How to Live a Holy Life | Page 5

finally over the turbulent river of death to the sunlit shore
of eternal rest.
Many times we may become wearied and think the toils of the way
almost too heavy; but when we remember that it is the way that Jesus
trod, then the heavens open to our view, we look forward to the
mansion prepared for us, and the toils of the way grow lighter.
See that aged pilgrim journeying down the western slope of life. The
sun is nearing the setting. Long and toilsome has been his pilgrimage,
but he has walked in the path his Savior trod. For many years his life
has been hid with Christ in God. In Him he has lived and moved and
had his being. Now he is making his last step on the shore of time; he
passes out of our sight through the gates into that land where toils are
ended and the sun never sets. But his life was the life of Jesus. He was
holy as God is holy; he walked as Jesus walked. This is how to live.
This is the true way of life and the only way to life eternal. He who
does not live with Christ on earth can not live with him in heaven, and
he who does not live as Jesus lived does not live as he should. The life
of Christ was the perfect life. Ours is perfect to the degree that we
imitate him.
Take my life, O Christ divine, Make it holy, just like thine; Every act
and thought and word Be an outflow from my God.
Guide my feet and keep my heart; Let me not from thee depart; Let me
breathe thy warming love, That my soul be drawn above.
Draw me, Jesus, closer draw; Thy strong arm around me throw; Draw
me to thy pierced side; In thy bosom let me hide.
Teach me all thy will and word, That my life be filled with God; Teach
me, Lamb of Calvary, How to live this life for thee.

HOW TO LIVE THE CHRIST-LIFE.

Man can not naturally live the Christ-life. But Christ has promised to
come into our hearts and live in us. In order that we may have Christ
dwell in our hearts and that we may live his life, there must be a giving
up of our self-life. There must be annihilation of self that Christ may
live. It is truly wonderful and as glorious as it is wonderful that man
can live the life of Christ in this world. But here is the secret: it is man
ceasing to live the self-life and Christ living in him.
Imagine a hollow brass figure in the exact image of a man. Suppose
you fill this hollow figure with a kind of life which we shall call
self-life. This life goes to using the hands and feet, and eyes, ears,
tongue, in short, all the members of this brass figure, but using them in
the interest of itself. Now you desire to make a change; you want that
image to speak, act, and think only for you. You must first put to death
the life that is using the figure, cleanse it entirely out, and then get into
it yourself. Once in, you can use all the members of that image for
yourself. Your body is that image. There was a life in you that used all
the members of your body in the interest of self. But there has been a
change. You were made a new creature. The life you once had was put
to death--was crucified; then Christ stepped into your heart, and now he
uses all the members of your body for himself. You still live, yet not
you, but Christ lives in you. Once you did things for yourself; now you
do them for Christ. Just as you once lived purposely and intentionally
for yourself, now you do things purposely and intentionally for Jesus,
because it is he that lives, and not you yourself. You remember how
once you would plan for yourself. In the evening as you lay upon your
bed and again in the morning and throughout the day you would think
about what you were going to eat or drink, what you were going to
have for clothing, where you were going to live, where you were going
to go, and what you were going to do. But now you are changed; you
are a new creature. Now it is not you that lives, but Christ lives in you.
Now you eat not for yourself but for Jesus. You now go, not where self
would lead you, but where that life in you loves to go and would have
you go. You do things, not for yourself, but