May 1930
236
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Pow er displaces weakness. “It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power ” Here weakness cripples our efforts, defeats our purpose, mars our plans, breaks our powers, hinders our progress, crushes our ideals, and paralyzes our hopes; but, in the glorified state, fatigue shall not weary us, exhaustion shall not stop us, for we shall run continuously and not be wearyy and walk and not faint. We shall have power to perform our plans, and carry out our purposes. Spiritual displacej natural. “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”. The natural body is “phys ical,” that is, soulish, and is adapted for the souk The spiritual is “pneumatical,” and is adapted to the redeemed spirit. The bodies will be identical so as to be recogniz able; but they will be different, for they will move in another sphere. We shall have senses then adapted to the spiritual world, just as we have senses now suitable for this earthly state. Heavenly displaces earthly. “As w e have borne the image o f the earthy, we shall also bear the image o f the heavenly.” What the heavenly body will be like we do not know, but it will be independent of fire, as is seen in the angel who appeared to Manoah ascending in the flame ; it will not be kept back by walls, as is patent by Christ coming into the Upper Room, the doors being locked; and it will not be controlled by the law of gravita tion, for Christ ascended. The heavenly body will be seen, as the Son of man was seen in Nebuchadnezzar’s fur nace; it will be able to take food, as is demonstrated by the angels who came to Abraham; it can be touched, as we may gather from Thomas touching the body of Christ; and it will be identical with the earthly body, for Moses and Elijah are known as such, when they appear with Christ in glory. Immortality displaces mortality. “This mortal shall put on immortality.” “Death cannot reach the glorified body; floods cannot drown it; fire cannot burn it; the sword cannot pierce it” ; dynamite cannot touch it; and no destruction can overtake it. Deathless, undecaying it is. Yea, the glorified are in a state of holiness and bliss from which it is impossible to fall, for all immortality is a changeless, unending state. Something displaces flesh and blood. What that something is* we cannot say, for the Bible is silent. Flesh and blood it will not be, for flesh is a tainted thing, and blood is a decaying thing. We have a picture of the glorified state in Christ’s transfiguration, but we have no explanation. Of this we are sure, whatever Christ is, we shall be. “H is name shall be in their foreheads,” says the Spirit, of the redeemed— which seems to me, as one once said, that as Christ looks upon us, He shall see the reflection of His own glory.
Prayer Circle Through every minute o f this day , B e with me, L ord ! Through every day o f all this week B e with me, L ord ! Through every week o f all this year B e with me, L ord ! Through all the years o f all this life B e with me, L ord ! So shall the days and weeks and years B e threaded on a golden cord, And all draw on with sweet accord Unto thy fulness, Lord, That so, when time is past By grace, I may at last B e with Thee, L o rd ! —John Oxenham.
Blessing without curse, for there sháll be “ño more éurse.” Joy without sorrow, for all tears shall be wiped away. Light without darkness, for there shall he “no night there.” Life without death, for there shall be “no more death.” Glory without suffering, for there shall be nó “more pain.” Singing without crying, for there shall be no more cry ing. Satisfaction without want, for hunger and thirst shall cease. Rule without end, for w & “shall reign fo r ever and ever.” Beauty without infirmity, for we shall be without “wrinkle.” Living without sin, for we shall be “faultless.” . Company without absence, for we “shall . . . ever I mmortality of B eing In that wondérful resurrection chapter, 1 Cor. 15, we have a sevenfold description given to us, as to what the glorified body of the believer will be, in contrast to what it is (see verses 42, 43, 44, 49, 50, 53). Incorruption is to displace corruption. “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.” Corruption is decay. Here, beauty fades; the sight grows dim; the limbs grow weary; the hand loses its grip, the legs their elasticity, and the mind its veracity. But there, there shall be no fading, no dimness, no loss of grip, and no want of agility. Then we shall have perfect beauty, unfailing sight, unweariness of limb, and perpetual youth. Immortality is a state of holiness and bliss, in an incorruptible and glori fied body, Glory displaces dishonor. “It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory.” The body has been dishonored by sin. Its members have yielded to the servitude of iniquity. Passion has torn the body, anger has distorted it, lust has debased it, blasphemy has desecrated it, uncleanness has polluted it, sin has marred it, and Satan has ridden in the vehicle of it; but, in the glorified state, these shall no more have their sway. be with the Lord.”
Clean Windows E ph . 4 :20-32 .
The rose uses neither paint nor perfume. It’s just itself. That is the touch of its Maker. Truth is transpar ent. The window glass is clear. The whole house is open to inspection. That’s the touch of God. The jesus-man needs neither paint nor perfume of profession or good deeds. He needs only to be made and kept clean by the blood of Jesus; then to live clean'and true' in the simple round of his daily life.— S. D. Gordon.
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