The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-17
LIKENESS TO CHRIST.
Helpful Hints Regarding Attainment
10 the Christian Ideal.

heipfui hints Regarding Attainment
10 the Christian Ideal.
This is the object of all Christian life.
the goal of all Christian effort. IL does
not imply uniformity of nature. or even
Of character. 1t simply means that our
individual characters are to be SO puri-
fed OF evil. have what is good In them
so fully developed that, as a result, we
shall be dominated by the same prin-
ciples that Christ manifested. In pro-
portion as it is accomplished do men
take knowledge of us that we have been
with Jesus. In the same proportion do
we have comfort in our own lives and
are we efficient in our work.
When, however, we come TO think
somewhat closely as to what is involved
in this and judge carefully of our prac-
tical attainment, the effect is apt to be
discouraging. Likeness TO Christ means
holiness, freedom from sin; and we are
constantly subject TO sin. and very far
from holiness. Even our best efforts
in that direction are so often of little
avail, and we so frequently find that the
evil is tho very thing we want, while
the good we are willing to forego, that
we wonder sometimes whether we real
ly desire the thing we are aiming at.
So also likeness to Christ means wis
dom, the best use of the best means;
the right word In the right place; and
we are so unwise, fail so often, stir so
much evil instead of allaying IL, that
absolutely unattainable and practically
not worth trying for.
So through all the long list of those
characteristics that marked Christ's
life upon the earth as we find IL re-
corded. The more we look at them and
then at ourselves the more we realize
our own shortening and failure. and
hesitate even to claim the purpose of
seeking them. We are disposed to settle
down to a somewhat logged kind of
life. say we will do the best we can and
let IL go at that. If we are tempted and
yield we console ourselves with the re-
Election that we are still human and
liable TO err. and will not be judged
harshly.
The way to avoid this is to keep the
thought fixed not upon ourselves, but
upon Christ. and upon Him, not so
much as an example for us, as a person
in Himself. A great many people are
constantly wondering what Christ
would do IL He were situated just as
they are. Inasmuch as He could not
possibly be situated just as they are,
the query becomes useless. Our situa-
lions are the result, TO a greater or less
degree. of our own character, with it's
weaknesses and defects. To put Christ
exactly in our place Is impossible.
What we are 10 look at Is not series of
actions, but the life that is behind the
actions, the principle that controls
them. Actions. indeed, are the illustra-
ton Of principles. Hence IL IN well 10
study actions, but TO study them not
for themselves, but for what they In
dictate. So, too, of words. When Christ
was giving His last instructions TO the
disciples He told them that the COM
forter, the Holy Spirit, would teach
them all things, bringing TO their re-
membrance whatsoever He had said to
them. The value of those words is not
that they furnish statutes for right ac-
ton, but principles for right living.
But IL Is not merely by watching the
life of Christ ms illustrated by His ac-
tons, or His principles rs set forth by
His words. that we gain likeness TO
Him. There is a strange power In per-
sonality 10 affect other natures. The
child grows 20 be like one whom he con-
stantly watches. He may or may not
make a conscious effort for that like
ness, but the likeness comes. People of
larger growth. maturer, more independ-
emit development, are often strangely
drawn by constant contact into like
nesses TO one another, without 80 much
MS a thought of the process. John says:
"We shall be like Him, for we shall see
Him as He IS" What we need here Is
20 see Christ-see Him. not merely as
He was. but as He Is; and we shall find
the likeness taking hold upon us and
fnshioning us into itself.-N. Y. indie
pendent.