The Aim of Life!

James Smith, 1859
 

My friend, Robert Strong, was not a man who aimed very high. He set his heart on obtaining a cottage and a garden of his own — that he might live at ease, and enjoy freedom from rent. He had a great dislike to days when payments were due, and almost as great a dislike to tax-gatherers. From the latter he could not escape, but from the former he might, and he was determined to do so. He therefore labored hard, and at length the cottage and garden were his own. He had gained his point. He had accomplished his object.

But the happiness he anticipated was not enjoyed. He soon got used to the thought that the place was his own, besides which, something or other was always requiring to be done, and he seldom seemed to have any time to enjoy himself. And when he had a little time, somehow or other he was sure to be interrupted. He was not happy, for he always felt a craving for something that he had not obtained.

Friend Robert, allow me to whisper a word in your ear. Your cottage and garden are all very well, and your freedom from the annoyance of rent-days is good as far as it goes — but you need something for the soul. The immortal spirit craves for immortal food, and you never can enjoy satisfaction — you never will possess real happiness — until you learn "to eat the flesh, and drink the blood, of the Son of God." What this is at present, you know not — but you must know, before joy and peace are yours.

Henry Halliwell could not be satisfied with anything so small as Robert Strong. He was born of respectable parents, and had a little capital to begin the world with. His heart was set upon a very respectable villa, and a good annual income. For this he toiled, schemed, and speculated — keeping it constantly before his mind, as the great object of his life.

Providence smiled upon him; the villa and income were his, and in addition thereto, he had a kind amiable wife, and two sweet children. But somehow or other he was never quite happy. There was a vacuum in his mind and soul. He frequently improved his property, added to his stock of books and curiosities — but still there was always something lacking. Yes, and so there always will be, Mr Halliwell — while you forget that you have a never-dying soul, which cannot feed upon anything earthly or worldly. That soul of yours needs spiritual food, and it must feed on the bread which came down from Heaven — or you will never know what settled enjoyment is.

You might have been happy in a cottage, or even in a rented room, if you had Christ in your heart, and Heaven in your eye. Yes, and you may be happy in your beautiful villa — happier than a prince in his palace — if you knew Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and was made conformable to His death.

Squire Edwards looked much higher than Henry Halliwell, for his mind was made up to obtain a mansion, a park, a pack of hunting hounds, and all their accompaniments. Well, by improving his property, advancing his rents, and by frugal living for a few years, he gained his point. A beautiful estate was in the market, which he purchased, and added to it, as he thought — all that his heart could wish.

But somehow or other, he seldom heartily enjoyed himself. Something or other was continually putting him out of the way, and though he enjoyed himself pretty well in company — yet he was apt to be very gloomy and uncomfortable when alone. Settled peace he knew not. Rest of heart, he was a stranger to. Nor could all the respect paid to him, or the many good things crowded around him — give him solid satisfaction. Others envied him, and he envied others, imagining they were more happy than himself.

Ah, Squire Edwards, you little think in what true happiness consists! Nor do you know where true joys are to be found.

"He builds too low — who builds beneath the skies!" The fountain of happiness is God, and it is only by knowing Him, realizing union to Him, and living in communion with Him — that we can be truly and permanently happy.

In each of these cases, the aim was wrong — therefore the effort was lost. Each made a mistake — and such mistakes are too common. Nor will many believe the representations, but will say, "Well, I only wish I were in their circumstances — I would be happy enough." My friend, if you had the their circumstances — then you would be no more happy than they were. You have the same nature, and the same mental cravings. Nor could anything under Heaven satisfy your immortal soul.

The aim — the effort — of life, should be the conquest of sin — the conquest of sin in our hearts and in our lives. Nor, until sin is conquered, can we enjoy settled peace. By faith in Jesus, by close walking with God, by the power of the Holy Spirit — our inbred corruptions may be subdued, our evil habits may be broken off, and our souls may enjoy true liberty. Every fetter may be broken, every chain may be snapped — and the soul may ascend to God, commune with God, and dwell in God. Nor will anything less than this suffice.

Let us, then, not aim at anything earthly, or that is limited to time. Whatever may be our lot below — let us aim at an entire victory over sin — to live in hope of Heaven — anticipating a crown of glory, which never fades away. And as we aim at these things, let us put forth our utmost efforts to crucify the flesh, with its affections and lusts; and to bring every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ.

This is to lay up for ourselves treasure in Heaven; this is to lay up in store for ourselves, a good foundation against the time to come; this is to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life. This is true wisdom. This is securing the true riches. This will bring the assurance into our minds — that as in our Father's house there are many mansions, our Savior is preparing a place for us.

Happy, thrice happy is the man — who has the riches of grace in his heart, and the riches of glory in his eye; for whom to live is Christ, and to die is gain! O my soul, seek not possessions on earth, but be satisfied as you travel through the wilderness world, that you have "An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — reserved in Heaven for you!" 1 Peter 1:4