The Problem in The Post Office

I was received into the mem­bership of the Christian Church by the Rev. Arthur Harries, and it was he, my first pastor, who told this story to his congregation.
The post office officials were much interested as they read the words on an envelope which had just arrived from Japan . “To the man of God, -- Monmouthshire, England .”
"Who can that be?" asked the sorting official; but his colleagues were unable to answer his ques­tion. Then one man exclaimed, "Well, it's not the parson, any­how," and instantly they all ag­reed. The local clergyman did not fit the description. One by one, the names of the other ministers were mentioned; but in spite of the fact that several of these men were nice fellows and exceeding­ly popular, they did not fit the description on the envelope.
The problem of delivering the letter was becoming acute, when rather abruptly a member of the staff said, "I know. Yes, I know who he is. He's old Mr. - . If any man in this town has earned the right to that title, he is the man." The listeners agreed, and one was deputed to take the letter to the man's house.

The old Christian marvelled that the post office staff should think him worthy of such a compli­ment; but when he opened the letter, he discovered that their choice had been sound. The letter had been written to him by a Ja­panese student whom he had en­tertained months earlier.
The young man had been stu­dying in Wales , and had been re­ceived into the home of his new friend. When he returned to Japan , he desired to send a letter of appreciation; but alas, he had lost the address of his former host. However, that presented no pro­blem for he had gained the impression that he had stayed with a man of God. He smiled and was reassured, for in his own country, a man of God was kn­own near and far.
Surely this would be the case in other lands. Everybody would know the man of God, and if he addressed the letter in that fash­ion, it would reach its destina­tion. It did; and in so doing, paid tribute to one whose conse­crated service had charmed a Community. One wonders what would happen if such a letter were addressed to the man of God - in my town. Would the postal officials think of me?
Paul wrote in Philippians 1: 20, 21, “…that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, wheth­er it be by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul's reference to the magnifying glass is most interest­ing, and its connection with "the man of God" is obvious.
A magnifying glass does not actually increase the size of any­thing: it only seems to do this. Actually the object at which a man may be looking is exactly the same size, but the glass br­ings it into bold relief, and the watcher is able to see it more cl­early. It is not possible to make Christ more wonderful, for “He is the Altogether Lovely One, and the chiefest among ten thousand.” Yet, if by God's grace we can become magnifying glasses - ­in perfect alignment with the Master and men - they will be able to see Him more clearly when they look at Him through us. All the details of His superb glory may be brought into de­lightful relief if we are what we ought to be.
Most probably, St. Paul had a similar thought in mind when he wrote, "Ye are living epistles, seen and read of all men." We read the Scriptures to learn more of Christ. Likewise, people read us in order to achieve identical results.
The fact that the letter addressed to the man of God reached its destination, suggests that the honoured Christian had been a magnifying glass. He had so magnified his Lord that even the people in the post office had been able to see Him.

They had also read his every­day actions, and had recognized in them the presence of the Lord. The old man had been a living epistle of righteousness.

And ever since my old pastor told that story, I have wistfully longed to reach that standard of holiness. It is the Christian’s Mount Everest !