3. But the demand of Jesus was not simply to sacrifice his wealth. Jesus makes no such merely negative claim on men. He desires to put Himself in the place of that which the heart has worshipped. He adds, " And come, follow me." That is, He must have the first place in the heart and life of those who seek eternal life. Christian life is not mere renunciation. It often appears to be such to those who look only at the renuncia-
1 W. Boyd Carpenter, The Son of Man Among Vu Sons of Men, 148. 1 Life and Letters of James Hinton, 206.
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tion by which they are asked to enter on life. To make that re- nunciation is a great venture of faith. The man who makes it does not yet see that what he will get will make ample amends for what he loses. Christ is Himself the fountain of spiritual life to those who come to Him. He is life. Coming to Him and following Him is life indeed. Many seek life by Hinging a loose rein on the neck of their passions, others in the exercise of the intellectual and social gifts they possess. But the richest life is that which calls into exercise the highest elements of our nature, those elements which bring us into touch with the spiritual and the eternal. The life Christ gives is eternal. It is above the powers that bring the lower elements of life to an end. And it is the satisfying life — the life that will compensate for any sacrifice that has to be made to attain it.
Tf Our Saviour, with that wonderful consideration that belongs to Him, never demanded anything unreasonable. Some He has bidden to leave all and follow Him. Some He bids to go home to their friends, and there, within the circle of their own influence, declare what great things God has done for them. The way of the Cross, the way to Heaven, can never be the way of self-indulgence and self-pleasing, whether coarse or refined. It seems to me that a refined, self-pleasing, indulgent sentimentalism, with its pretty phrases, its exquisite propriety of emotion, with nothing endured, with nothing done, is one of the subtlest religious perils of the day. It is as the Son of God, come down from Heaven, that Christ said, " Believe on me " ; but it is as the Son of Man, living a human life, that He said, " Follow me." He showed how men might live in the world, and yet not be of the world ; or, in St. Paul's phrase, how they might use the world without abusing it, and make life a nobler, purer, and holier thing.1
4. Let us remember that Jesus was already girt for the great sacrifice. He was hastening to surrender Himself utterly to it. He who was rich had become poor and had humbled Himself to death, even the death of the cross. The claims of the world and of wealth could scarcely find a place in His thoughts. Already He for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despisino- the shame. And now the enthusiastic approach of the young ruler, most welcome to his Lord, is answered with this splen- did opportunity of service. He may bring his devotion and his
1 Bishov Frascr's Lancashire Life, 254.
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372 ETERNAL LIFE
longing after goodness into the service of the Saviour ; he may go with Him as one of His chosen disciples to Jerusalem, and bo the judgment-hall, and to Calvary, and find eternal life in thus follow- ing his Lord and in such fellowship with Him. Is not this the meaning of the Master's words — that He would fain have had this brave and earnest spirit as one of His chosen band ? The word was that which was spoken to the disciples in Caesarea Philippi when Jesus had first revealed to them that He must die, and it is recorded only once besides. If the young man had but seen the meaning of the words as the Saviour did, in the light of eternity, in the light of the glory of God, how sublime an offer it would have appeared, what trust and confidence it declared, what an opportunity for highest service it afforded !
f Have you ever seen those marble statues in some public square or garden, which art has so fashioned into a perennial fountain that through the lips or through the hands the clear water flows in a perpetual stream, on and on for ever ; and the marble stands there — passive, cold, — making no effort to arrest the gliding water ? It is so that Time flows through the hands of men — swift, never pausing till it has run itself out ; and there is the man petrified into a marble sleep, not feeling what it is which is passing away for ever. It is just so that the destiny of nine men out of ten accomplishes itself, slipping away from them, aim- less, useless, till it is too late. Now is a time, infinite in its value for eternity, which will never return again. Now — or Never. The treasures at your command are infinite. Treasures of time — treasures of youth — treasures of opportunity that grown-up men would sacrifice everything they have to possess. Oh for ten years of youth back again with the added experience of age ! But it cannot be.1