People say (and that there is moral ground for such a word, and reasonableness in it to all our first impressions I deny not), that others have been more devoted to Christ, and suffered more for him, than many whom we put specially into the Church or Body of Christ; and that therefore we ought not to speak of a special place being reserved for the Church, or for the saints gathering in this age.
But, though reasonable, there is a mistake in this. If we ourselves were connected with two persons, one of whom had greatly served our interests in life—even at his own loss; and the other never had had an opportunity or power to do so, but was more the companion of our thoughts and tastes and pursuits, more kindred in mind and character with us, I ask, which will lie the nearer to us The services of the other could not be forgotten, but had in constant thankful remembrance; but it is not true that this latter would be nearer to us. And so it is with Christ and the Church. It is her endowment by His Spirit that makes her the special thing she is. She knows His rejection in the world, taking part with it, having His Spirit in her, and is not merely like Abraham or David, faithful and true to Him.
This is illustrated, and that, too, very strikingly and convincingly, in Martha and Mary in Luke 10. Martha was serving the Lord, carefully, diligently serving Him with her best, laying out her care and provisions upon Him. He valued this, as He still does, though she did not fully know this. But Mary was nearer to His mind, Mary was nearer to Him, as when the due occasion came, He lets us know. But Mary was not serving Him, as Martha was doing. Mary was listening to Him. Mary was in company with His mind—she was the rather kindred in spirit, in taste and pursuits with Him. She had an opened ear and an instructed mind and an heart in unison. And this was more important to Him than all the services of the diligent and careful Martha.
What a moment this was! What an occasion for hearing the mind of Christ! To think that Jesus has to set aside the one that was serving Him! He would not have done so, had not she led Him to it. He cannot but let us know, that this devotedness of soul, sympathy, and the fellowship of mind and spirit, is more to Him, as to us, than all mere services.
For angels will not have “a name” there. That world is not put in subjection to them. The principalities and powers of “the world to come” will be human, not angelic; and yet there are principalities there that will be left below the place and dignity of the Body of Christ. And what can these be, but those elect ones in other ages who have been gathering for the heavenly places? Such will be the principalities there and have the heavenly inheritance, heavenly dignity of some sort, in the world to come, and yet will not be of the Church, not so high, so near, so intimate as that election which is destined to be “the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.”
We read of “heavenly places,” but we read also of “the right hand” in these “heavenly places.”