The Influence of Climate

What is the secret of this gladness? Where is it found? The secret is — abiding in the love of Christ .

Climate is important. If we live in a malarial region, we need not be surprised if we have malaria. It steals into our heart, and poisons our blood. If we move to a place where there is pure, sweet, wholesome air — we may expect to be well and strong.

There are spiritual climates , too, some wholesome, some unwholesome; and we should choose our abiding-place where the influences will promote gladness. Christ tells us we can live in his love, as an atmosphere, as one would stay in the sunshine.

We are exhorted also to keep ourselves in the love of God , not to keep ourselves loving God, but to keep ourselves in the blessedness of God's love for us. That was the way John lived, staying in Christ's love; and we know how the sunshine got into John's soul, and made his face shine, and made his whole life a benediction of gladness, for which all the world is happier, sweeter, and richer today.

If we would find the Christian's secret of gladness, we must refuse to live in the shadows, amid doubts, discouragements, and depressions; and must persist in living ever in the brightness and beauty of God's love.

"Is it always foggy here?" asked a passenger, of the captain of the steamer, off the banks of Newfoundland.

"How should I know, madam? I don't live here."

Yet there are too many Christians who seem to live always in the fogs of fear and unbelief . They are all the while questioning and doubting, seeing troubles afar off, complaining and murmuring. They are discontented Christians . Then they wonder why they do not have the joy of the Lord. But the joy of the Lord is never found in such climates. We must dwell in the uplands of God, if we would know the secret of gladness.

There are spiritual highlands to which we may climb, away from the low valleys in which too many of us live. There the silence is holy with the presence of God, and among the hills breaks sweetest music of joy. There streams burst from the rocks, and gurgle down through grass-fringed channels.

There one may get away from the dusty streets and the noisy strife, and in the quiet hush meet God, and hear his voice of gentle stillness. It is because we live too much in the foggy, marshy lowlands that we know so little of the gladness of God. If we would learn the blessed secret, we must climb into the uplands, where the streams are heavenly pure, and where the air is sweet with the breath of God.

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