More and more I am made to feel that Christ does not have His proper place among the children of God. He is not the object. It is either a doctrine, a dogma, a party, or our experience-something besides Christ. We seem possessed with much the same spirit that led Peter on the mount to say, "Let us make here three tabernacles." The Father solemnly rebukes this:
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Matt. 17:5-8.
Have you ever been in the "cloud," heard the "voice," been on your "face," or felt the "touch"? Then, have you heard another voice say "arise"? Do your eyes see "no man save Jesus only"? Many, perhaps, have reached the top of the mount, but few, very few have been in the cloud and have heard the voice. Few have been on their faces and have risen to see Jesus only.
"Christ is all" (Col. 3:11). Do we make Him this? Is it a question of my salvation? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Is it a question of relationship with God? "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26). Is it a question of experience? "For to me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21). Is it a question of service? "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). Is it a question of my path? "I am the way" (John 14:6). Is it a question of heaven, or the place where my path leads?
He would define it as "where I am" (John 14:3). Oh, may we know more of that blessedness which comes of making Christ all, of seeing Jesus only. Our prayer should be that we know Him. In our selfishness we cry and beg for blessings. It is the Blesser we need, HIMSELF. He is the joy of the Father's heart. Let us taste with Him the delight He takes in His Son. Christ is infinitely higher than doctrine or experience. Experience we shall have, but only with Him can our hearts be delighted and raptured.
Why is it we are not changed more from "glory to glory"? The veil has been rent, the blood has been sprinkled, and the Spirit has been given. The reason is that we are occupied with ourselves and the work of the Spirit in us, rather than with Christ alone. This is the weakness in the wide-spread holiness movement, so much of which is superficial. Let us look more in that unveiled face, from which streams the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. All else will pale and fade if we will only linger there.
When in communion, the Spirit of God does not occupy us with His work in us. The word is, "He shall not speak of Himself.... He shall glorify Me." John 16:13,14. And to go further, the work of Christ, wonderfully blessed as it is, can never be the object of my heart; it gives my conscience peace, sweet peace. But only His Person can satisfy my heart. Oh, how His Person does that!
The Father directs our attention to His beloved Son (Matt. 17:5). The Holy Spirit would occupy us with Him (Acts 7:55,56). The Word of God testifies of Him (John 5:39). He is the object of faith, the object of love, and the object of hope. The faith, love, and hope that do not make Him the object are spurious and unreal. He is all for my path, service, and worship. Blessed be His name. F. C. Blount
“I am Alpha and Omega, the BEGINNING and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Rev. 1:8.