October 2002

Christ:
The Landscape of Life

Part Thirty

“LO and BEHOLD”

(N)

“Omnipotence reigns!” [6]

             Present world conditions quickly attest that there is a fierce struggle on earth for POWER! But power is a simply a means to an end for acquiring wealth and possessions for self-gratification! Money, and the creature-comforts it affords, is the basic quest of the flesh nature! Feeling superior to others is a heady wine that has intoxicated men’s souls since Adam first ate the forbidden fruit of self-will. The feeling of being “in control” elevates the ego to great heights of arrogant pride! Still, for one carnal mind to vaunt itself over another carnal mind is a paltry victory when there is a much bigger fish to fry- which is, to be exalted above God! As all treasures of heaven and earth are His; the ultimate conquest is to spoil the holdings of heaven and earth, like the Hebrews spoiled Egypt after 400 years’ bondage were ended.
              To accomplish such this sole goal, the subtle serpent in the garden had to kill the spirit mind within the heart of man and reduce him to a “living soul”! Then the flesh mind would rule animated “intellects, emotions and wills” and bring the whole world into slavish subjection to sin and death!
             This was our inheritance from our natural forefather! Thus our mortal lives are but a shadow of true Immortality! But this is the way God intended our earthly beginnings! This was His perfect plan! BEHOLD A REVELATION: Ge 1:26 says we were created “In His image and likeness”. Where does one see His “image and likeness” but in a mirror! Therefore the natural man is but a mirrored image and likeness of God! All His character attributes are reflected on a flesh canvas;
             but human beings are a replication of God’s Divine Being! Remember mirrored images are a lie! Reflections are converse to truth; what is right is left and what is left is right! God’s heart must be on His right side for “A wise man’s heart is on his right side”(Eccl 10:2); and God is All-Wise! But as He beholds His Image and Likeness in a mirror of flesh, His heart transfers to His left side and Truth becomes lie; Faith becomes fear; Life becomes death; and instead of the heart dispensing Love from His right side where “There are Pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11); it emits Love from His left side of Righteous Judgment! David says in Ps 16:8-9, “I have set the Lord ever before me; (HIS HEART) IS ON MY RIGHT SIDE; and I will not be moved from there! My heart is glad; my glory rejoices; and my flesh rests in Hope!” So “If you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above where CHRIST SITS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF GOD!”(Col 3:1)
             If someone has a bad attitude; we say, “You sure got up on the wrong side of the bed”; or if someone wants to make a good impression on someone else, he tries to “Get on his good side!” Thank heaven, God has no wrong or bad side; for “ALL His ways are Righteous” (Ps 145:17); yet it is desirable to sit at God’s Right Side where we can see His Glory up close- not in a veiled image or shadowy likeness! 1 Jn 3:2 says, “When Christ appears, we will be like Him; for then we shall see Him as He is!” And 1 Co 13:12 adds, “Now we see God as one who looks in a mirror at a dark, reversed image; but then we will see Him face to face!” But who is this “we” that Paul says are presently looking in a mirrored life? Col 3:3-4 tells us,

“Your (true, eternal, spiritual) Life is hid with Christ in God;
thus when CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE, appears, then
YOU shall appear with Him in Glory!” [Meditate on this!]

            This natural life all men must live first, is a “living soul”- an animated “intellect, emotion, and will”- that God enslaved to the deadly flesh mind called the tree of knowledge of good and evil! But this is not a permanent estate; it is merely a temporal existence, designed to pass away in time!! Our final and irrevocable estate is a spiritual life which is also a “Quickening, or Life-giving Spirit” that is has also been called the Tree of Life which cannot be removed, but must remain forever! The first human estate can only produce the “Fruit of Death” (Ro 7:5); while the latter spiritual estate can only produce “Fruit unto God” (Ro 6:22); which is “Fruit of Holiness” (Ro 7:4); also called “Fruit of the Spirit” as listed in Gal 5:22-23. But these are all manifestations of the Nature of God and His Christ, that are now being manifested in His Company of Sons around the world. Soon all these beloveds shall be revealed in His Glory to the earth! O, Lord, hasten the hour!

[TO BE CONTINUED]