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We Must See Jesus
by Tom Stewart
July 17, 2003
All men at all times have but one True Necessity-- we must see
Jesus! "Looking unto Jesus the Author
and Finisher of Our Faith" (Hebrews 12:2). The world mistakes Jesus as simply the Choice or Preference of Christians,
but the Truth is that Jesus is the Only Way to God. "Jesus
saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by Me" (John 14:6). Without
the intervention of the Spirit of God, the world cannot see the need of looking to
Jesus to remove the fatal obstacle of sin, because they are unwilling to see themselves
as deserving a Sinner's Hell. "The soul
that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). "Your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will
not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). And
yet, "God so loved the world, that
He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have Everlasting Life" (John 3:16).
Man is so much a creature of his physical senses that in front of his worldly peers
he feels foolish to admit the existence of the Invisible Creator, though his innate
spiritual sense testifies fully that only a Supreme Being could be responsible for
such a magnificent display of wonder. "For
the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His Eternal Power and Godhead; so that
they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).
If man were willing to give God the opportunity to explain the mystery of
His Personage, he would find from the Infallible Word of God that the manifestation
of the Father to the world is Jesus the Son, Who likewise reserves all the
attributes of God Only. "13 Who hath delivered us from the power
of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: 14 In Whom we have Redemption through
His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature:
16 for by Him were all
things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were
created by Him, and for Him: 17 and
He is before all things, and by Him all things consist"
(Colossians 1:13-17). Sad to say, mankind has voted with its
feet to walk down most every other path than the only Narrow Way that leads assuredly
to God, and consequently they have entirely missed Jesus or found a deceptive substitute
in place of Christ the Saviour. "13 Enter ye in at the Strait Gate: for
wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there
be which go in thereat: 14 because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto Life, and few there
be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
Christians most certainly will acknowledge that the world has an ongoing need to
see Jesus, and they will also recognize that Jesus should be First of all in their
own lives; but, they become inexcusably confused and lose their way, when
they do not continually seek to see Jesus as the Solution to their every problem,
the Understanding to their every question, the Consolation for their every pain,
the Victory for their every obstacle, the Stability for their every task, the Patience
for their every breath, and the Goal for their every attempt-- after all, "we love Him, because He first loved us" (1John 4:19). "30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,
Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption:
31 that, according as it is Written, He that
glorieth, let him Glory in the LORD" (1Corinthians
1:30-31). In principle, Christians readily assent to the need of Holiness
and Godly Living to be practiced in their own lives-- in short, a Practical Sanctification--
but, in practice, a thoroughly demonstrated application of Holy Living requires:
Philosophers of this world have vainly attempted to explain the
way things are, and theologians have rightly labored to systematize our understanding
of the things of God; but, the everyday Christian needs the handhold of simplicity
to allow him to reach out in the midst of trials, difficulties, confusion, labors,
and triumphs to lay hold of God. "Keep
yourselves in the Love of God, looking for the Mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto
Eternal Life" (Jude 21). If we
will look for Jesus, we will always find Him. "And
ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). Notice that the LORD is working
to continually secure our whole heart when we attempt to find Him, just as
His Infinite Person offers His whole heart to each of us individually. "38 And
they shall be My people, and I will be their God: 39 And I will give them One Heart, and One Way, that they may
fear Me for ever, for the Good of them, and of their children after them: 40 and I will make an Everlasting
Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them Good; but I will
put My Fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me. 41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to
do them Good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and
with My whole soul" (Jeremiah 32:38-41).
It should not surprise us that God has been continually working to make known to
us His Method of securing our hearts in loving obedience. "And
I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My
Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). Since the Atoning Work of Jesus
Christ on the Cross of Calvary has been completed, the Resurrected and Ascended Saviour
has given to us His Spirit to fulfil the intentions of the Father in establishing
for Himself "children that will not lie:
so He was their Saviour" (Isaiah 63:8).
God has not been obscure, though we have been slow in perceiving His Point, and too
easy in forgetting what we have been painstakingly told. "Thou,
O LORD, art a God full of Compassion, and Gracious, Longsuffering, and plenteous
in Mercy and Truth" (Psalm 86:15).
What is a simple Plan of action that aids us in our quest of seeing Jesus? First,
seek continual communion with God through prayer that Jesus would be revealed to
you-- and that, would consequently meet all your needs. "6 Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God. 7 And
the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus... 19 But
my God shall supply all your need according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, 19). Second, seek to actually
find your vision of the LORD Jesus Christ through His Living Word. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
"I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh
to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). Finally, seek the perfection of faithfully
walking in loving obedience to the One Who is continually gazing upon you. "Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with Me: he that walketh in a Perfect Way, he shall serve Me" (Psalm 101:6).
May the prayer of the ancient Irish hymn, "Be Thou My Vision," encourage
us also to see Jesus.
Maranatha!
"Be Thou My Vision"
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
[Charles G. Finney's ---New Window
"Relations of Christ to the
Believer" ---New Window and A.
T. Pierson's ---New Window "In Christ
Jesus" ---New Window are invaluable to all those
who must see Jesus.]
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