Treasures for Heaven: February 2016

In everything God does there is an ultimate purpose. It is my understanding that the glorious plan of salvation revealed through Jesus Christ achieves three goals—three very glorious privileges that God has mercifully granted to us to lay hold of in Christ Jesus (Php. 3:12). While the three end results I list are intertwined with each other and can be considered a single goal, for the purpose of identification I distinguish each separately. So great and awesome is each privilege that one can’t help but seek God for every one of these separately.

The beauty of the plan of God is that it is not limited to earth nor is it something to begin experiencing only after our life on earth. God’s working in us ‘to will and to do’ (Php. 2:13) achieves in us what can be enjoyed while on earth and when we are with Him for eternity. Every other aspect tied to this relationship, be it obedience or faith or prayer or the study of the Bible are mere tools that God has given us to aid us reach this ultimate goal.

What then are these three objectives?

1. To enjoy God’s manifest Presence;

2. To increasingly know Him and;

3. To enjoy on a regular basis His sweet fellowship.

As a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:19), we have the great privilege of entering into the new and living way—the way that goes beyond the veil rend asunder through the death of Jesus Christ. There in that Holy Place is God’s Presence—a place that we can draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having been cleansed by the blood and having Jesus Himself as our High Priest (Heb. 10:19-22).

Now we know that when we come to God in repentance, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1Jn. 1:7). We are washed clean. We are made holy and righteous—not by our own deeds but by the sanctifying work of our Lord Jesus. Christ’s saving grace makes us a fit, righteous dwelling for the Holy One. Scripture reveals to us that it is at this time that God, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, a seal of our hope and inheritance (Eph. 1:13). Our new being is made a holy temple, a dwelling place for God.

The point I make is this. Having been made holy, we need to remain holy. Since we know that God is holy and that there is no unrighteousness in Him can He make His abode in a place of unrighteousness? Having now been made righteous can we indulge in unrighteousness? Since the blood of Jesus has sanctified us and made us holy, are we not under obligation to use every member of our body as instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:12, 13)? It is a sad thing when we continue in our deception of careless living, ‘unconscious’ of a grieving God, while all the time calling out to Him saying, “Fill me with Your Presence, Oh God!”

He is gracious to permit us to experience His Presence when we gather together in the name of Jesus; when we sing with praise and adoration to Him who alone is worthy. Yet, He has desired that we can enter into a constant experience of His Presence, not limited to a single time or location. He has gladly chosen to cause His glory to fill the inner sanctuary of our earthly abode just like the days when His glory filled the temple so that no one could enter in (2Chr. 7:1-3). He longs to lead us into that path that Moses trod where His Presence can so shine forth from within us that it would show on our outer countenance (Ex. 34:29). Enjoying this presence within us is a reality provided in the gospel to experience from morning to night, day after day. It is also a privilege that continues throughout eternity.

Now such a privilege does not come without a sincere desire for the living God. The righteous one, who cries to Him for grace and help to remain pure and blameless (Heb. 4:16), finds a sweet presence that fills his being. It makes him sing and shout with praise; his countenance occasionally revealing the joy that only such a Presence can give.

However, Dr A W Tozer asks a relevant question before answering it himself—“Why do some persons ‘find’ God in a way that others do not? Why does God manifest His Presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle along in the half-light of imperfect Christian experience? Of course the will of God is the same for all. He has no favorites within His household. All He has ever done for any of His children He will do for all of His children. The difference lies not with God but with us.”

Today and every day, with God’s help, we can live as a holy sanctuary set apart for Him to dwell and make His Presence felt.

The second objective of God’s working within us is to know Him. Our Lord Himself revealed that eternal life is to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (Jn. 17:3). The knowledge of the unfathomable, Holy One is central to the very purpose of our existence. Because God’s character has no limits, ‘eternity’ will not be sufficient to fully grasp Him. Yet in the gospel, through Jesus Christ, we have a good starting point while we have breath on earth.

God discloses Himself to us when we love Him and keep His commands (Jn. 14:21). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7)—and by fear I don’t just mean the judgement of God (2Cor. 5:10, 11) or holy reverence (Heb. 12:28) but the fear of grieving Him (Eph. 4:30). This is where it all begins. Forgiveness from sin and salvation from our way of error is essentially the starting point to get right with God. Critical beginning as it is, it is only the beginning. Loving God with all our heart; being completely submissive to Him; and living with a single-minded devotion to please Him—all these are the essential steps that lead us up the glorious path for God to reveal Himself and His glory. Alas however, like Tozer said in one of his writings, “The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His Presence.”

