Whom have You left behind to carry out the work?” asked the angels. “A little band of men and women who love Me,” replied the Lord Jesus.

“But what if they should fail when the trial comes? Will all You have done be defeated?”

“Yes, if they should fail, all I have done will be defeated; but they will not fail!”

And the angels wondered as they saw the sublime confidence of love which this betokened!

“Wilt thou follow Me?”

The Savior asked.

The road looked bright and fair, And filled with youthful hope and zeal I answered, “Anywhere.”

“Wilt thou follow Me?” Again He asked.

The road looked dim ahead; But I gave one glance at His glowing face “To the end, dear Lord,” I said.

“Wilt thou follow Me?” I almost blanched, For the road was rough and new, But I felt the grip of His steady Hand, And it thrilled me through and through.

“Still followest thou?” ’T was a tender tone, And it thrilled my inmost heart.

I answered not, but He drew me close, And I knew we would never part.

The way lies through Gethsemane, through the city gate, outside the camp. The way lies alone, and the way lies until there is no trace of a foot step, only the Voice, “Follow Me!” But in the end it leads to “the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2) and to the Mount of God.

The hour is desperately dark; your flame is needed.