| Making the Most of Life |
Chapter 24 |
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Even the Bible words which took the most vivid local colouring from the particular circumstances, in which they were originally spoken, are yet as true for us as they were for those to whom they first came. We have only to get disentangled from the local allusions the real heart of the meaning of the words, and we have an eternal promise which every child of God may claim.
Turning, then, this old time assurance into a word for nineteenth century pilgrims, we get from it some important suggestions. For one thing it tells us that we may have some rugged pieces of road before we get to the end of our life journey. If not, what need would there be for iron shoes? If the way is to be flower strewn, velvet slippers, as Dr. M’Laren some where suggests, would do. No man wants iron soled shoes for a walk through a soft meadow. The journey is not likely to be all easy. Indeed, an earnest Christian life is never easy. NO one can live nobly and worthily without struggle, battle, and self denial. One may find easy ways, but they are not the worthiest ways. They do not lead upward to the noblest things. One reason why many people never grasp the visions of beauty and splendour which shine before them in early years is because they have not courage for rough climbing.
“I reach a duty, yet I do it not,
And, therefore, climb no higher; but if done,
My view is brightened, and another spot
Seen on my mortal sun;
For be the duty high as angel’s flight–
Fulfill it, and a higher will arise
Even from its ashes. Duty is our ladder to the skies,
And climbing not, we fall.”
We shall need our iron shoes if we are to make the journey that leads upward to the best possibilities of our life.
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