It is well to meditate on the things which will endure. We live in a world which passes away, and we ourselves are passing out of the world; moreover, much that we do daily is but for the moment, and has no enduring character. But, as Christians, let us for a moment meditate on that which will last in the work that, as Christians, we do on earth.
It is written, “The word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Peter 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)), and “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:1717And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17)) the word of God and obedience to God must be before us in our meditation. Only that which is connected with God will abide: much, very much, of the Christian’s work will be burned up. The humbler and unseen part of christian work will often be that which will endure. The foundation of a house is its firmest part, but the foundation is under ground.
When you, by grace, are the means through the Spirit of connecting a soul with Christ, there is enduring work which will stand for eternity. Good seed sown in the heart is sown for eternity. Christ formed in the heart is formed for eternity. The loving offices of visiting the sick and aged, caring for the poor and the widow, will not be forgotten in the lay so soon to be entered on. That which is done for the Lord and with the Lord will endure; and most holy does this contemplation render the thought of true christian work.
We were passing through a ruined abbey the other day; its timbers had long since perished, and even the remains of its stone walls were decaying. The old building seemed to proclaim that the outward things on this earth connected with religion and the Name of Christ are transient. But wherever there was true work wrought through the Holy Spirit by God’s servants in that old building, that work remains.
The outward and visible things connected with us and religion are highly captivating to the feelings―our church, our community, our associations; alas! do not we almost idolize them? But all the while God is going on working in souls for eternity. Our eye may be on the growth of “our” congregation; His, on the ripening of the soul of a single sufferer almost unknown to us. What a loss it is to be estranged in sight and sympathy from the growth in which He is delighting!
We must stir up our souls to holier consideration in christian work.
Let our hearts turn from that which is temporal―that which is outward merely―and be engaged on the eternal side of christian work. A stone laid in the building which will remain for eternity should be our aim.
The word of the Lord endureth forever, and the doer of God’s will abides forever also. Let us seek for divine wisdom so to minister the word that it may spring up in honest and good hearts for everlasting blessing.