“In a moment, in the twinkling of any eye, at the last trumpet : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised” (1 Cor. 15:52). It matters not whether we want to think that an actual trumpet will sound or not to call forth those that are in the graves. What does matter is that we all, one day very soon, will stand waiting for the great judge of the earth.
It has, at times, seemed to me that we will be gathered first to the judgment site and then our Lord will make His appearance upon the scene, fulfilling the words spoken by the angels, “this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). What a thrill will run down our backs when we behold such a sight. Certainly the heart will beat faster in anticipation of what is coming to pass. For us, “it is done.” As we stand there, beholding the descension of that glorious being, accompanied with a myriad of angels, what will our thoughts be, knowing He comes to repay us for what we have done, or left undone?
It isn’t too hard to imagine we will start to think of the many mistakes we’ve made, once the initial shock has worn off. But even more in the front of our minds in that day will be the idea of “what on earth seemed so important to me then ?” For instance, I can just look back over this past week and see some of the big crises that came up. Someone accused me of something I hadn’t done. Why, that was almost unbearable. Someone else kept imposing on me, to the point where I had only a few minutes for the things I wanted to do. A few minutes. Actually, as I recall, I think they altogether wanted about 20 minutes.
Petty things ? No doubt. But at the time they happened, they seemed so important. And I think this is the reason we have to constantly look at these things and talk about them, so they don’t get out of proportion. Paul says (Eph. 4:1-2), “I beseech you, therefore, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with long – suffering, forbearing one another in love.” And so much the more as ye see the day approaching of our Lord’s return.
Walk. This is a subject that should call forth a great deal of plainness of speech and yet, so often, we kind of avoid it. It probably isn’t because we don’t feel it very important, but more likely because none of us feel capable or worthy to tell another what they should do. But Paul says (Eph. 4:15), “But speak the truth in love.”
This is what we want to do, and we trust that all of you will understand that the present writer is mostly aware of his own faults and of the great need that he requires for forgiveness from above. It is to this shortage of goodness that the following remarks are mostly directed, for in this case, we know whereof we speak.
(Eph. 4:17-18), “Walk not as other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.” Walk. Has there ever been a day when we have not looked like ordinary men and women ? Or, has it always been a rule for us to stand aside from things that, in themselves, are all right, but might tend to give the wrong impression ? We more probably think of ourselves than of what others are going to think about it. And why not ; we are selfish. But, because those around us are in darkness, this gives us no right to ignore them, for if our God would not that any should perish, certainly we should try to emulate our God’s stand.
Walk. The other night there was almost a full moon riding through the sky, first slipping behind a cloud, letting one just see a dim outline and then, as the wind blew that cloud away, the moon would burst forth in its full glory, showing up the land in comparative brightness. It wasn’t as if the sun was shining, but still it was uplifting in its beauty. And the thought came to mind ; if only we could shed as much light on those around us in the darkness as that moon was that night.
The type was very good, because we are supposed to be reflections of our Lord, who is the “Sun of Righteousness,” even as the moon is just reflecting what is eminating from its sun. The sun is the true light—the moon a poor duplicate; but, nonetheless, a duplicate.
This should be our position now. We should want to please our Father by trying to be a replica of the perfection He showed man in Jesus. We won’t ever attain unto that perfection, but should that discourage us or cause us to stop trying? Oh, no! On the contrary, we should put forth more effort on this project than anything else we have ever attempted. We should try to radiate to the full.
You know, when the moon is fairly new, just a small portion of light is shed, but as it becomes a full moon its brightness becomes more and more apparent until it is almost impossible to ignore it. So in the truth. As we start toward life eternal, we reflect very little of His actions, not fully understanding His teachings. But, as we grow older in the truth, spiritually matured, we must start to live a life that is based entirely upon our Father’s word, becoming, even though not as bright, a full reflection of what Jesus was.
Now, do we realise what that means ? We have to put aside our natural habits and do only those things that our Lord did ; for to be a reflection, we can only take what is shined upon us and then reflect that on to something else. We have no light of our own, so we are entirely dependent upon that stronger light.
To be this way, though, requires a great deal more than we are often prepared to give. For we might think we can go about our own various ways and just “add” religion to our lives, without causing too much discomfort. But this isn’t true. Do we think, for instance, we can just pick up and take a trip somewhere, just to get away from it all—just to forget the problems we are faced with ? Do we think this is a legitimate excuse ? It’s an excuse, all right, but far from legitimate.
Some might become indignant and think, “well, Jesus himself had to get away at times from the people, from the stress and strain of His ministering.” Yes, He had to get away, but where did He go ? Did He go off and submerge his thinking in one of the sports of his day, either by watching or participating? Did he go off to the hills to have a picnic, to satisfy his own desires and not think of his God ? Do you think he would have sunk down into a deep easy chair in front of a TV set, so he could lose sight of reality for a little bit? We know he wouldn’t.
Yes, he had to get away. But, where did he go ? He went to God. He turned for strength to go on. He asked for help to maintain the fight. He wanted courage to continue to face up to the problems of his day. He didn’t just try to forget. The flesh wants to forget. The flesh would like to get away from the straitlaced way and please self a bit. The flesh is the thing that wants to submerge itself in its own desires. Yet, Jesus emptied himself of his fleshly desire.
Oh, but someone might say, “That was Jesus. You can’t expect me to measure up to that high and mighty design.” We can’t tell each other what is expected from anyone, but Paul can and he said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.” In other words, be followers of Jesus. “I am the way,” said Jesus. Need we quote any more ? No. It is quite obvious that we are expected by God to follow the pattern he has laid out for us in Jesus. And that pattern makes no room or provision for the flesh.
(Eph. 4:17-24, 27), “Neither give place to the devil.” What is the devil? You know and I know. We could just as easily have said, “neither give place to the flesh.” The Bible says, “do all unto the Lord.” When we go to a ball game, is it unto the Lord ? When we go to a ballroom, is it unto the Lord? When we go to a movie, is it unto the Lord ? When we roller skate, ice skate, or just spend a night in front of the TV set, is it unto the Lord ? I think not.
This is for the flesh. We can whip out the well-worn phrase of ”all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” but it doesn’t help. For we know the answer. There is no room for the flesh. The spirit says, “Whatsoever ye do, do unto the Lord.”
(Eph. 5:1-2, 6-8), “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love—as children of light.” Just as that full moon rode through the sky, with clouds trying to stop its glorious reflected light from getting through to this earth, so let us be filled with the light of the word of God. Let us empty ourselves of all self will and accept without reservation, whatever is shined upon from the Bible. Let us be a vessel that will clearly show the way to eternal life. Oh, many things in this life will try to stop us from giving our all. The clouds of hatred, deceit, falsehood and prejudice will make it seem impossible for us to accomplish any good at all; but, every now and then, someone might be looking in our direction and get a lift from what they see. Maybe it might even give them the desire to shine a bit for themselves.
“Wherefore, we beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” for we are absolutely convinced the time is short until we’ll see Jesus. Therefore crucify the flesh, giving no quarter and asking none in return. If some of the things written have come close to home, this has been worthwhile, for we should exhort one another. We’ve no desire to write about any individual, but we must bare the flesh and its deceit. The words of Paul seem fitting to close this message for he said, “Wherefore I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God, given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach unto the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ; that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith : that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:7-8, 16-19).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One