Nearly two thousand years ago He came to this world, and His spirit has made an impact deeper than that of any other personality that has ever touched this world. His spirit pervades all the realms of life. His spirit pervades literature and government and law and religion and art and music. All the spheres and realms of life have been influenced by Christ and Christianity. What if He had not come? Where would the world be, at this moment, if Christ had not come? . . .
If Christ had not come, we would have no door of hope beyond the grave. Men had wondered about it, speculated about it, and guessed and sighed and sobbed and gone on wondering: “Whether there be anything more, we cannot say.” They said, “Whether the grave is the final chapter, we do not know.” But Jesus came and comforted the brokenhearted. “Your brother shall rise again,” He said to Mary and Martha. His own tears were shed with theirs out of the compassion and sympathy of His loving heart. “Thy brother shall rise again. I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Who can weigh the worth of these precious words from those lips divine?
The three great matters that concern mankind are life, death, eternity—and Christ alone has the only definite, clarifying, authoritative, satisfying word concerning all three. You need not be afraid of life. Trials may be in it daily for you. Do not be afraid. For He said, “I am he that liveth and was dead: and, behold, I am alive forevermore.” Be not afraid of life’s checkered experiences. It is given unto you, not only to believe on Christ but also to suffer for His sake. And do not be afraid of death; do not be startled nor overborne at the thought of death. The ”black camel” will kneel at your gate someday and bear you away. “It is appointed unto men once to die”; do not be afraid. Only see to it that your trust is in the Christ, “who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Cling to Him and do not be afraid of how or where you shall die; leave all that to Him, who will turn your death into a triumphant march. And do not be afraid of eternity. Christ is out there! We are going where He is. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Oh, dear men and women, are you not glad that Christ came? gladder than word of man or angel could ever tell, that Christ came? Where would we be? In a pagan land. Where would you be, if Christ had not come? He is the One who gives us the right estimate of humanity, the right appraisal.
—George W. Truett (1867-1944)
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