Section 10
he experienced feelings of abasement. He knew what it was to have worry and anxiety in times of suffering. But at those times he applied the se cret of the indwelling Christ. He applied the very Christ in whom he could be found. This Christ is real, living, near, available, and prevail ing. This was the Christ who was Paul's secret.
DAY AND NIGHT IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
In the Christian life we experience both night and day. According to Genesis 1, night comes before day. When Paul was abased, he was in the night, and when he was abounding, he was in the day. Just as day follows night, night in turn will follow day. This means that after the night of abasement came the day of abounding. Paul realized, however, that this day would eventu ally be followed by another night. We cannot change the principle of God's universe. In the universe there is night and day, day and night.
The Christian life does not stay on one level; it has many ups and downs. It is normal to be up and down, down and up. It is not normal to remain on one level and not experience ups or downs. Likewise, it is not normal to experience day and not night.