(A radio message dated November 11, 1945)
Inasmuch as all are born without their own consent, can it be that we are the helpless victims of Nature? Is it not more probable that those who are unhappy in this life have failed to fulfill the purpose of their birth?
When Christ was born, the Jews believed that He had come for the purpose of overthrowing Roman power and establishing the throne of David. When He failed to do that for which they thought He had come, they were sorely disappointed and immediately began to prepare to kill Him. Nevertheless, the Voice of God spoke from Heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Evidently, Jesus was fulfilling His Heavenly purpose in life. What then was the purpose for which He was born? When we discover that, we have the key to every problem in our life; for Christ is and was the great example to all mankind. Pilate asked Him, "Art Thou a king then?" Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." (John 18:37) He being an example unto us, therefore, let us also bear witness unto the truth.
Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah revealed the plan and purpose of God coming into the world to be born of a woman. Practically all things in the universe act according to the law of cause and effect. The cause for the coming of Christ is found - a deplorable condition upon earth that required the aid of a Saviour from Heaven. "And judgment is turned away backward and justice standeth afar off, for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And the LORD saw it and it displeased Him that there was no judgment. And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore, His arm brought Salvation unto Him and His righteousness it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of Salvation upon His head; and He put on garments for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloak." (Isaiah 59:14-17)
I have little or no confidence in any man's religious profession when it is not put into practice with a good supply of zeal. Christ Jesus came to the world and found the nations bound by their superstitions, ignorance, and fear, even in the children. The rulers of the Temple and synagogues were bound by sinful habits, which, although they condemned them in others, they condoned them in themselves. The lies of the satanic being who had deceived mother Eve into sinning had thoroughly schooled the inhabitants of the earth in his evil teachings and cunning ways: men living in sin without shame. Yes, they worshipped gods that were not real. They defiled themselves and all who came in contact with them. Jesus told the Pharisees that they compassed land and sea to make one convert, and when he was converted to their belief he was without doubt a confirmed child of the devil and headed for hell. In the midst of such gross darkness, sin, and shame, Christ stood forth as the world's only hope. And, please be informed that Christ is still the only hope for the world of today. When men could not penetrate the darkness of sin and unbelief, Christ was the light. When they knew not which course to pursue, Christ was the way. When they were dying physically and mentally, (dying in body and soul,) Christ was the life. And when they could not discern between right and wrong, Christ was the truth. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
How weighty the words of Christ, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."
- "O Truth,Thou art the guide to all that stumble in darkness; Thou art the hope of all who perish today in the pangs of death and sin; Thy lamp of light is the beacon that guides life's lost sailors into the Haven of rest. Thy Word is the bread that makes the weak strong. Thy Spirit is the garment of righteousness that is given to clothe the naked. And, Truth, Thou art more precious than the gold of Ophir. Thy Words are like apples of gold in pitchers of silver. Thou hast escaped the search of the wise and prudent." [Source unknown]
The miraculous success of the apostles of the early church was built upon this foundation. They were filled with the Spirit of Truth, which is the Holy Ghost. The souls of the apostles were as burning torches touched by the fire of the Spirit of Christ, the light of life, and the more abundant life. Just before Jesus went away, He said unto His disciples, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures and He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:44-48)
Why was I born? Well might the apostles have asked this question of themselves until the day when Christ filled them with His Spirit and sent them forth to bear witness to the truth. Here was the answer to the eternal question, "Why was I born?" Here was the fulfillment of life and living. Here was a purpose, here was a mission and a goal - to bear witness to the truth. The lives of the apostles, like all true Christians of this generation, were filled with the life of Christ. His purpose was their purpose. His mission was their mission. His truth became their truth. "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, to bear witness unto the truth." The God who made the universe, He who made man in the beginning and breathed into him the breath of life - yes, God,our Great Creator, came down through more than forty generations of His children and was born of a woman to bear witness to the truth. Before the light of His Spirit, before the piercing light that burned in His eyes; the hearts of men melted to the point of public confessions. The healing eyes of the Spirit of Truth, like the balm in Gilead, healed again the hearts that were torn and bleeding.
At Jacob's well this man of truth drew from the depths of a Samaritan woman's heart the confession of a life wasted in sin. And there, this great Son of Jacob offered her the water of life that could wash away each guilty stain. This was the ministry of all Spirit-filled preachers in the apostolic era. That is exactly what Jesus did when He sent forth His ministers to make disciples of all nations. The powers of darkness were greater than the men who were to be sent against it. Therefore, Jesus said unto them, "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you. But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)
Now turn to the second chapter of the book of Acts. There you may read the account of the coming of the Holy Ghost Fire. This, of course, was the Pentecostal Fire. When the multitude that gathered heard the apostle Peter preach unto them that in Jesus Christ was the redemption for all mankind, they became convicted of their sins and asked, saying, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent!" Then and only then will God answer for you that eternal question, "Why was I born?"
By your first birth you were born in sin, therefore Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5) By virtue of the second birth, a birth of the water and Spirit, which is baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, you become a child of the Kingdom, a witness of the Truth, and you will also know the purpose for which you were born.
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