Georges Matheson who was a devout servant of Christ died in
1906. This man of God talked about three classes in the Christian life. The
first group is considered to be people like Matheson himself, Aiden Tozer, John
Edwards, J.C. Ryle, Moody, Spurgeon etc. Note that, these people I have listed above are my preferences. These are the type of people the Holy Spirit
entrusted me to when I was thirsty for Him. As such I have confidence in who they
were in Christ. One that I have learned to admire in our time is Pastor Paul
Washer. Him and I seem to have taken one module together from Christ’s
University which is Boldness. (Not to be confused with the boldness from the
flesh without going through the humility process that He provides through pain
and intimacy with Him)
The Church is made up mostly of the invalid ones, those that
are on the couch and seem to be in constant need of care. They never outgrow
the need to be cared for. The ambulance Corps are those who follow just for the
sake of following in spite of being anonymous. There is no glory, there is no
spotlight on them, and there is no one who would ever write their memoirs. To
begin with they seem to be uninteresting to the naked eyes. These men and women
of God are found almost everywhere in every walk of life. Yet they give and
keep giving of themselves to the Lord, to be used without hindering Him. While they
are in the background, but, God knows who they are. So, I leave you with George
Matheson’s own writings and his own words.
May God have mercy on us and bring
us to a place where we can all be part of the Ambulance corps.
THE AMBULANCE CORPS.
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.
"—Revelation 14: 4.
There
are three classes in the Christian Life — the men of the wing, the men of the
couch,
and the men of the road. The first are those who fly before ; they are
the
pioneers of progress, they are in advance of their fellows. The second are those who
stand still, or rather lie still ; they are the invalids of
the human race ; they come not
to minister, but to be ministered unto. The third are those who follow ;
they are the am-
bulance
corps of humanity; they are the sacrificial souls that come on behind. I think
with St. John
their unobtnisiveness. They do not wish to lead, they would
rather be in the rear ; they
come forward only when others are driven backward. They want
no glory from the
battle, no wreath for the victory, no honourable mention
amid the heroes. They seek
the wounded, the dying, the dead. They anoint for life's
burial, they bring spices for
the crucified, they give the cup of cold water they wash the
soiled feet. They break the
fall of Adam ; they break the fall of Magdalene. They take
in Saul of Tarsus after he
becomes blind. They are attracted by defects, they are lured
by every form to
helplessness. They come out to meet the shadows; they go in
the track, not of the lark,
but of the nightingale ; they follow the Lamb.
Captain of salvation, put me in the rear of Thine army —
with the ambulance corps ! It
is not for the sake of safety that I ask it ; it is not to
be relieved from the burden and the
heat of the day that I wish to be in the rear. It is because
I think the trouble is greater
there ; it is because I see more room for sacrifice, more
chance of doing good. There
are some whom Thou sendest before Thee — angels of the everlasting
gospel who fly in
advance over the face of heaven. Speed them, bless them! But
I am not fitted to be
one of these ; I am not swift enough, I am not brilliant
enough. Put me in a sphere
where swiftness is not wanted, where brilliancy is not
required ! Give me the trouble
without the glitter, O Lord ! Let others lead !— I am
content to follow. Be Thou my rear-
ward ! Help me to serve Thee in the background! Is it not
written, “They that tarry
at home divide the spoil." I cannot fight Thy battles,
but I can nurse Thy wounded.
I cannot repel Thy foes, but I can repair Thy fortress. I
cannot conduct Thy marches, but
I can succour those who have fainted by the way. Write my
name amongst those who
follow Thee!
Please visit my website at www.apprehended.ca
