THE writer was, not long since, passing through one of the most crowded and busy of the streets of London, when the traffic was suddenly stopped to enable a procession of some hundreds of boys to pass by. The eyes of the multitude were directed to the lads, each of whom, according to ancient custom, had a piece of paper upon his breast, with these three words printed thereon in large letters: “HE IS RISEN.”
As the bluecoat boys filed along, the constant repetition of the words “He is risen” seemed to bid every believer in the crucified Saviour to declare, “He is not here―He is risen.” Were this great truth as clearly borne upon the hearts of God’s people as the words were upon the bluecoat boys’ garments, there would be henceforth an end to doubts and fears of being saved in the people of God; and not only so― what a grand life-testimony would be rendered by the vast company of God’s people in this Christ-rejecting world, had each one ever on his breast these gracious and mighty words, “He is risen.”
And what a testimony to Christ Himself is such a word written on the heart― “He is risen”! He who died for us, who passed through earth’s trials and sorrows for us― He is risen. Our Lord and Master is here no longer, but in heaven, and whither He has gone we are going. Our commands come from our Lord who is above. We are not of the world, as He is not of it. Ah in this busy life how would the world at large stop, as it were, to observe God’s people had they upon their hearts these words, “He is risen.” Seek, dear young friends who love the Lord, to present to onlookers a holy and heavenly testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose again, and who will so soon come again to call us home, that where He is we may be also.