Nugget 11
A Look at Jesus
December 1982
"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:5-6.
Recent thoughts and observations of the Christian walk beget questions, demanding answers which throw some light on Paul's statement that "some walk as enemies of the cross of Christ." As truth avails itself, there is an unveiling of the confused state of the Christian world today.
Certain facts are indisputable: The Father and the Son existed before the beginning, then God said, "Let us make man in our image and likeness..." Man was made in God's image, but before he could take on His likeness, the serpent came into the picture and beguiled Eve, causing her to disobey. They did not partake of the TREE OF LIFE, and consequently were driven from the garden.
God has never fallen short in His plan for man's redemption, and neither has Satan ceased in his endeavor to rob man of this glory.
It is abundantly clear in the scripture that when God unveils Himself dispensationally to different generations, some recognize, honor and glorify Him as God, giving thanks, while some reasoned (applied vain imaginations and foolish and irrational speculations), getting their minds darkened, thus missing the glory, majesty and excellency of the eternal God.
When Adam and Eve left the garden, they lost the ability to communicate with the Creator on a certain level - to enjoy good exclusively. They gave up obedience, and lost the mandate to have dominion over every living thing and to subdue the earth. The image of Satan, who hates God and man alike, was superimposed upon man, causing him to know good and evil without the power to do good, hence the perversity of the human heart. It then became absolutely necessary for man to totally embrace God's provision for deliverance from this bondage - which is Jesus Christ and all His attributes manifested through all the ages and through the whole universe.
The man who recognizes and loves God will recognize and love his fellow man. Even as the fall overthrew the true dignity of man, so shall the other crucial event, which is the coming of Jesus Christ, redeem and save all those who love and obey Him.
God has made provision for every man in every dispensation. Some recognize and accept with joy, while others reject, though they prove His power and might. When man submits to God, then good is brought forth - mercy for judgment, compassion for condemnation, joy for sorrow, love for hate, happiness for misery, life for death, peace in the midst of the storm, strength for weakness and on and on.
JUST A LOOK AT JESUS TURNS NIGHT TO DAY, DARKNESS TO LIGHT.
This paradox is at the core of the Christian experience. It is invariably manifested in the course of personal trials. Just think how many times the impossible is all that is seen: a great mountain in the path - when one cries out in distress or despair, then the Captain of our soul, instead of removing the mountain, simply lifts us above the situation. Oh! Never a mountain too high or valley too deep, or any situation one can think of that is impossible for Him. He specializes in things seemed impossible. The Christian walk is not for God to be continuously removing our problems, as much as to teach us how to rise above them, where we can SEE JESUS who gives the victory.
It is the cross of Christ that teaches the children of God to turn the other cheek when smitten, smite not again. Love them that hate you. Do good to them that despitefully use you and persecute you, forgive seventy times seven, and all the other seemingly impossible things - ah yes, Paul said, "...not I, but Christ," (Galatians 2:20) - a look at Jesus.
To be reckoned righteous is to touch God when our hearts SEE JESUS. It is not so much the idea that we have been brought into a salvation experience by asking Jesus into our hearts. It is by far greater; it is that our hearts SEE HIM; that we can make that adequate presentation of ourselves to Him, to meet Him and make personal contact. This gives inner strength, fortitude, confidence and power over the power of the enemy.
When we really see Jesus - Head of the Body - we can humbly take our place in submission; to receive as well as to contribute, that we might save and bless one another.
It is unfortunate that many hear of Him but not many SEE HIM. When one sees Him, the inner man is illuminated with His glory, and a transformation process takes place.
Where there is space for hate and strife, etc., it is a manifestation that the believer has not seen Jesus. When we see Him, we can find our place in His Body, since there is no member of the Body that is against the other. In the physical body, all the members work in harmony, because they are under the command of the head. Even so it is in the spiritual.
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16.
When one sees Jesus he is able to apply Christ-likeness to a situation, rather than soulishness, as the scripture says:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1st John 1:7.
If we do not see Jesus as He is, we frustrate God's plan of redemption in bringing man back to the God-consciousness which Adam lost. SEEING JESUS IS A CONSCIOUSNESS and awareness of God's glory and righteousness in all things, and there is no space left in one's life for part-time Christianity.
Paul saw Jesus and he said, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord," not that Christ had taken him prisoner, but that he wanted nothing else in life, but to be a prisoner of Christ. It is finding the pearl of greatest price, and you sell all to obtain it. It is more than just salvation. Salvation is the beginning, but this is the ultimate. The sole purpose for which Jesus came is that we might be transformed into His likeness; be made into His likeness. The only way we can be made into His likeness is when we are able to see Jesus.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2nd Corinthians 3:18.
"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Philippians 3:21.
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him." Colossians 3:10.
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2nd Peter 1:4.
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1st John 3:2.
This is final. If we do not begin to see Him now, we will not be able to see Him at all. Seeing Him in His righteousness, in His love and in all His attributes, not just looking physically at the Word, but the seeing of the heart. When the heart sees Christ, then the life begins to manifest. If you think that you are seeing Him or say that you are seeing Him, and your life does not manifest His glory, His righteousness, then you are being deceived.
No form, no creed, no regimentation, no discipling will cause you to manifest His glory. It is basically a heart condition, a heart going after that which it has seen in Christ, determined to bring forth that Christ in the earth.
"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1st John 3:3.
A very important thought is in the 6th verse.
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not SEEN HIM, neither known Him." 1st John 3:6.
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