January 15, 2004, "Ready" Soldiers magazine,

What a SAVIOUR

The Incomparable Christ Nearly two thousand years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty, and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. His life’s work was confined to a little place about the size of Wales. He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous, uninfluential, and had neither training nor education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled the teachers; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavements and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His service. He never wrote a book and yet all the libraries in our country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song and yet has furnished the theme for more songs than all the song writers combined. He never founded a college, but all the schools put together could not boast of having as many students. He never practised medicine and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors, far and near. He never marshalled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot being fired. He is the Revealer of the snares that lurk in the darkness; the Rebuker of every evil thing that prowls by night; the Quickener of all that is wholesome; the Adorner of all that is beautiful; the Reconciler of all that is contradictory; the Harmoniser of all discords; the Healer of all diseases, and the Saviour of all mankind. He fills the pages of theology and hymnology. Every prayer that goes up to God goes up in His Name and is asked to be granted for His sake. The Living Christ The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of the past scientists, philosophers and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this Man abounds more and more. Though time has spread almost two thousand years between the people of this generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Satan could not seduce Him, death could not destroy Him and the grave could not hold Him. He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ. This Man, as you know was Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. It was one great leap from the throne of God to a manger in a stable; from the top of glory to the bottom of humiliation; from the bosom of God to the breast of a woman; from prominence to obscurity; from infinite riches to abject poverty; from a son to a servant. For He “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men” He put on humanity that we might put on divinity. He became the Son of Man that we might become the sons of God.