind-the mind which controls and guides his play and which gives him his skill?" "Then we’d play as well as he," they broke in. Now, that is just what our Lord wishes to do for every one of His children. He does not say, "Imitate Me." But He does say, "Let Me come into your very being and think IN you good thoughts; and work IN you, and enable you to put those thoughts into deeds."

"Ye shall be endued with power form on high." Yes, but that very Power is the Holy Spirit of God Himself. "Who shall be IN you," says Christ. So that St. Paul boldly says, "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). But if we have the mind of Christ in us, and "Power from on high" to fulfil the purposes of that mind, "Holiness" becomes, not second nature, but our very life.

KNOWING AND DOING

You may be saying to yourself, "There is nothing new in this." No, indeed; but have you acted upon it? For years the writer read all these things in the Bible and believed them-yes, and spoke about them in addresses. Then came a day when he resolutely faced his failure to conquer so many "little" sins -- these sad betrayals of his Lord and Saviour. Was there no "better thing" than this in store? Again he knelt and surrendered himself fully to Christ and in simple faith claimed Jesus Christ as his indwelling Saviour. Then he rose from his knees and took it for granted that the Lord Jesus Christ was filling his entire life. That is, he simply BELIEVED God’s Word.

What a wonderful consciousness of His Presence was secured. Christ is no longer simply One Who inhabits eternity-Someone to Whom to turn in times of difficulty; no longer Someone Who comes to one’s aid and helps from without. He has come to make His abode in the whole heart-taking full possession of my very being; body, soul and spirit. So that the first thought in the morning and the frequent recollection during the day is just this: "To me to live is Christ." A little girl once heard such teaching from God’s Holy Word, and hurried home with joyful heart. Her mother, on entering the house, heard the child’s voice in the dining-room. "Lord Jesus," said she, "they tell me You are willing to come and dwell in my heart. Forgive me all my sins. Make my heart clean. And now, Lord Jesus, come into the WHOLE of my heart." Then the child stood up and looking up to heaven said simply, "He’s IN."

Cleansing, Surrender; Faith.

It is as simple as that. Yet the very "Power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead" is involved in it (Ephesians 1:19-20). "Power from on high."