DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

 October 25. The Way to Heaven

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.." John 14:6

A way always leads somewhere. Jesus is the way from earth to Heaven, and also from Heaven to earth. Through Him we get to God, and through Him — God comes to us. He is the true and only ladder whose foot rests on the earth, and whose top reaches up to the very glory of God. In His humanity, Jesus comes down to the lowest depths of human need and sorrow. Had He been God only, and not man, He could not have done this. The incarnation was the letting of the ladder down until it rested in the deepest valleys. There is now no spot of shame or guilt in this world from which there is not a ladder of light, with its celestial steps leading upward to God and Heaven.

For, while Christ's humanity brings the ladder down to earth's places of sorest need — His divinity carries the ladder up past the shining stars into the very midst of the glory of God. On one page of the New Testament we find Jesus on a cross, dying in darkness and shame, between criminals. We open another page, and we see that same Jesus in the midst of the heavenly brightness, wearing still the wound-marks — but crowned in glory. Behold the ladder from earth to Heaven!

A ladder is a way for feet to climb: Christ is the way, therefore, by which sinners can go up out of their sins — to the purity and blessedness of Heaven. One thing to especially mark — is that there is but one way. Christ is the only Mediator. We can enter the Father's family only through Him. Grace can come to us only through Him. There is, then, no choice of ways: if we do not go by this one way — we can never reach the Heavenly home. 

Nor must we forget that a way is meant to be walked in. We must put our feet on this ladder and go up rung by rung — until we reach the topmost step, which will be Heaven!

The Apple of God's Eye

 

 

 Joseph Hall, Anglican Bishop -

 THE FAMILY ALTAR

October 24.

"And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to

worship at the feast ; the same came therefore to Philip, which was

of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see

Jesus." John 12:20-21.

Wise Men from the East came to worship at the manger of

Bethlehem. They wanted to see Jesus, the new-born King of the

Jews. Here descendants of wise men from the West, from beautiful

and learned Greece, come to the Passover feast at Jersualem and

want to see Jesus. In a few days they saw Him on the cross,

crowned with thorns, suffering and dying as the King of the Jews'

as the King and Eedeemer of the world. Blessed were they if they

saw Him then with the eyes of faith as the Lamb of God that

atoned also for their sins. But the desire of these Greeks to see

Jesus — does it not again teach us how all the beauty, and art,

and philosophy, and natural religion of the world cannot satisfy

the longing of man's soul for higher and better things, in short,

for communion with the true and living God ? That longing only

Jesus and His love can satisfy. No matter how rich, how fortunate

men may be, how smooth and sunny their pathway through life,

so long as they have not seen Jesus, they have never tasted true

happiness. Blessed the man who, like Philip here, can show Jesus

to inquiring souls. But in order to do that, we must know Jesus

ourselves, live in His blessed communion, as did Philip, and An-

drew, and the other apostles. Is our heart filled with longing love

to see Jesus face to face some day because we have found in Him

the consummation of our soul's deepest wants and desires?

We would see Jesus; for the shadows lengthen

Across this little landscape of our life;

We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen

For the last weariness, the final strife.

We would see Jesus; other lights are paling,

W7hich for long years we have rejoiced to see;

The blessings of our pilgrimage are failing;

We would not mourn them, for we go to Thee.

We would see Jesus; yet the spirit lingers

Round the dear objects it has loved so long,

And earth from earth can scarce unclasp its fingers;

Our love to Thee makes not this love less strong.

We would see Jesus; sense is all too binding,

And heaven appears too dim, too far away;

We would see Thee, Thyself our hearts reminding

What Thou hast suffered our great debt to pay.

We would see Jesus; this is all we're needing;

Strength, joy, and willingness come with the sight;

We would see Jesus, dying, risen, pleading;

Then welcome day, and farewell mortal night.