The Unsatisfied Life And Its Remedy
By J. Hudson Taylor
Union with Christ and abiding in Christ what do they secure? Peace, perfect peace; rest, constant rest; answers to all our prayers; victory over all our foes; pure, holy living; ever-increasing fruitfulness. All, all of these are the glad outcome of abiding in Christ
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Yet, there are many of the Lords people who know not the rest, the joy of abiding in Christ, and they know not how to attain to it, nor why it is not theirs. Are there not many who look back to the delightful times of their first espousals, who, so far from finding richer inheritance in Christ than they had then had, are even conscious that they have lost their first love, and might express their experience in the sad lament: "Where is the blessedness I knew when first I saw the Lord?"
Others, again, who may not have lost their first love, may yet be feeling that the occasional interruptions to communion are becoming more and more unbearable, as the world becomes less and He becomes more. His absence is an ever-increasing distress.
"Oh, that I knew where I might find Him! Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine" (Song 1:2). Would that His love were strong and constant like mine, and that He never withdrew the light of His countenance!"
Poor mistaken one! There is a love far stronger than yours waiting, longing for satisfaction. The Bridegroom is waiting for you all the time; the conditions that hinder His approach are all of your own making. Take the right place before Him, and He will be most ready, most glad, to "satisfy your deepest longings, to meet, supply your every need."
What should we think of a betrothed one whose conceit and self-will prevented not only the consummation of her own joy, but of his who had given her his heart?
Though never at rest in his absence, she cannot trust him fully, and she does not care to give up her own name, her own rights and possessions, her own will to him who had become necessary for her happiness. She would gladly claim him fully, without giving up herself fully to him; but it can never be. While she retains her own name, she can never claim his. She may not promise to love and honor if she will not also promise to obey. And until her love reaches that point of surrender, she must remain an unsatisfied lover; she cannot find rest in the home of her husband as a satisfied bride. While she retains her own will, and the control of her own possessions, she must be content to live on her own resources. She cannot claim his.
Could there be a sadder proof of the extent and reality of the fall of mankind than the deep-seated distrust of our loving Lord and Master which makes us hesitate to give ourselves entirely up to Him, which fears that He might require something beyond our powers, or call for something that we should find it hard to give or to do? The real secret of an unsatisfied life lies too often in an unsurrendered will.
And yet how foolish, as well as how wrong this is! Do we imagine that we are wiser than He or that our love for ourselves is more tender and strong than His? Or do we think that we know ourselves better than He does? How our distrust must grieve and wound afresh the tender heart of Him who was for us the Man of Sorrows! What would be the feelings of an earthly bridegroom if he discovered that his bride elect was dreading to marry him, lest, when he had the power, he should render her life unbearable? Yet how many of the Lords redeemed ones treat Him just so! No wonder they are neither happy nor satisfied!
But true love cannot be stationary; it must either decline or grow. Despite all the unworthy fears of our poor hearts, Divine love is destined to conquer. The bride exclaims: "Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the virgins love Thee" (Song 1:3).
There was no such ointment as that with which the High Priest was anointed: our Bridegroom is a Priest as well as a King. The trembling bride cannot wholly dismiss her fears; but the unrest and the longing become unbearable, and she determines to surrender all, and come what may to follow fully. She will yield her very self to Him, heart and hand, influence and possessions. Nothing can be so unbearable as His absence! If He lead to another Moriah (Gen. 22:1-2), or even to a Calvary, she will follow Him. "Draw me: we will run after Thee!" (Song 1:4).
But ah! What follows? A wondrously glad surprise. No Moriah, no Calvary; on the contrary, a King! When the heart submits, then Jesus reigns. And when Jesus reigns, there is rest. And where does He lead His bride? "The King hath brought me into His chambers" (Song 1:4). Not first to the banqueting house that will come in due season but first to be alone with Himself.
How perfect! Could we be satisfied to meet a beloved one only in public? No; we want to take such a one aside to have him all to ourselves. So with our Master: He takes His now fully consecrated bride aside, to taste and enjoy the sacred intimacies of His wondrous love. The Bridegroom of His Church longs for communion with His people more than they long for fellowship with Him, and often has to cry: "Let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely" (Song 2:14).
Are we not all too apt to seek Him rather because of our need than for His joy and pleasure? This should not be. We do not admire selfish children who only think of what they can get from their parents, and are unmindful of the pleasure that they may give or the service that they may render. But are not we in danger of forgetting that pleasing God means giving Him pleasure? Some of us look back to the time when the words, "to please God" meant no more than not to sin against Him, not to grieve Him; but would the love of earthly parents be satisfied with the mere absence of disobedience? Or would a bridegroom be satisfied if his bride only sought him for the supply of her own need?
A word about the morning watch may not be out of place here. There is no time so profitably spent as the early hour given to Jesus only. Do we give sufficient attention to this hour? If possible, it should be redeemed; nothing can make up for it. We must take time to be holy!
One other thought: when we bring our questions to God, do we not sometimes either go on to offer some other petition, or leave the closet without waiting for replies? Does not this seem to show little expectation of an answer, and little desire for one? Should we like to be treated so? Quiet waiting before God would save from many a mistake and from many a sorrow.
We have found the bride making a glad discovery of a King her King and not a cross as she expected; this is the first fruit of her consecration. "We will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee" (Song 1:4).
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Michelle
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