WHEN WAS HE RICH?
Denial of the eternal existence of our blessed Lord and Savior is
one of the many forms of unbelief that numerous passages of God's holy
Word refute - a single scripture served the writer's purpose, when guided
by the Spirit of Truth, to stop the mouth of a blatant caviller.
Entering a little wayside station in Ontario, Canada, a venerable
Lutheran minister, a true child of God, was heard indignantly demanding
of the station-master: "Do you mean to say that my blessed Lord had no
existence before He came into this world?" A sneering reply in the
affirmative was given, and an argument followed, characterized by
coldly-stated sophistry on the part of the station-master, while the dear
aged Christian warmly resented every impious statement made as to his
divine Master, but failed to silence the cunning assertions of his
opponent.
Silently praying for guidance, the writer listened to the wordy
warfare, and soon interrupted the speakers by asking the station-master
the pointed question: "Mr. R***** do you believe the Bible?" to which he
answered, "Yes". Then slowly repeating the dear words of II Cor. 8:9 -
"Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that, though He was rich, yet
for your sakes He became poor, that ye though His poverty might be rich".
the writer asked a further question. "Now, Mr. R*****, WHEN WAS HE RICH?"
The minister echoed the inquiry, "When was He rich?" and the
station-master retired into the ticket office, followed by the delighted
aged Christian, exclaiming repeatedly, "When was He rich?"
The approach of the train brought station-master, minister, and
the writer to the platform; the dear old servant of the Lord shouting
exultantly, "When was He rich?" and then from the slowly moving train,
above the din of the wheels, he flung back the unanswerable challenge,
"When was He rich?"
To the believer in Jesus, the Spirit of God presents the riches,
then poverty, of our glorious Lord to stir the inmost soul by the
powerful appeal of divine love, unstintingly lavished upon utterly
unworthy objects: "was rich" - "became poor" - wonderful words, to sink
deeply into the hearts of His own, touched with a sense of the mighty
grace that expends itself on our behalf!
"FOR YOUR SAKES."
The riches of Christ exchanged for:
1. outcast in the manger;
2. nowhere to lay His head;
3. without a penny;
4. denial of followers;
5. rejection by men;
6. the bitterness of Gethsemane;
7. the woes of Calvary;
8. guilt's heavy load;
9. the borrowed grave.
See the sacrifice He made!
See the purchase price He paid!
As return, for grace divine
Saviour, I am wholly thine.
copied from E.J. Checkley
used by permission Rev. L.R. Russell