"AND, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among
the publicans, and he was rich."
Consequently he must have been a happy man, many would think, for
the conditions of happiness are riches and prominent positions. But
Zacchæus was no happy man.
He may, of course, have experienced a certain degree of delight or
happiness while he was so busily occupied in making money and in
forging ahead until he reached the very top of the publicans' ladder;
now, however, when he had accomplished all that--he was not happy, at
all.
How could that be?
I believe at that time perhaps he _had lived his life outside himself,
as it were, and been wholly absorbed by his official duties_. But now
that he found time to be home by himself, and to be occupied with the
inner world of his soul, he heard in there an accusing voice which told
him: _You are a sinful man, Zacchæus!_ And the man who is sinful, is
not happy.
What should he do?
He might devote himself once more to the _mania for gathering wealth_,
might thrust himself energetically back into the work. Or he might
devote himself to the merry _life of society_--seek pleasures, the
remedy which the world offers to those who are afflicted with wounded
souls. But in both cases he would once more be forced to live his life
outside himself. He did not like that. It would be too much like taking
flight from oneself.
But there was a third way--_that of the repenting sinner_. He chose
that. People referred to him by calling him a _sinful man_, and
sighingly he had to admit that the people were right. He understood
that now since he was home by himself--O, could but his sin be stricken
out!
Now there was this Man, Jesus of Nazareth! Wasn't He the same one whom
John the Baptist had spoken of as the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world? And was not He the same one who had said to a
poor fellow sick of the palsy: "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be
forgiven thee!" If he might only see Him!
Suddenly streets resounded with the cry: Jesus of Nazareth is coming!
Zacchæus got busy, ran on ahead and climbed unto a tree. Hidden by the
dense leafage there, he would have a chance of seeing Jesus--why, He
is coming right there--He actually stops at the tree, looks up, sees
him, and says: "Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for today I must
abide by thy house!" And he made haste, and came down, and received Him
joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that He was
gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. But Zacchæus stood, and
said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the
poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I
restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him: This day is salvation
come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the
Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
He was son of Abraham!
* * * * *
As Abraham had learned how to be home by himself and to say, "I am
but dust and ashes"--thus Zacchæus had come home to himself when he
realized that he was a sinner. And as Abraham was willing to sacrifice
his son, his heart's treasure, thus Zacchæus had come to the point
where he was willing to sacrifice half of what was his--that dear, dear
property which his heart had loved so fervently and to which it had
been attached for many years. That had been the most precious treasure
of his heart.
_To be home by oneself humbles._ _To live outside oneself makes
haughty_, and God is displeased with those who are haughty while He
bestows His grace on those who are humble.
* * * * *
"For today I must abide by thy house," Jesus says.
Why? Because Zacchæus could be found at home. Jesus always knocks on
the doors of those hearts where He knows He finds someone at home. He
must abide there.
To the men of our own age the danger of living outside themselves
in their work and business, is great. Our age suffers from a tension
which was not known in bygone days. If a man is to surge ahead, he
must let his business absorb his entire strength. Therefore, it is so
difficult for Jesus to find men at home when He knocks at the door of
their heart, and therefore so few men are to be found in the church on
the Lord's day. Women are not in the same measure tempted to live their
lives outside themselves.
But Zacchæus stands like one who admonishes the man of our age: _Try
to be at home by yourself, in your own soul. That is the road you must
wander if you are to find happiness._