IN two former numbers of Edification we have meditated on trusting Christ and on following Christ; let us now think a little about remembering Him.
The late beloved Mr. Wilson Smith once told me the following affecting story. Being on his way, one Sunday morning, to Assemble with a few, who, after the manner of the first disciples, came together on the first day of the week to break bread, he saw far ahead of him a person who seemed wearied, for she constantly had to sit down and rest. When he overtook her he saw she was a girl whom he knew, who was dying of consumption. He said to her, “My poor lassie. I do not think you are fit to be out this morning.” She replied that she had started early, to rest by the way as she desired to remember the Lord in His death once more. “You know, He said it.” she explained. She had her wish she remembered Him that day on earth and very soon afterward departed to be with Him in heaven. Our friend was deeply moved as he told me and said what an appeal her simple words had made to his heart.
I have ventured to repeat his story trusting the Lord may speak by it to our hearts, leading us to ask ourselves if we are as eager to respond to His desire as was this poor Scotch girl. When we look back we remember that the Lord instituted the supper on the night in which He was betrayed, and when He knew all that He was about to pass through. It comes down to us through the long centuries, fresh from His loving hands, and we hear His voice to us ever and again, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:1919And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)). It forms a never-to-be-broken link with Him, going back to that night wherein He gathered His own around Him in His sorrow, and going on to the day of His coming when He will call them to surround Him in His joy that He waits to share with them.
Oh! let His love touch us afresh; we look forward with joy to His coming, let us treasure now the remembrance of Him in His death, so that nothing shall keep us away, nothing but the things, such as needful duties or sickness, which cannot be altered, which we accept as of His allowing.
But there is more. Do we consider what the Lord planned for His people when He bade them come together that He might be in their midst? He knew the world He was leaving them in, He knew its enmity and the wiles of the devil, He knew how forgetful were their foolish hearts and He desired to have a place where He might ever come to them recalling them to Himself in His death, showing them again His hands and His side. He would make a green spot for them in the barren desert of this world, a place where all who loved His Name might find their joy and rest. Where He comes peace dwells; love is there, grace reigns through righteousness, holiness is there, prayer and praise are there; where He comes are all the elements of God’s house; where He is there is already the atmosphere of heaven.
I know well how little we apprehend these things and how many hindrances arise; perhaps in its fullness all this may never be realized in this world, but it is very precious to respond in any measure to the Lord’s desire and to remember what it cost Him to put into our hands the bread which we break,” “the cup of blessing which we bless” (1 Cor. 10:1616The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)).
L. R.