The Exaltation of Christ's Symbol
The powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.” — Matt. xxiv. 29, 30.
When is Christ’s sign to appear in heaven? Our Lord says it is when “the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” — “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man.” I take Him to mean that the symbol of Christianity — the Cross — can only appear when the forces of material power have ceased to be objects of adoration. As long as the crushing powers of matter are looked upon with reverence there is no place for the worship of the Cross. As long as the eye of man is riveted on gigantic masses it will have no glance to spare for so unobtrusive a thing as the strength of self-denial. The Cross may be on earth, but it will not appear in heaven — will not be viewed as one of the sublime things. But when in the mind of the beholder the powers of the heavens shall be
177 M shaken, when the spectacle of crushing strength shall lose its glory, and the mere height of stature shall cease to be necessarily sublime, then for the first time will be seen the glory of the Son of Man — the glory of stooping, the glory of sacrifice, the glory of self-forgetting love. The shaking need not be an outward one. It is in human estimation that the sun shall be darkened and the stars shall fall. The transition wanted is a mental one — a change of opinion. Many an object which our childhood placed in heaven our manhood locates on earth; many a thing which our childhood deemed on earth our manhood claims for heaven. One of these latter is the Cross of Christ. It seems, to-day, a poor thing. In comparison with the might of battalions and the force of artillery, the still small voice of resolute love appears of little weight. Tut when our estimate of these forces shall be shaken, when materialism shall cease to rule our inward sky, then there shall be a change of government, and the last shall be first. Christ will be glorified. Calvary will be magnified. Pity will be exalted. Mercy will be crowned. Kindness will have a kingdom, tenderness a tiara, sympathy a sceptre, love a laudation — in the day when in the heart the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Hasten, O Lord, that bright and happy morn! I have been seeking in the heavens a purely physical glory. I have been saying, “When I consider the heavens, what is man!” I have seen in the sky other signs than the Cross. I have seen Mars — the symbol of war, Mercury — the symbol of speed, Venus — the symbol of physical beauty, Jupiter — the symbol of the lightning, Neptune — the symbol of the fathomless sea. I have christened no star by the name of the Cross. Why? Because I have thought the Cross unfit for heaven. I have heard no voice say of the sacrificial soul, “I go to the heavenly mansions to prepare a place for thee.” I have figured war in heaven, I have figured beauty in heaven, I have figured wings of speed in heaven, I have figured fathomless depths in heaven, I have figured lightning flashes of truth in heaven; but I have thought sacrifice a sign of earthly weakness. Reverse the judgment of my heart, O Lord! Show me the strength of the Lamb! Teach me the power of love! Reveal to me the heroism of sacrifice! Inspire me with the greatness of being gentle! Tell me the treasures of the unselfish soul! Put a crown upon the head of the crucified! Proclaim to me that the Christ in the manger is worthy of a star! Then shall I believe that 179 M 2 heaven itself holds Thy Cross Then to me shall the world of spirits be a world of ministration. When I have magnified the work of humanity on earth, I shall discern in the sky the sign of the Son of Man.
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