Heb. 3
The constant tendency of our hearts, even when brought up to our privileges, is to slip off from them. When Satan finds he cannot resist the introduction of the power of the gospel by false doctrine, he then seeks to get something before the mind—vanity, worldliness, the cares of the world, and a thousand things to keep the soul from simply looking to Jesus. When the truth is first presented to the soul, he tries to hinder its reception; but when it is received, his effort is to diminish its power in some way or other; and the only remedy for this, is the heart being occupied with Christ Himself. We need an increasing knowledge of Christ. For the heart that is learning Christ, cannot be satisfied with the things that the world presents, but desires to know Him more fully. In looking to Jesus, it is not knowing a doctrine merely, but it is Himself we want to know. It is "as the truth is in Jesus" that has a charm for the soul, for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ; and it is never known in the power of faith out of Him. And never can there be that power which detects the course of false doctrine, but as the soul is dwelling in Himself, "rooted and built up in Him." The heart centered in Him is able to look out and see all the extent of the divine revelations to the soul. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling," etc.
There is always a tendency to slip back and thus lose all practical power. But because of this, does the Apostle try to shake their confidence as to what they are? Not in the least. God never does this, but He shows us our inconsistency with what we are; and so the Apostle calls back their hearts to the place of grace where God was dealing with them. As with the Corinthians, the Apostle says, "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ." Now they were puffed up by evil. It is not that the Apostle would allow the evil to pass, but he first sets them on the ground where God had set them. So he comes to our hearts and says, Do not you turn away from the ground where God has set you. He calls us up to the spring of
it all, in the heart of God, and then says, Now, can you be seeking the world and what it has to give, when you have such a portion in God?
I would now say a word on the manner in which he presents Christ. He is going to speak of Christ in the most glorious way he can; but, observe, he does not begin with it. He first speaks of what is a link between their hearts and this blessed and glorious One; and having knit up our hearts to this, he then shows us His glory. Now there is great grace in this. It is not merely as an abstract truth, a system of theology, saying, "This is God." No, he says, I am going to speak about One who brought God nigh to you, who was among you, the One between you and God, and who stood for you toward God. I am going to talk to you about Him "who was faithful to Him that appointed Him." Here we get this glorious Person in an official character; and so He was appointed, and we look at this blessed, glorious One in office, who "was faithful in all his house... whose house are we." And this is of the greatest comfort to us, for it is thus we get this glorious One so very near to us—so close to us as to be interested in everything that concerns us. "But Christ as a son over His own house" was interested in carrying on all God had entrusted to Him, as Moses, the servant, was interested in bringing Israel up out of Egypt. But he presents Christ to us as worthy of more glory than Moses, "inasmuch as He who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man [one]; but He that built all things is God." Thus I find myself brought into union with Him who created all things. I was brought close to Christ, where I get this blessed intimacy, and then I find that the One who condescended to be in this blessed place of nighness to me, was God. Thus I learn that all my concerns are in His hands who is God.
Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ is faithful as a Son who knows the house belongs to Him. "As a son over His own house; whose house are we." It is His own house, for Christ as a Son over His own house, is not only the God who created all things, but the One who takes an interest in everything that concerns us, just as a Son over His own house. Thus I find myself brought into the whole universe in Him that created it.
And now, beloved, this is the way the Spirit of God would carry us on through the world, not as merely leading us through the world, but keeping our hearts above the things of the world while passing through it. As the Son cannot but be faithful to Him who appointed Him, when I see the One who is thus interested in His house is the glorious One who created all things, I learn it is God Himself, and I can trust Him. He also makes us see it is the interest of the Son, and not merely an official appointment; thus the heart knows Christ has all the interest in it as a Son over His own house. And as our hearts are fixed on Him, and enlarged toward Him, our affections are drawn out and enlarged in their own proper sphere; and the heart thus kept from worldliness is enlarged in a divine way. And that is what is such a comfort that the most ignorant soul, if taught of God, gets enlarged and sanctified affections.