Christ’s sacrifice and death for sinners, and Christ’s kingdom and future glory, are the light we must bring to bear on any book of Scripture we read. Christ’s cross and Christ’s crown are the clue we must hold fast, if we would find our way through Scripture difficulties. Christ is the only key that will unlock many of the dark places of the Word. Some people complain that they do not understand the Bible. And the reason is very simple. They do not use the key. To them the Bible is like the hieroglyphics in Egypt. It is a mystery, just because they do not know and employ the key.~ J.C. Ryle Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, “Christ Is All”, [Moscow, ID: Charles Nolan Publishing, 2001], 374.

The Father never fails to cheer our hearts with sweet surprises of His Grace.  He hides them through all our fleeting years, and every day we are finding them:  friends old and new, the joys of home, new aspirations, new tasks, new fields of labor, new knowledge, new understandings of the heart of Christ, new experiences with Him.  Often they fall into our laps when we are least expecting them.  This is God’s antidote for weariness and dullness.  We greet each day with expectancy.  We grow old gracefully, eagerly waiting to know what is that grandest gift of all- eternal life.- Costen J. Harrell