The Surrendered Life

This little book is sent forth with the earnest prayer that God may make it a blessing to many of the young people of the Society of Christian Endeavor, as well as to all others who are longing for a better apprehension of Christ and what he may be to them.

There is no claim made in it to literary excellence; if any one should read it in search of this, he will find much in it to criticise. This is not in any sense a discussion. I have no contention with the brother who may differ with me; I only long to exalt Christ.

The words were first spoken with a desire that they might be used of God to lead some one into closer fellowship with our Lord, and, now that they are to be placed in book form, the desire is only intensified, vm

INTRODUCTION,

Let me say very clearly that, while these chapters are the record of an experience, it will be disastrous to some of my readers to seek to duplicate it in all of its details but may I also add that it is possible for every Christian to have the consciousness of a definite surrender to Christ, or of a present yielding to his control, and from that point the life may be overflowing with blessing, if only we hold to unwavering trust in him?

These words were first spoken at the Nashville Quiet Hour in the summer of 1898. The scenes witnessed there will never be forgotten by many of us. It is confidently believed that the lives of many of the young people were changed by the Holy Ghost in the revelation of Christ.

The addresses are now sent forth in this form only because the requests have been numerous that this should be done.

May God’s blessing be upon the book.

Philadelphia, 1898.

And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.’’ — 2 Kings 2: g.

There are few things more inspiring in this world than a sunset. I recall vividly the privilege given me of riding through the Royal Gorge in the Rocky Mountains just as the day was dying out of the sky. I had had the opportunity of standing in the morning of the same day upon Pike’s Peak as the sun came up, when the mountain peaks, one after the other, were disclosed through the mists, and their snow-capped heads glistened like diamonds, when suddenly, as lO a slight change in my view-point was made, they became like the very gates of heaven, and a more glorious privilege of witnessing a sunrise, it seemed to me, was never given to mortal man.

But the evening of that day was quite as great an inspiration, when the little stream that ran beside the railroad track seemed like a thread of gold and the foliage on each side of the creek took on the various colors of the rainbow. I say again, there are few things more inspiring in nature than the setting of the sun.

A few days later I saw the sun go down in what is called the Golden Gate; and, as his track was left upon the sea, it seemed in his departure as if he had marked out the way up to the very gates of heaven. The sight was grand. On the plains of North Dakota once again, after the stormiest of days I

THE DOUBLE PORTION. i i

saw the most remarkable sunset of my life. Now the skies were all aglow with grandeur; now the clouds were banked together like choirs of angels; now they are changed to the golden streets of heaven; and now once again they rise before me as the train whirls away to the east, and they actually seem like the very throne of God as I have thought of it. A sunset is always fascinating, and it is a general rule that, the stormier the day, if the sunset is visible at all, the more beautiful the death of the day.

It is also a principle that men generally close their life as they live it. In the light of this statement, this journey of Elijah’s, during which Elisha asks for the double portion of his spirit, is a fitting close of his remarkable career.

Yet one is almost discouraged as he studies such a character as Elijah. He seems to dwarf us with his greatness; and, when we contrast with his ability to bring down fire from heaven, to lock up the clouds of the skies, and to hold the key and unlock them at his pleasure, our own weakness in prayer and the feebleness of our faith, he seems to us like some grand mountain peak, and we not for a moment worthy to be compared with him.

But, when we remember that the power of Elijah was not his own, and that the secret of his greatness was the indwelling of the Spirit of God, then discouragement gives way, and hope is born within us. And, when we read in the word of God that all the power of God is within our reach if we but obey him, our hearts bound within us for joy. If this power were really Elijah’s, we might as well give up the story in its very beginning; for the model could not be copied, the ideal could never be realized, the vision would only mock us. But when we learn that man’s weakness may be coupled to God’s strength, and that the connecting link is faith, there is no reason why any one should be downcast as he studies; but exactly the opposite spirit should possess him. It is said that, if one would command a force, he needs only to obey the law of it; therefore, if we would command God, we need only to yield to him the most implicit and perfect obedience and trust.

It is well for us to see Elijah and Elisha together as we study such a subject, for no two men could be more thoroughly unlike. It has been said that Elijah resembles John the Baptist in his earnestness and fervor, while Elisha more fitly represents Jesus in his gentleness and love. Elijah differs from Elisha as the lightning differs from the sunbeam; but it is not to be forgotten that there may be quite as much power in the sunbeam, and in many cases more power than in the flash of the lightning. At least, it is more easily controlled. And I doubt not that Elijah and Elisha are put together that we may understand that power was just as really present in the experience of the one as in that of the other, for it is a difficult thing for us to imagine power in quietness. We more often think of it as being present in that which is exactly its opposite.

I. It is a good thing to see them walk together, these two men of God, and to notice the places where they tarry. We find them at Gilgal. It has been said that this is properly the place of apprehension. We find them at Bethel, and this is said to be, literally, the way of access. We study them at Jericho, and Jericho is hostility to the world. Finally we see them at Jordan, which is typical of the judgment. It is when they pass Jordan that Elisha receives the double portion of the spirit of Elijah. If it is the desire of any one who reads this word to have a double portion of the Spirit of our Master, it will be necessary for him first to go to Gilgal, where he may really appreciate the fact that this blessing is for him if he desires it; for him then to depart and go to Bethel, and find the way of access to blessing, which is always in the complete submission of one’s will to Christ; for him to take his stand at Jericho and be against the world in everything.

Keep reading