"Above Only."

By Jennie B. Logan (Egypt General Mission).
THIS verse came to me first as a very real message from God in a time of great pressure. We had fourteen guests in the Mission House and were almost without domestic help. I had perforce to lay aside correspondence and other duties, and give my time and attention to cooking and housework, and I was feeling the strain.
Then God’s word spoke to me with power: “Thou shalt be above only and thou shalt not be beneath,” and in a moment I saw there was no need to go under, no need to be overwhelmed by my circumstances. No need to trouble because it seemed as if I could not get through and my ordinary work was getting in arrears—somehow, I could be above it all. “Above only and not beneath.” How often I used to say as I went about my kitchen, “I refuse to go down,” and how the lesson I learned in those difficult days has been an inspiration ever since. Do you wonder that Deuteronomy 28:1313And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (Deuteronomy 28:13) is one of my favorite verses in the Bible?
I see in it the possibility of a life of constant victory—not up today in heights of blessedness and down in the depths tomorrow. This is a steady life. It is the life that has been stabilized and settled by the God of all grace (1 Peter 5:1010But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)).
I do not for a moment see how this life is possible, but: “Thou shalt be above only and thou shalt not be beneath,” is the Father’s promise to His blood-bought child—and all the promises are yea and amen in Christ. Though heaven and earth pass away His word shall not pass away. When the billows roll and the stormy winds rage we can stand on the promise and refuse to be beneath.
“Above only” is a position of victory too. It is that position which is ours in Christ Jesus “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). “Quickened together with Christ... raised up together, made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:5, 65Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:5‑6)). “Your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:33For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)). The lowliest, the weakest member of Christ’s body has in Him a position “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion.” (Eph. 1:2121Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21).) If we could but realize our position what an asset it would be to us in the spiritual conflict portrayed in Eph. 6:10-2010Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10‑20).
When we lived in Alexandria we used to see some fierce squalls of wind and rain, which lashed the sea into fury. The great buoys in the harbor would be covered with spray and foam, but when the wind died down again they were still there in their places unmoved and steady. “Above only,” for they had that within them which kept them on the top. And have we not power within us too, which should ensure our triumph? “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Eph. 3:1717That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (Ephesians 3:17)). “That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:1919And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)). “Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:1616That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (Ephesians 3:16)). “We will come unto Him and make our abode with him” (John 14:2323Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)). “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:1818And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18)).
Possibility, promise, position and power—God grant we may experience to the full the blessings that are ours for the taking in Deuteronomy 28:13,13And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (Deuteronomy 28:13) and where our Heavenly Father says to us “Above only,” let us absolutely refuse to come down and live and work on a lower level.
“He took me from a fearful pit,
And from the miry clay,
And on a rock He set my feet,
Establishing my way.”