Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIVMaclaren, Alexander
Religion
Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIV
Maclaren, Alexander
Bible. John -- Commentaries
Note, then, 'He shall go in.' That comes first, though it interferes
with the propriety of the metaphor, since the previous words already
contemplate an initial 'entering in by Me, the Door.' That is to say,
that, given the union with Jesus Christ by faith, there must then, as
the basis of all activity, follow very frequent and deep inward acts of
contemplation, of faith, and aspiration, and desire. You must go into
the depths of God through Christ. You must go into the depths of your
own souls through Him. You must become accustomed to withdraw
yourselves from spreading yourselves out over the distractions of any
external activity, howsoever imperative, charitable, or necessary, and
live alone with Jesus, 'in the secret place of the Most High.' It is
through Him that we have access to the mysteries and innermost shrine
of the Temple. It is through Him that we draw near to the depths of
Deity. It is through Him that we learn the length and breadth and
height and depth of the largest and loftiest and noblest truths that
concern the spirit. It is through Him that we become familiar with the
inmost secrets of our own selves. And only they who habitually live
this hidden and sunken life of solitary and secret communion will ever
do much in the field of outward work. Christians of this generation are
far too much accustomed to live only in the front rooms of the house,
that look out upon the street; and they know very little—far too little
for their soul's health, and far too little for the freshness of their
work and its prosperity—of that inward life of silent contemplation and
expectant adoration, by which all strength is fed. Do not keep all your
goods in the shop windows, and have nothing on your shelves but
dummies, as is the case with far too many of us to-day. Remember that
the Lord said first, 'He shall go in,' and unless you do you will not
be 'saved.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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