“FEAR not, thou art Mine!” Blessed words that the Saviour says to all those who know Him. “Fear not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.” Oh! dear Christian reader, can you doubt Him when He sends you such a blessed assurance of comfort? “Fear not, thou art Mine,” even so. “The Lord knoweth them that are His,” and can you not go on your way rejoicing, leaving dull cares to Him, and looking only on the bright side of things?
Man may go along with his head down, seeing only the dirty paving-stones and the muddy streets. But that is not for you to do. You are a Christian, and you have to keep your gaze fixed upward, and what will you see? The bright clouds, blue, white, and gold, all mingled together in a splendid harmony. The sun glistening here and there making them even more beautiful, all seeming to tell of the wondrously beautiful heavens beyond.
“Ah!” you think to yourself, “that is all very well when all is bright and beautiful. But how about when dark clouds come, and all seems dull and miserable.”
Well, and what of that? Are you not a Christian? Then go on gazing upward, and you will find that even the darkest clouds have a silver lining. And faith will always remember the cheering words, “Fear not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.”
Dear friend, never forget that the Blessed Lord has said, “Thou art Mine!” Remember that the Lord always looks after His sheep. “The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” But perhaps you have not yet realized that fact. You know the Lord died, but you have not believed that He died for you, and so you do not belong to Him. Oh! I do pity you if it is so. No refuge to flee to in your distress. Nothing to rest upon, nothing to look forward to but the grave. Oh! poor soul, what will you do if you do not turn to Christ? Oh! you must come to Him, there is such a loving welcome. Your dearest earthly friend could not say more than what the Saviour says, indeed not nearly so much, for the Lord says, “Fear not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.” And if you come to Him it will make such a difference in your life. Every prospect that has once seemed so gloomy will be gilded over with the sunshine of God’s love.
How many thousands there are, even in the London city alone, who are singing today the words of that well-known song―
“Sunshine above,
Sunshine in my heart.”
And yet, alas, how very few there are who really know what it is to have sunshine in their heart, that real, warm, bright sunshine, which can be had only from above! that sunshine which must make itself seen and felt by everyone. I say must, because you cannot possibly be a Christian without others knowing it. There is bound to be a difference in some way or other. Perhaps it may be only in seemingly trifling matters, which some would be careless over. But others notice the difference, and they begin to think. Then comes the question, “Are you religious?”
“I am a Christian,” you reply, and the secret is out.
Possibly you may be marked as one of “that canting, religious lot, — would not sing songs nor go to concerts or a theater for anything.” Let them say so. You have no wish to go to such places. Christ is your all, and can you have sweeter pleasures than He gives?
And above all, have you not that precious, ever-abiding promise, “Fear not, thou art Mine”? Then trust to Him, dear friend. Go to Him daily for strength and guidance; keep His suhine ever in your heart, and all will be well. — R. I.
Where will YOU spend Eternity?