The Preparation for Those on the Right Hand

“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” — Matt. xxv. 34.

“Prepared for you.” Prepared for whom? For the sacrificial souls of humanity — for those of whom Christ said, “I was hungry, and ye gave me meat.” The idea evidently is that the future life will be adapted to the spirit of sacrifice. This present world is not adapted to the spirit of sacrifice; it presents barriers to that spirit. There are, I think, two such barriers. For one thing, the world’s ideal of heroism is not that of a sacrificial man; it is that of a conquering man. Earth had a laurel wreath for Caesar; for Christ it had only a crown of thorns. It was prepared for Cassar; it was not prepared for Christ. But the world has a second and a worse barrier to sacrifice; it is the dimness of our mental vision. We cannot see into the heart of him to whom we minister. We often present a 224

Preparation for Those on the Right Hand

stone when we should give bread. We throw a coin to a beggar who needs a reformatory; we give a tract to a suppliant who needs a coin. We help those whom we should teach to help themselves; we offer work to those who are fit only to be nursed. In these two respects this world is not adapted to the sacrificial soul. But Christ says that in the same two respects the future world will be adapted. There, the sacrificial life will be deemed the heroic life. The great men of the New Jerusalem will be the serving men — those who do errands for others; the laurel wreaths will be for Christ and His ministering spirits. And there, the sons of charity will be the sons of vision. They will see into the heart of their less favoured brother; they will know exactly what he needs; they will never give the wrong thing. That is what I understand by the words, ‘’ Now we see through a glass darkly; then, face to face.” Remember where these words occur. In the chapter on charity. Paul is not speaking of our present ignorance of heavenly mysteries; he is speaking of our present ignorance of how to deal with our brother man. He is saying, in effect, that this life is not well adapted for the distribution of charity, and he is anticipating a life where it will be otherwise — a 225 P life where vision shall be equal to benevolence, where discernment shall move hand in hand with love, where perfect knowledge of our brother’s need shall make a perfect provision for our brother’s want.

Lord, hasten the happy time when light and love shall meet together; prepare a kingdom for the sacrificial soul! Often here below the problem of human suffering perplexes us; the spirit is willing, but the sight is weak. We know not what is best to do. We cannot tell whether to begin with the strengthening of the soul or the feeding of the body — whether to say “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” or “Arise, and walk.” Enlighten us, O Lord! We see our brother through a glass darkly; we would behold him face to face. It is for the sake of human charity that we ask Divine light. It is to see the road to helpfulness that we supplicate Thy torch. Not for the sake of speculation do we ask a brighter ray. We seek not to penetrate into Thy deep mysteries. We aspire not to fathom the sea which the angels desire to look into. We crave not to know the secrets that belong to Thyself alone. We pray not to have our personal life lit less by faith and more by sight. Nay, our Father, in all these spheres we would be guided still. But we do 226

Preparation for Those on the Right Hand

wish to find the secret of our brother’s need; we do wish to inquire the way to our sister’s help. We want Thy light and Thy truth that we may go to Thine altar — Thy place of sacrifice. Light us for the service of love! Give us Thy Rontgen Rays to find where the trouble lies! Illuminate us for ministration! Quicken us to detect the destitute spot! Send us a lamp to see where lurks the sting! Inspire us to know the spot where the seed of sorrow dwells! Thou shalt answer our prayer in the kingdom prepared for charity.

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