Bullets for the Battle

“Behold the Lifter” (1)

THERE are two kinds of people on earth to-day;
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

These lines, taken from one of Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poems, touched me deeply. We are not sure of the exact title … someone called it “Which are You?” I immediately thought of the words of John the Baptist about our Lord Christ … “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). To take away sin is to “lift” the pressing and exhausting weight of our sins, failures, guilt, hurts, burdens, weaknesses, agonies, doubts and fears. Praise the Father that His Son is One Who “takes away” and “lifts.” He is One Who will “lighten” our pressures when our next crisis comes along. He “holds us up” whether our suffering is chronic or acute!

Thank God for those people who always refresh and renew us by their presence (Philemon 7). They share our burdens as Christ would (Gal. 6:2). They strengthen us by giving off the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ (II Cor. 2:14). They risk themselves for our good even as Christ did by His Own Cross Life (Phil. 2:30).

The serious Disciple is a “lifter.” One who brings the “Jesus light” of confidence, wisdom and hope to others. He or she determines never to be a “leaner” whose very presence can mean complaining, accusing, self pitying, grumbling and discouragement. Those who truly learn “to lean” on the Lord will “lean” on others least. They have qualified themselves to be “lifters.”

The ten lines above were given to me by a dear friend. He truly refreshed my day by this gift of “lifting.” I have given them my own title … “Behold the Lifter.” It expresses my feelings about the people who were and are “lifters” in the midst of my battles. How wonderful when certain people come into our life and we don’t have to say, “Oh, no, here they come!” How much greater it is to see a friend approach and say with praise … “Behold the Lifter!” These are those who give us joy, strength and confidence. May many say it of each of us!

Which are You?*
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

THERE are two kinds of people on earth to-day;
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.
Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.
Wherever you go, you will find the earth's masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.
And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,
(And oddly enough, you’ll find what I’ve seen)**
There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.
In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner, who lets others share
(Or are you a learner, who makes others bear)**
Your portion of labor, and worry and care?

* Title in question – we couldn’t find the poem under this title when we searched Ella Wilcox’s literary works available from Project Gutenberg.
** My modifications to the poem. In addition to my changes above I would add a final stanza:

Have done then with your leaning, be a lifter of His light
Make it your ambition to give others Messiah sight.
So when you are before them, a “God lamb” for all to view
Christ’s Gospel of lifting will create their world anew!

(1) I thought this work was anonymous until we were able to research and locate the full poem and the author. Before finding that Ella Wilcox (1850-1919) wrote the words I entitled the lines “Behold the Lifter.” The words perfectly describe our Lord in John 1:29, at least to me. I can think of no more noble life than that of one who helps and enables others to find liberty and freedom by being “lifted” higher that this fallen world in which we all struggle! This spiritual release from what people have been creates for them an entrance into a new dimension of what they CAN become in Christ! “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, mud and mire and set my feet on a rock” (Ps. 40:2).