Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-03
THE JOY OF BELIEF.
What Faith il Jesus Christ Brings
Capacity for True Happiness
Increased.


alters the nature to such an extent that
we are no longer able to laugh. to frolic
with children, TO romp with boys and
girls. to take an interest in music or
this lovely world of Gods. All our ma
ture. is left as quick and susceptible as
ever, but the self-principle is crucified,
and the ChriSt-principle is enthroned,
writes Rev. F. B. Meyer. NJ. A. The
whole being has come under new and
blessed influence of the love of God
The first question We have TO ask about
everything is: Has GOD created this
this love, this friendship, this employ
ment, this method of recreation? Is
this music of God? Is this check
stamped with His impress? Are these
things, to which our soul is attracted,
bearing. like coins do. the image and
superscription of the King?
Here stands the cup before me. 1t is
chased with exquisite skill; it is brim-
ming, and its color attracts and fascin-
ates me; l put my hand out to receive
1t; but as lift it to my lips. can look
into the face of God and thank Him?
Is there that in my friendship which
enables me to soar? Is there that in this
delight which startles my heart to join
with the anthem of the cherubim? For.
II so, may take this thing with Joy and
Thanksgiving, counting 1t as innocent
1T is sanctified by the word of God
and prayer" There are some friend
ships fellowships and engagements
which incapacitate us for prayer. You
cannot turn from that hour which you
Let us pray" You cannot come out
OF that recreation and take your Bible
and read your evening passage This IS
the third great test If. then, you realize
that God, Who knew your nature and
made it. gave you, created for you, that
Joy, and fitted it to you with infinite
ingenuity; if you realize that. so far
from being hindered, you may turn to
the most holy exercises of the closet and
read your Bible. and commune with
your God, you may look up into the face
OF God and say: Thou art the blessed
God, the happy God, the God Whose life
is music, Who art light and in Whom is
no darkness at all; and Thou hast put
this beautiful thing into my expert
ence; | cannot thank Thee enough, but
/ will rejoice and be glad; my heart shall
sing for JOY. and Thou wilt be glad be-
cause am glad"
There is nothing more exquisite IN
this world than the Joy of little chill
dren; to see them CULVER with delight.
the little faces flush with Joy and the
eyes sparkle, and to have the child throw
itself upon your bosom. crying: lam
so happy!" And sometimes Il seems
as though God comes into our life and
says: Little child, do not think I am
always using the rod and administering
the bitter cup: I must do so sometimes.
not because like It; but now, come and
have good time and enjoy yourself
to your hearts content"
You sorrowing people. take joy-open
your heart TO the gliuting light You
lonely people. let God put In some Gift
of His tender thoughtfulness TO allevi-
ate the monotony of life. You who have
passed through a great bereavement,
do not shut yourself up with il. but ac-
cept the Joys that God creates.
Everything which God has made Is
beautiful. o sorrow, God hath made
thee: art thou beautiful! o black. sable
night without star or moon. God hath
made thee: art thou beautiful o ter
rioIe ache and pain. that gnaws at the
heart and never leaves IL for an hour:
art thou beautiful When we look at
these things apart from God, they GER
tainly startle. scare and brighten us.
But perhaps we are not childlike
enough. like that story in Kingslev's
life. One summer morning he was sit
ting with friend in his study. and his
little girl came In with a long worm.
exclaiming: 20 father, look what a
lovely worm I have goti" II we could
see worms with a child's eye, we should
think them beautiful. God is so beauti-
full in Himself that He cannot make
anything which is not beautiful and II
we do not see beauty In things, il is only
because our eyes are not opened yet;
out some day, when we stand with Him
and see things in His light, all the hor-
ror and darkness will pass away and
everything which bears His signature
will seem beautiful. We may not feel
1t to be beautiful, we may not see Il
to be beautiful, but we dare to believe |
that 1t IS; and finally, in the very pres
ence of God, the scales will fall from |
our eyes, and we shall see that He hath |
made everything beautiful in its time. |
oyou love God? Do You live back in |
the heart of Christ? Do you know God?
Oh, embosom yourself in Him! Let
your life be hidden with Christ in God
and from that standpoint look out upon
everything, and you will find that para
disc has come back, and you will hear
God say OF everything that He has made:
Behold, it is very good"
The Evidence of Power.