If we are faithful to our part of John 14:21, which in one sense sums up the expectation God has from us, will He shy away from His? There is no doubt that our faithful God, from the rich treasure of His being, gives insight and understanding of His personality. His attributes come to us with freshness; and though we see dimly as in a mirror, the tiny glimpse of God’s character nevertheless brings us to a point where we begin to understand ‘who’ the One we call on and believe in is.

He shows Himself to us as self-existent. We begin to understand that while all creation, visible and invisible, has its origins in Him and lives because of Him (Acts 17:28), He Himself is dependent on no one and nothing. We see Him as self-sufficient; the One who sustains and upholds all things (Col. 1:17), He Himself needing nothing. He discloses His eternal being, fulfilling things planned from ancient times (Isa. 37:26). His infiniteness; His unchangeableness and His wisdom become increasingly apparent. We understand what it means when we read that His righteousness reaches the heavens; His faithfulness reaches the clouds. Goodness has its origins in Him. Justice and mercy are in His right hand. Overflowing grace, unending mercy and boundless love are attributes we so often talk about yet know so little of until He opens our eyes to see it. His holiness—unspeakable holiness—the full meaning of which is hardly understood, could cause us to cry out like Isaiah, “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips.” (Isa. 6:5) It would require pages to describe each attribute in detail. Yet for the one who has set his heart on knowing Him, such a one requires no earthly teacher—for “they shall not teach his fellow-citizen and everyone his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord.’ for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.” (Heb. 8:11)

It is a great privilege indeed when God discloses Himself to us. Everything else is worthless in view of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, our Lord (Php. 3:8). The more He reveals Himself, the deeper our faith and trust in Him; the deeper our trust, the greater our peace. For doesn’t God say, “Be still, and know that I am God?” (Psa. 46:10) Is not the peace that surpasses all understanding a result of being anxious for nothing (Php. 4:6) but a quiet confidence that says, “I know whom I have believed in” (2Tim. 1:12)? Yet equally important is the next truth.

From the knowledge of God stems true, meaningful worship. The more we know Him, the more we are constrained to fall face down and worship Him. It is the knowledge of God and the glimpse of His glory that causes us to automatically come to Him in reverence and awe. What He reveals to us here will continue through eternity, prompting us even then, I believe, to fall before Him each time and worship Him.

The third outcome from such a relationship with God is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13:14). Through Jesus, the gospel has opened for us an amazing opportunity to commune with the Most High. It is a beautiful thing when man is engaged with the quiet business of listening to the voice of God in His heart. “He shall glorify Me,” said our Saviour, “for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.” (Jn. 16:14)

“He will guide you into all the truth… He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (Jn. 16:13)

We often spend so much time talking to God that we seldom stay quiet before Him to listen. God walked with Adam in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8). He did not hide what He intended from Abraham (Gen. 18:17) but called the man His friend (Isa. 41:8). Moses spent hours, even days, listening to God. Through Jesus, our Saviour, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than these (Mt. 11:11). Will not He who dwells in us, speak to us? Will not He by His gentle instruction, teach and guide us and in His still, small voice witness to our hearts the truth?

Tozer often chided his fellow-Christians, “If you do all the talking when you pray, how will you ever hear God’s answers?” and then again more strongly, “Listen to no man who fails to listen to God. No man has any right to offer advice who has not first heard God speak. No man has any right to counsel others who is not ready to hear and follow the counsel of the Lord. True moral wisdom must always be an echo of God’s voice.”

I believe this communion with God and our Beloved Bridegroom will continue through eternity. There is much God wants to say to us. There is much He wants to show us. Jesus says, “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (Jn. 16:12) Through eternity we would enjoy the fellowship of God, yet beginning now, we can like Mary, choose the good part. And like our Lord Himself assured us—it shall not be taken away (Lk. 10:42).

If this then is the goal that God is leading us toward, let us run in such a way, as not without aim; let us box in such a way, as not beating the air (1Cor. 9:26). “Suffer hardship with me,” wrote Paul to Timothy, “as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. And also, if any one competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2Tim. 2:3-7)

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” (Rom. 16: 25-27).