The Absence of Christ
I know that, as night and shadows are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than a continual sun, so is Christ's absence of special use, and that it has some nourishing virtue in it, and gives sap to humility, and puts an edge on hunger, and furnishes a fair field to faith to put forth itself, and to exercise its fingers in gripping what it does not see.
I know that, as night and shadows are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than a continual sun, so is Christ's absence of special use, and that it has some nourishing virtue in it, and gives sap to humility, and puts an edge on hunger, and furnishes a fair field to faith to put forth itself, and to exercise its fingers in gripping what it does not see.
I got to think over this quote. It might come as a surprise to us (it definitely was to me) that the absence of Christ and his presence both benefit us in one way or the other.
It definitely never occurred to me that Christ is so much more precious that I can grasp that even in his absence (felt to us), He is working in our lives drawing us nearer to his heart (humbling us, making us hungry and furnishing our faith).
How can the psalmist say that If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (Psalm 139:8) and at times he (and we also) had a sense that God was so very far?
I long ago realised that the absence of Christ is indeed dreadful. It is like a whole day in a desert without a drop of water. We get dizzy, life seems hopeless.We seem unable to go one step further.
What makes us to go on, one more step? I am sure it is not my own strength, I am weaker that I thought myself to be at the beginning of this Christian walk.
What makes us to go on, one more step? I am sure it is not my own strength, I am weaker that I thought myself to be at the beginning of this Christian walk.
It is when there is none of that living water that we realise how precious it really is. It is at that last moment when our faith is tested to the utmost that we suddenly realise that apart from HIM we can do nothing (John 15:5).
That is when all of this ceases to be a mere theory, and reality felt, proved and tested takes place. I will go further to say that when we are at the desert we are most close to the truth - that we have nothing in ourselves ( really, not even the disposition to serve HIM) - and truly Christ is all in all. That is when we realise that all our springs are in HIM (Psalm 87:7).
It is at that very moment when the LORD comes to our rescue - after such absence - that He becomes more beautiful to us. We realise that though He seemed far He was constantly there, at that difficult hill, or narrow bridge. We realise that in our little faith we could not have seen HIM, but oh the glory when HE comes!
It is at that very moment when the LORD comes to our rescue - after such absence - that He becomes more beautiful to us. We realise that though He seemed far He was constantly there, at that difficult hill, or narrow bridge. We realise that in our little faith we could not have seen HIM, but oh the glory when HE comes!
So if the absence of Christ will make us to see much more of His glory, love, comfort, provision and grace; let our souls rejoice that GOD's dealings with us are simply perfect. Let us indeed have a joyful song unto HIM that is better that life.
" My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness ".
In Christ
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2 Comments :
You've got me thinking about it too, I have never really thought about it before as so clearly, but as you said 'when we are at the desert we are most close to the truth- that we have nothing in ourselves.' It is so true! In those dry days they do make one see that only in 'Your presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' (Ps 16:11)
'Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!' (Rom 11:33)
It is sweet to be in the sunshine of the Master's smile, but I believe our souls need winter as well as summer, night as well as day.
Elizabeth Prentiss
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