The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-14
Am tbar Cbr;et;op d;so;nlaa

Am L Ineu OuIlSJldu QlSclplo
This is the important question to be
asked; not to be asked of one an
other, Are you a Christian? but to
be asked of ourselves, to be brought
home. Am / a Chistian? Wholly SO?
Have | reached the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ
When | try myself and prove me, as
this young man was tried by Christ,
how do l appear to myself? How
would | appear to Christ were he
to try me thus? Am | satisfied
Have | reached the measure of per-
| lection that | wish? And does that
measure make me genuine disciple,
a real follower Of Jesus? Have /
gone beyond the point which this
young man had reached? Have |
assembled higher on the mount of
sacrifice than he did? He had done
much and had done we'll, for that he
stood approved. Jesus loved him;
but he did not love Jesus as we'll.
He had travelled long, and travelled
hard, but he had n ot yet entered the
city. He had come to the very gate
of the new Jerusalem. 1t was in his
power to open it, but he did not,
would not. Only one thing remained
to be done; but he went away. Am
| like him? Am | pausing where he
paused? Have | done that one thing
which he had not done and did not
do? If have not, will l do it now?
Here is the important question that
shall try us at this very moment.
Am | wholly disciple of Christ, or
will [ be henceforth? Ii | am wholly
disciple of Christ [ will be a fol-
lower of Christ. If | am a follower
of Christ will do as Christ did. He
laid his all upon the altar of sacrifice
and will lay my all upon it. Have
| done this? Have / set God and
human good above my earthly all
my wealth, my ease, my reputa-
ton and my life? In this respect
and to this extent do [ follow Christ?
If SO. then am l his disciple indeed.
But if not,-then lack | one thing, if
not more, and that one very impor-
tant thing: l do not love God SUI
premely, nor my neighbor as myself
/ see it in the use which l am making
of the things that God has given me.
/ have kept them too much to myself,
for the promotion of my own private
good, and have not used them enough
to promote the universal good. l
have been first in everything that /
have done. l have forgotten the
poor and the afflicted, the down
trodden and the oppressed.
have turned away from the an
fortunate who was too weak to recover
himself and would not let him take
my hand nor lean upon my shoulder.
l have shut my ears to the cry of
little children walking in darkness in
the midst of dangers-tried and
tempted, and asking for lamp and
guide. Because it would touch my
pocket or my case, would draw upon
my money or my time, therefore, ! let
them go and would not hear and heed
and help. And am Ithen disciple?
Is this following Christ? Have I done
more-have | done as much-as this
young man had done? If thus / es-
innate myself so much below the
standard mark of Christ, how must
he estimate me?
And now will l stay here, will l
turn back and "go away" or will l
resolutely set my face and go for
ward, up the mount of sacrifice, till l
reach its very top; and there, laying
my all, and with it myself, upon the
altar, say, Here, Lord, take it-take
me-for all have" and all l am is
thine and l will dedicate all to thy
service and make of all an offering
for human good.