Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation | Page 9

of Brussels lace. The old capital of the low countries of Europe has long been famous for its lace. It is of great interest to note the conditions under which it is sometimes made. They are conditions studiously prepared after long experience. In one of the famous lace factories in Brussels there are a number of small rooms devoted to the making of some of the most delicate patterns.
Each room is just large enough for a single worker, and is quite dark except for one narrow window. The worker sits so that the stream of light falls from above directly upon the threads, while he himself sits in the darkness. The darkness aids the workman's eyes to see better, and to work more skilfully in the narrow line of clear light centred on the delicate task. He weaves in the upper light intensified by the surrounding gloom, and does exquisite work.
There is a clear line of light from a throne shining down into the darkness in which we sit and move. It shines from the face of a crowned Man. In the light of that light we can see clearly to do a difficult bit of crowning work,--to crown the Christ in our lives and to keep Him crowned.
As our eyes follow that line of upper light we may catch glimpses of His wondrous Face up there in the glory. So we shall be steadied and cheered in the darkness as we stick to our glad crowning work. And so we shall move forward on the calendar the day when that thin line of light seen now only by watching eyes shall become a burst of glory light seen by all eyes.
And this is the thing the crowned Christ is asking of us during this waiting time, this "not-yet" interval. He is counting on each of us being faithful to Him, our absent Lord, in this.
"He is counting on you. He has need of your life In the thick of the strife: For that weak one may fall If you fail at His call. He is counting on you, If you fail Him-- What then?
"He is counting on you. On your silver and gold, On that treasure you hold; On that treasure still kept, Though the doubt o'er you swept 'Is this gold not all mine? (Lord, I knew it was Thine.') He is counting on you, If you fail Him-- What then?
"He is counting on you. On a love that will share In His burden of prayer, For the souls He has bought With His life-blood; and sought Through His sorrow and pain To win 'Home' yet again. He is counting on you, If you fail Him-- What then?
"He is counting on you. On life, money, and prayer; And 'the day shall declare' If you let Him have all In response to His call; Or if He in that day To your sorrow must say, 'I had counted on you, But you failed me'-- What then?
"He is counting on you. Oh! the wonder and grace, To look Christ in the face And not be ashamed; For you gave what He claimed, And you laid down your all For His sake--at His call. He had counted on you, And you failed not. What then?"[33]
Ah! Please God, by His grace, we shall not fail in the ruling purpose of our lives. We may crown Him Lord of all. We can. He asks it. We surely will.
"With all my powers Him I greet, All subject to His call; And bowing low at His pierced feet Now crown him Lord of all."

FOOTNOTES:
[1] Joseph Addison Richards.
[2] Mark xvi. 19.
[3] Matthew xxvi. 64.
[4] Acts ii. 33; iii. 13-16; v. 31-32; vii. 55, 56.
[5] Psalm lxviii. 18; Ephesians iv. 8; Acts ii. 33.
[6] Romans viii. 34; Ephesians i. 20-22; Philippians ii. 9-11; Colossians iii. 1.
[7] I Peter iii. 22.
[8] Hebrews i. 3; ii. 8-9; viii. 1; x. 12; xii. 2.
[9] Revelation iii. 21.
[10] Acts ii. 36.
[11] Romans x. 9.
[12] I Samuel xvi. 6; xxiv. 6, 10; II Samuel i. 14-16; xix. 21, and elsewhere; Psalm xviii. 50, and frequently in Psalms.
[13] John i. 20, 25; Luke iii. 15.
[14] Philippians ii. 10; I Corinthians xv. 24-26.
[15] John xvii. 5; i. 1-3; Colossians i. 15-17.
[16] Matthew xxvi. 64; Acts ii. 22-24, 32-36; Philippians ii. 9-11; Hebrews ii. 9.
[17] Hebrews ii. 5-18.
[18] Romans vii. 19-22; Jeremiah ix. 10; xii. 4, 11; xxiii. 10; Genesis iii. 17-19; Acts iii. 21.
[19] Ephesians i. 20-22; Hebrews ii. 6-8.
[20] Philippians ii. 9-11.
[21] Ephesians vi. 12; Colossians ii. 15.
[22] Colossians ii. 10; Ephesians iii. 10; iv. 8-10; I Corinthians xv. 24.
[23] Hebrews ii. 8.
[24] II Peter iii. 8-9; Romans ii. 4; ix. 22; Revelation ii. 21; I Peter iii. 20; II Peter iii. 15; Exodus xxxiv. 6-7.
[25] James v. 7.
[26] F. M. N.
[27] Ephesians