Article August 28, 1909 Issue

CROSS AND CROWN

BERT A. MILLER.

The Master said, "He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. We may well ask ourselves whether we are doing this by living lives of goodness and thinking thoughts of love. In taking up the cross we must be willing to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye, to cast out of thought all envy, jealousy, malice, prejudice,—everything that "loveth or maketh a lie." This duty is not difficult when we know that God works with us, and that we are never tempted more than we are able to bear; that with the temptation comes a sure way of escape,—the understanding to demonstrate over the error,—be it sickness or sin.

Jesus' constant endeavor was to do "the will of the Father," and the Father's will was that "every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. He came preaching the gospel and healing all manner of diseases among the people,—freeing them from the bondage of sin and suffering. This great teacher and healer said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Discords resulting from disease are gladly given up, but not so with sins, especially those which have been made bosom companions for years, and which are believed to give a sense of pleasure and satisfaction. They are only given up and overcome by a mighty struggle with self; but this is a battle which must be fought and a victory won, before we can receive the blessing or wear the crown.

This, to sense, may seem to be a cross, but after the victory over self is won, there comes into our consciousness that joy and peace of which the world knows nothing. We may think we are willing to take up the cross and follow in the footsteps of the blessed Master, but it requires more than simply a willingness and desire to do so. We have perhaps for years been so associated with others, our environment has been such, that we have unconsciously accepted beliefs which are not really our own; we have simply acquiesced in many things, been mesmerized with the surroundings and have drifted with the tide. When the command comes to us to take up the cross and follow Christ, Truth, the following leads in an entirely opposite direction from the one in which we have been going, and when we come to put our uplifted desires into actual practice it requires an effort much greater than we had anticipated, for we are now pulling against the current, battling with sense and self: but if we have sufficient faith in God, are depending on divine Love to sustain and aid us in the conflict, we are sure to win, and there is nothing to compare with such a victory.

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