What is it, some will ask, that can make one, defiled and deformed by sin, thus "fair" to the eye of Jesus? W here, when, how, can it be found? This is all that is needed to fill to overflowing the soul's cup of happiness!
What would all the riches, honors, and glories of this world be, compared with hearing such words from such. lips! "Behold, thou art fair, my love." Most truly, this is the soul's ineffable blessedness! The gospel of the grace of God, my friend, gives the answer to thy question. Know then, that when a soul is drawn to Jesus, it is received by Him, and placed in the light of God's presence, in the full value of His finished work, and in the matchless beauty of His adorable Person.
This is grace,-the grace of God in the Gospel of His Son to every one that believeth. "All that believe are justified." And all that believe are "accepted in the Beloved," through the accomplished work of the cross. (Eph. 1;2) His precious blood cleanseth from all sin. (1. John 1) Then, oh, how "fair!" "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." (Psa. 90:1717And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. (Psalm 90:17).) What perfection of beauty this must be! "The beauty of the Lord our God." How fair for the courts above! The beauty of angels will be perfect after their own order, but the sinner saved by grace shall shine in the beauty of the Lord forever.
All this, I think, I can believe, some may reply, oh, can such a place,-can such blessing ever be mine? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," is heaven's answer to every anxious inquirer.-is heaven's declaration of perfect grace to all. Believe in Jesus, trust in Him, defiled and deformed as thou art, and sooner far than thy thoughts can turn from one subject to another, thou art altogether "fair" in His sight. "Only believe." The work is finished "long, long ago." Oh! beware of that "deadly doing!" The gospel seems too simple to admit of explanation. It is a report to be believed,-an invitation to be accepted,-a voice of love beseeching thee to be reconciled to God,- a proclamation of pardon and peace by Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:36;13. 38 39.) Not, observe, the promise of pardon and peace, but the preaching of pardon and peace. This, makes a wonderful difference. And observe, further, that it is neither by law nor promise that the soul is thus richly blessed; but by Jesus Christ. The moment thou hast faith in Him, thy forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation, are proclaimed by the truth of God.
Take one example, as an illustration of the ways of God in grace, with sinners. In the third chapter of Zechariah, we see Joshua standing before the Lord. He is a type of God's dealings, in grace, with Jerusalem in the latter day. This chapter is the history, I believe, of how the Bride of the King is so "fair" in His sight. This is important as to our present question. It is also the history of every sinner saved by grace. Joshua is clothed in filthy garments. Satan is there to resist him. He always seeks to hinder the blessing of souls. But the Lord shelters the defenseless one. He casts out none that come to Him. He rebukes and silences the adversary; and speaks and acts for Joshua. This He always does. Be of good courage. The filthy garments are taken away; his sins are all forgiven. There is not a rag left for Satan to lay hold on. Thus cleansed from all his defilements, "He is clothed with a change of raiment." The robe of God is put upon him. And now, how "fair!" But this is not all. A fair miter is set upon his head. Surely "The beauty of the Lord our God" is now upon him! He is what God, in "the exceeding riches of His grace," has made him. " Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen." Both the kingly and the priestly crown are ours,-ours in His right. This is their glory 1 Highest in dignity, belonging to royalty. Nearest in worship, belonging to priesthood. And oh! 'how sweet the thought, the work is all of God from first to last, and so can never fail. "The Lord hath chosen Jerusalem Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? —I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee—will clothe thee with a change of raiment—And I said Let them set a fair miter on his head." It is all of God-by Christ-Jesus through the work of the cross. "Without shedding of blood is no remission." Grace reigns-God is glorified,—faith triumphs,—Satan is confounded, and the sinner eternally saved.
This know also, my dear friend, that if thy desire after Christ, and after the enjoyment of His favor be true and sincere, there must already be grace in thy heart. The desire must come from Him. Where there is nothing more than mere nature, there can be no longing desire for the blessed Lord and His favor. Faith, salvation, and desire, go together, although the timid believer will often hesitate to say, "He is all my salvation and all my desire." The clearest evidence of divine life in the soul, is when the heart is occupied with Him. The link of connection is formed and can never be broken; faith alone enters into its blessedness, Oh! rest, abide in Him. Being associated with the risen Jesus, we are one with Him in resurrection. (Eph. 2) This gives us our wondrous place in His sight. All who are brought into this new,-this resurrection state, are fair even as Christ is fair. Only that in all things He has the preeminence; as it is written. "Thou art fairer than the children of men." Hence we find the same terms of endearment and admiration applied to both. And the same things said of both; the Bride being the reflection of the Bridegroom. If the garments of the Bride are scented with myrrh, it is said of the Bridegroom, "All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes, and cassia." What a blessed theme this great truth opens up for meditation! Oneness with Christ as risen and glorified 1 How little the world in all its relationships and associations would seem, did we look at it from this point of view!
A. M.