Mark 10—The monkishness that would condemn everything is not the denial of sin but the denial of nature. God never denies it because He made it. In His own blessed grace, in all the ruin sin has wrought, the Lord can take notice of His own works, “Consider the lilies.” He saw all that was of God, whilst so practically with God, and entirely above the evil, that He saw all that was of man and judged it.
In spirit up there I can look down and see what is of God’s hand in the creation itself. When I get out of it I can look at it; Christ being out of it completely could look at a lily and call attention to its beauty, judging all that was morally corrupt. Where anything had the stamp of God He could admire it; and it is only by judging evil that one can do this.
I look for a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no evil: but because of being brought into a place in Christ superior to the evil, I can look at all that is of God in this world.
If natural affections get too strong and hold the objects of them, they become idols; but to be without them is one of the signs of the last days.
My safety is to get so completely with God as to be able to let my affections flow out more and more to Christians. God has set His seal to all He created; and evil came in. God, having judged it by the cross, lifts us above it. J. N. D.