Association With Christ Where He Is

 •  13 min. read  •  grade level: 7
Turn for a moment to Gen. 3:2424So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24), " So he drove out the man, and placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life." You observe, it is not only man is driven out; but he cannot get back. The Cherubim, and the flaming sword turned every way to guard the entrance, and prevent the possibility of return. Man is driven out of a place, and kept out of a place. The glory of God required this. Afterward, when we come to the thief on the cross, everything is cleared. What makes him fit to enter is effected, and the barrier to the place is removed besides, for our Lord says, “To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise;” in other words " a place with me in my place; " consequently, the flaming sword is gone. But at this point, what I wish you to note here is, that the glory of God drives man out and keeps him out. To take you a step further, I will not now refer to the glory in connection with the law. You will remember how, that, making a demand on man, he could not endure it, not even the reflection of it on the face of Moses. It said “Keep at a distance." Man could not draw near, lest he die. You might look, however, with me at Isa. 6:1-81In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:1‑8). There is Isaiah, a prophet of God, and of course converted, but the moment he gets a sight of the glory of God; he exclaims, " Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." It is clear he was not in it, when the very sight of it terrifies him, and overpowers him with the sense of his unfitness for it. But one of the seraphim flew to him with a live coal. Now, mark, it was a live coal, a burning coal. Observe the double action, he closes his mouth, and addresses his ear. He laid the burning coal on his mouth, and said, " Lo, this hath touched thy lips," that is, you are set aside in judgment, and your mouth is stopped; but now comes the story of grace, the tale of love, and from that very glory that so alarmed him, which is the remarkable thing: " thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." Now his fear is gone. If such a message has come from that very glory, there is no more terror in that direction, and when the voice of the Lord is heard saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go? " Immediately Isaiah cries, " Here am I, send me." No terror now; all fear has fled. Still, dear friends, blessed as this is, it was something from glory: he was not in the glory. There is no association, and could not be, for there was not even a man in that glory to be associated with yet. Next we shall look at Ezek. 11Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, 3The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him. 4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. 8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. (Ezekiel 1:1‑8)., where we have a description of the glory of the Lord about to depart. In verses 26, 27, we find the wonderful circumstance related, that there is a likeness as the appearance of a man, conspicuous in the vision of this receding glory. The sin of the people is driving it from the earth.. Man is actually driving it away, and yet, marvelous to behold, in the very brightest spot of that retiring glory, shining with amber-colored brilliancy, is to be been the figure of a man. Not yet the fact; but there is the likeness of a man in the glory of Jehovah, as it takes its departure, never to be seen on this earth again, until the real Man is born into the world, that Holy Thing, born of the Virgin, and called the Son of God. Accordingly, we read in Luke 2:9-119And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:9‑11). “And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Then in verse 14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in man." At last we have the Man, God manifest in the flesh. One who glorifies ad in everything. Thirty years in private life He maintains a spotless walk, perfect in every detail, magnifies the law and makes it honorable. At the end of this period heaven opens upon Him, and announces its fullest delight. A voice proclaims the Father's good pleasure: “Lo, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He goes forth to public service, is the obedient and dependent Man, whose meat is to do the will of His Father, and finish His work. He `ever does those things which please the Father; manifests God in every act, and word, and look; delights to do His will; glorifies God in public life, as before He had done it in private life. And in Luke 9:2828And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28) we find, that glory claims Him. On the transfiguration mount, " the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment white and glistering." As Peter says, " We were eye-witnesses of his majesty, for he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him on the holy mount." He could have gone to heaven then; the glory salutes and claims Him; but the astonishing subject of the conversation of Moses and Elias, who talk with Him, is death, not glory. “They spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem." Like the Hebrew servant, He could have gone out free, but He would have had to go alone. He says; “I love my master, I love my wife, and I love my children," and He gets His ear bored, ' that He may have them with Him too. Was ever love like His? He descends from the mount; but He does it to die. In John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24), He tells us, '` Verily, 'eerily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit." He must abide the one, solitary grain, or go into death. No union with Him this side His grave; hence the impossibility of association with Him here. There is no getting others, who were lying in death, to be with Him, except by putting Himself first in death for them. Therefore, we find in the next chapter (John 13:31,3231Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (John 13:31‑32)) Jesus saying when Judas had gone out, " Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." In the former chapter, thee Son of God had been glorified in raising Lazarus from the dead, but now is the Son of man glorified by going into death Himself. “And God is glorified in Him." He had glorified God in private life, He had glorified God in public life. Glory found its home with Him in Bethlehem, when born into the world; in manhood, when heaven opened to express its unmeasured delight; and when he had reached