The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-04-15


prospect of life has definite attraction
for all. The universal testimony of
man after being quickened by the
Spirit is that gloom and despair await
ed them in their natural state. AS one
is drawn TO the remedy for ills when
afflicted or pardon when under con-
demnation so the cross of Christ with
magnetic force draws men.
q 1t is an effective remedy. for sin.
Millions of witnesses have testified To
the saving efficacy of the cross. Just
as the Israelites who were bitten by the
serpents were healed by looking to- the
braZen serpent which Moses lifted up
ON the pole so millions testify that by
looking to Jesus uplifted they were
healed OF their sins.
g. 1t expresses divine sympathy.
Jesus voluntarily gave up his glory
with the Father and took the place of
sinners (Phil. 2 :6-S; CT. III Cor. 3 :2D.
He not only surrendered his reputa-
ton. but became obedient unto death.
The unseltishnesS of the one who
champions the cause of the helpless
has great power 10 gather supporters.
While Jesus did not die as a martyr,
but as substitutionary sacrifice, the
unselfishnesS of his love finds a re-
Spouse in the human heart. We love
him because he first loved us.
Its Method.
l. In the Incarnation God united him
self to man, and on the cross Christ
suffered the just penalty of God as the
substitute for all who would believe
on him. 1t is this substitutionary as
pect of the cross that draws men 10
Christ. To the superstitious who
lacerate themselves TO quiet their
chastisement of their peace was upon
him. To the poor heather mother who
casts her babe into the Gauges TO APP
pease the anger of God; to those who
in the darkness of despair are by the
side of their dead, hoping by noises to
frighten off the spirit from ghost land,
the cross comes with its magnetic pow
er because it tells of a resurrection and
Immortality. To the poor Indian who
believes In the transmigration of souls
il appeals because Ii tells him that in
a moment, in the twlnkling of an eye,
the believer shall be absent from the
body and present with the Lord in
stead of passing through millions Of
transmigrations.
2. The Holy Spirit, whose influence
and power are secured and sent down
by virtue of the cross, illumines il and
draws men unto 1t. 1t is the Spirit that
quickeneth. 'Souls touched with d.
vine life persisteEtly turn toward Je-
sus. The needle that has been touched
with the loadstone may be shaken and
agitated, but 1t never rests until it
turns toward the pole. Thus our hearts
affections when once magnetlzed by the
love of Christ find no rest except they
turn to him."
Its Scope.
i. II embraces all nationalities.
Christ was not uplifted on the cross
merely for the Jews, but for all ma
lions he died for all. The realization
of the full meaning of the cross Of
Christ will do away with race preju-
dice. In this day when men are cast
ing about for a message for this new
age, it becomes them to consider the
cross, because only In Christ can the
brotherhood Of man be realized.
2. 1t extends to all classes-the rich
and the poor, the educated and the I'M
educated. The redemption that is in
Christ outside of the range of human
intellect, merit or treasure. In him
there are no rich and no poor; no
slaves, no masters; no capitalists, no
laborers, but sympathetic, loving
family.
Its Results.
The magnetic force of Christ's cross
will result In a universal kingdom.
The glorious age which has been an
ticipated by the great minds Of the
earth shall be turned into actually by
the cross of Christ. His cross Is the
keystone In the arch which spans the
two eternities. What the sun is to the
solar system the cross Of Christ Is to
the moral universe.
Since salvation depends upon the
lifting up of Christ, In our preaching
and teaching and living let Christ be
lifted up that the unsaved world may
see and live; and since the time Is
short and the day OF grace may soon
end, let the sinner hasten to plunge
into the fountain opened up for sin and
uncleanness. kiss the Son, lest he
be angry, and ye perish frim the way"