The Life of Faith 479
feeling because it disregards feeling altogether. If Christians desire to
live by this principle they should not alter their demeanor or bitterly
cry as though bereft of their spiritual life whenever they feel cold,
dry, empty, or pained. We live by faith and not by joy.
The Deeper Work of the CrossWhen we forsake physical happiness and mundane pleasures we
are apt to conclude that the cross has finished its perfect work in us.
We do not perceive that in God’s work of annulling the old creation
in us there remains a deeper cross awaiting us. God wishes us to die
to His joy and live to His will. Even if we feel joyous because of God
and His nearness (in contrast to being joyous because of fleshly and
earthly things), God’s aim nevertheless is not for us to enjoy His joy
but to obey His will. The cross must continue to operate till His will
alone is left. If we rejoice in the bliss God dispenses but renounce the
suffering He also dispenses, then we have yet to experience the
deeper circumcision by the cross.
Great is the contrast between the will of God and the joy of God.
The first is ever present, for we can behold God’s mind in His
providential arrangement; but the second is not always present, since
it is experienced only in certain circumstances and at certain times.
When a Christian seeks the joy of God he takes simply that part of
His purpose which makes him happy; he does not desire the entire
will of God. He chooses to obey God’s aim when God makes him
happy; but if He should cause him to suffer he at once revolts against
His will. But the person who receives His will as his life will obey
regardless how God makes him feel. He can discern divine
arrangement in both joy and suffering.
During the initial stage of a Christian’s experience God allows
him to delight in His joy; after he has advanced somewhat in his
spiritual walk God withdraws His joy, since this is profitable for the
Christian. God appreciates the fact that should the believer seek and