the close of His public service, God's good pleasure is expressed once more, as the answer to that perfect spotless life, and from that holy mount He might have gone up into the excellent glory; but He would not go there alone, and the same Blessed One who was shining brighter than the sun on the mount, when the voice from the excellent glory claimed Him as " My beloved Son," now goes down to glorify God under all the terrible weight of judgment, and to enter an impenetrable gloom, without one ray of light, and to cry: " My God, my God, why halt thou forsaken me? " “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." God is perfectly glorified, sin perfectly manifested, and the work completely accomplished, which puts it away; in a word, God, in all that He is, glorified in the death of His Son. And what then? “If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him." The glory of the Father raised Him from the dead, and after forty days on earth He ascends. " He led his disciples out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them; and it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven." What a wondrous fact to contemplate. A Man has gone up into the glory of God, more than man surely, but a real true man. Imagine what a sight it must have been for the heavenly hosts to witness as this blessed One ascends. Higher and higher He goes, passing rank after rank; principalities, powers, angels, all left behind in the marvelous ascent, till He reaches the very highest point in glory. As Eph. 19Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) puts it, “Far above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." Where does Stephen see Him? At the right hand of God. Now I have got a Man in glory, and a Man who did not go there until He accomplished a work whereby I might be there too. Now there can be association, and you see, beloved friends, what a wonderful thing association is. I must first have the Man in order to have association with Him; but where? “At the right hand of God." Did it ever strike you how the Spirit of God seems to labor to educate the children of God on this very point? It appears as if He would spare no pains to get us instructed as to the exact spot where Christ is, and yet how little it is realized. Mark 16:1919So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19), " He was received up into heaven, and at on the right hand of God." Acts 2:3333Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33), " By the -right hand of God exalted." Twice over in this portion of Acts 733Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. (Acts 7:33), which we are considering, we have “on the right hand of God." Rom. 8:3333Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33), “Who is even at the right hand of God." Eph. 1:2020Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20), “Set him at his own right hand." Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1), “Where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." Heb. 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3), “Sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
Chapter 8:1, “Who is set on the right hand of the throne in the Majesty in the heavens." Chapter 10:12, “Forever sat down on the right hand of God." Chapter 12:2, " And: is set down on the right hand of the throne of God." 1 Peter 3:2222Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (1 Peter 3:22), “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him." Is there no purpose in all this? Depend upon it, beloved friends, where Christ is, is of momentous interest to you and me. Why, the Holy Ghost could not be given, till Jesus was glorified, and there could be no union to Christ without the Holy Ghost. But why so careful to present Him in that special spot, “the right hand?” Because it is the very highest point in glory, and the moment it becomes a question of association, the position of the One to whom you are united determines everything. If I am on the shoulders of the Shepherd, the higher I see Him the higher I see myself, as there by His grace. The right hand is the place of honor, favor, and acceptance, and likewise the place of power, and, I ask, is Christ there for Himself? Nay, but for us. He might have remained forever in the glory He had with the Father before the world was, had it been a question of Himself; but He became a man, perfectly glorified God in life and in death here, and entered into glory as man, that He might share it all with you and me. Then if He is there for me, if He is my representative, am I not to get the good of what He represents? I am in the same favor, the same acceptance, for I am accepted in the Beloved. But how can I, a poor feeble creature down here, be associated with that blessed One up there? In no way, except by the Holy Ghost. And is not the right hand the place of power as well as the place of acceptance? Does not Peter tell me that it is the very spot from which the Holy Ghost, who is the uniting power, comes? “Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear." What is the astonishing result? Poor good-for-nothing creatures like you and me down here, are associated with that glorious Savior up there. I am endeavoring to speak of it to you; but have any of us the sense of what association with Christ in glory really is? It is not merely some wonderful favor received from Christ, though the favors we have received from Him are unspeakable. Government might confer some remarkable benefit on me; but that would be a very different thing from me being in the Government itself, a member of the Cabinet. The Queen might present me with some precious jewel; but that would not be bringing me into the circle of royalty, or making me a member of the royal family. I am sensible, dear friends, of the poverty of the illustrations; for what illustration could adequately convey the full significance of the astounding reality? Poor sinners like you and me, not only cleared of everything in the sight of God, forgiven, and the recipients of the most wonderful benefits, but united by the Holy Ghost to Christ in the highest glory, a part of Himself, a member of His body, one Spirit with Him, associated with Him in the place where He is. Who is sufficient to unravel the depths of this? Still it is ours, and the enjoyment of it can only be known in association with Christ where He now sits at the right hand of God. The Spirit of God in us always directs the eye there. Here is Stephen, “full of the Holy Ghost, he looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus."
(To be continued.)