The Vision of Christ—2
"Behold Christ for salvation; behold Him for sanctification; behold Him for satisfaction". Simple, but
true! The exiled apostle John in the island of Patmos was given a special vision of the Person of Christ.
Nowhere in the Bible are we given such a description. To begin with, we are told about His attire. He
wore the garment down to the foot (Rev .1: 13). This certainly suggests the clothes of a majestic ruler.
We are also told about the "golden girdle" worn across the chest. This speaks of His absolute
righteousness. "...Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins"
(lsa.11: 5), was the prophecy made regarding the rulership of Christ. The first advent of Christ was in
absolute humility. He came to minister to the needs of the sinful lost world. On the cross He paid the
penalty of all our sins. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him..."(lsa.53: 5). He "...was delivered for our offences, and was
raised again for our justification" (Rom.4: 25). Today, Christ is our living Saviour, seated with all
authority and power at the right hand of the Father in heaven. The Scriptures speak of His second advent
to this world. He will come back to rule the world in righteousness. Then the desperate cry of Eccl. 1: 15
will be answered. "That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be
numbered". With the second advent of Christ in righteousness; "Every valley shall be filled, and every
mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and rough ways shall be
made smooth" (Luke 3:5).
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow" (Rev.1: 14), symbolises His eternal
antiquity. Daniel saw a similar vision. "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days
did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool" (Dan.7: 9). God is
eternal and He is before everything. The prayer of Moses emphasises the everlastingness of God. "...From
everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (Psa.90:2). As mortals we are like the "...grass which groweth
up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth" (Psa.90:
5,6). We are now introduced to His eyes. "...his eyes were as a flame of fire" (Rev.1 :14). Eight
significant things could be said of God's eyes. Firstly, they are SEEING EYES. It was Hagar, the
Egyptian maid, running away from her mistress Sarai, who gave God the name "El Roi", after she
confronted God. El Roi means, "Thou God seest me" (Gen.16: 13). The Psalmist highlights this truth by
contrast with the idols. "They have mouths, but they spark not: eyes have they, but they see not"
(Psa.115: 5).
Secondly, His eyes are OMNISCIENT. "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and
the good" (Prov .15:3). How dreadful is this truth to those who sin! "For his eyes are upon the ways of
man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of
iniquity may hide themselves" (Job34: 21,22).
Thirdly, His EYES are SEARCHING eyes. "The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of
men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God" (Psa.14:2). God is a seeker. His eyes
probe into the secrets of men and women.
Fourthly, His eyes are HOLY EYES. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on
iniquity" (Hab.1: 13). Sin is such an abomination in His sight that He cannot tolerate it. He notices all
hypocrisy, all pretence in our lives.
Fifthly, His eyes are TESTING EYES. "...His eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men" (Psa.11:
4). "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto
the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb.4: 13).
Sixthly, His eyes are SUPERINTENDING EYES. This fact brings great comfort to a believer. In Mark's
Gospel chapter six, we read about the feeding of five thousand men besides women and children with just
five loaves and two fishes. After the miracle the Lord constrained His disciples to get into the ship and go
to the other side. The Lord remained on the mountain while He sent the multitudes away. The disciples
had a tough time since the wind was contrary to them. It was a dark night and the disciples, most of them
fishermen, rowed hard for several hours. Mark 6:48 tells us that the Lord Jesus "saw them toiling in
rowing". Neither distance nor darkness could hide His children from Him. How comforting is this
thought!
Seventhly, His eyes are WEEPING EYES. At least in three places it is written that Jesus shed tears
(Heb.5: 7; Luke 19:41; John 11: 35). The God of grace and mercy weeps over the hard, unrepentant
hearts of men and women for He is not willing that any should perish.
Eighthly, His eyes are JUDGING EYES. John the apostle saw the eyes of the Lord Jesus as a "flame of
fire" (Rev.1: 14). Fire is a symbol of judgement. While this fact of judgement brings great fear to the one
who is in sin, it brings hope to every persecuted saint. Today His eyes are full of compassion. Turn to
Him for He is willing to save you.
YE ARE MY WITNESSES—4
BAKHT SINGH
God is faithful. See His promise in Phil.4: 19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Again our Lord said in John 16:24, "...ask, and ye shall receive, that your
joy may be full". If you believe God and His Word, and obey Him, you will find Him to be faithful. But
in many cases, their eyes are upon man and not upon God. They depend upon wealthy believers to
receive extra money every month. They visit frequently those who give them more money. If we do not
trust God wholly and solely, He cannot supply our needs. If for a purpose God does not supply your
needs for a few days or for a few months, then wait patiently and say to God. "0 God, what is the lesson
that you are teaching me, and my family by these trials?" In every trial, God has a purpose.
We know
fully well that when we are born again we are made free from every condemnation and judgement.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit"(Rom.8: 1). Now all our trials are intended to give us stronger faith, to refine us. To
strengthen us in our service and make us more useful and fruitful, but it is not a punishment. God never
slumbers, never forgets, never fails. For those who call upon Him, God wants to give the very best and in
fullness. We have to make sure that we serve Him faithfully even in small matters and not doubt Him or
question Him. We should not be drawn away to any earthly affairs, no matter how much we are tempted.
When we give our lives for God's service, we have to be sure that we spend all our time and energy for
Him.
I know many God's servants who never give their tithes. They say, "I have given my life for the Lord's
service, now everything is mine". They preach to other people about giving tithes but they themselves do
not give. That is how they disobey God. In some cases, they want to obey God, but they have become
slaves to their wives. Even though God speaks to them on many occasions, when they go home only a
few words from their wives change everything. It does not require much speaking. That is how some
God's servants fail the Lord. We say solemnly that many have lost their rights and privileges. If you
honour God and His Word as in 1 Sam.2: 30(b), He will honour you. If He keeps you in want for some
time, it is for your spiritual edification and growth.
God's servant Apostle Paul was saying with experience that he had learnt to be content in whatsoever
state God kept him, without murmuring or complaining. "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned, in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know
how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need" (Phil.4: 11,12). He had learnt this by experience. He testified that God had
kept him in time of want. The purpose of trial is not to punish us, but to bring about edification and
growth. Paul found that in every need of every kind, God gave him extra grace, extra power and extra
strength. What we gain spiritually by sufferings cannot be gained in any other way. This is God's way.
We can thank God under all circumstances. Make sure that the ministry given to you is never hindered by
any other occupation of the world, by friends or relations. God is speaking to. You Please obey Him and
do not resist Him. Then God also will give you the answer.
The apostles asked the believers to find seven men full of the Holy Spirit to look after the widows (Acts
6:3). When we face any difficult situation in the church, we should pray. Then God will give the answer.
The apostles could have said, "They are widows, so we must help them". Thus they could have been
drawn away from their real ministry, but as they began to pray together, God gave the answer. They were
to look for seven men, ...full of the Holy Ghost for that job. In answer to prayer God raised up seven men.
We cannot take: for granted that without our prayer God would raise up such men. We have to pray as a
church, "Lord, give us men full of the Holy Ghost to feed us and look after us". That is how through
prayer and oneness divine order can be brought about in our midst. "But we will give ourselves
continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). God did not allow the enemy to deceive
the apostles, or hinder them from their ministry of giving the word of God and prayer. It was after much
prayer and careful ministry of God's Word that God raised up those men.