| Things to Live For |
Chapter 24 |
Page 5 |
So will it be with all the precious things of Christian faith which seem to perish. In Christ nothing that is good or lovely can be really lost. The dreams of youth which meant so much to us, and which we seem to have lost, – they have served their purpose, and are lost only as blossoms are lost when they fall away to give place to the fruit.
We can lose our beautiful things only in sin. Sin’s grave is deep and dark, and there is no resurrection for the precious things of life which go down into it. And oh, what treasures are buried in this hopeless sepulcher! Innocence, purity of heart, sweet feelings, heavenly yearnings, visions of Christ, hopes of glory, holy affections, the strength and joy of life, possibilities of nobleness, childhood’s faith, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are lovely – what heaps of life’s best things go down into sin’s deep grave! And this grave was never broken open. The stone was never rolled from its door. No vision of angels was ever seen in its dark chamber. What is buried in sin’s grave is hopelessly lost. It never can be gotten back again, though men seek for it diligently with tears. Lost innocence comes twice to none.
But in Christ nothing beautiful or good ever perishes. A little child stooped to catch the sunlight which streamed on the floor. In her dimpled hand she grasped it, and reached and strove for more.
“But the sunbeam would not linger
In that chubby little hand,
Though it lay upon each finger
Like a bright and golden band.
“Still, the striving gave her pleasure,
And the light yet lingering lies
In most fair and gladsome measure,
In the depth of her blue eyes.”
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