| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 15 |
Page 6 |
Not every good man succeeds in worldly affairs. Not every true effort that is made has apparent success. Sometimes it is by failure that a man can do his best. Success in the undertaking can come only after many have sunk down without attaining. Nearly always the first prophets and heralds of a new reform must perish in defeat, thus preparing the way, building the bridge over the chasm for those who come after them, to carry the reform to success. But surely it is just as glorious to do one’s part in the essential preparatory stages, and then fall without sharing the victory, as it is to have one’s part at the last among the victors.
We may set it down as an unalterable truth, however, that there can be no real failure when one is faithful to God and to duty. Sin is always a failure. The apparent success that men build up through unrighteousness is only a gilded picture. It has no foundation, no substance. It is an illusion. It will vanish in the presence of the Divine judgment, as the morning mists vanish in the noon-day sun. but whatever men build up in truth and right is real as God Himself. All truth is part of God, and is imperishable. No failure is possible when we work with God. “He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Nothing may seem to come from the toil, the sacrifice, and the outpouring of precious life; but sometime, somehow, somewhere, there will be a harvest from every sowing. Not one grain of the holy seed of love can ever be lost. The life may sink away and seem to have perished, but from its grave will come an influence which will be a blessing in the world. We need not care what we do, nor where we go, nor what comes of our work, if only we do God’s will.
It is sweet to see the blessing come from our serving, to gather the fruit from our sowing, to witness the success of our work; but whether we have this privilege or not, it is a comfort to know that nothing done in truth for God can ever fail, and that no service rendered in Christ’s name can be in vain.
“I know that love never is wasted,
Nor truth, nor the breath of a prayer,
And the thought that goes forth as a blessing
Must live as a joy in the air.”
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