"Safe in Christ, the weakest child
Stands in all God's favor;
All in Christ are reconciled
Through that only Savior."
If "in Christ," I am out of self. God views me "in Christ" (or through Him) as having died, having gone under judgment. "In Christ" my resurrection is made sure, but not of my sins or of my evil nature. Even now my standing, in God's sight, is "in Christ": in Him I am "a new creature."
A Christian is an infidel about self:—everything is founded on what Christ is. If my standing is "in Christ," bright days do not make Christ brighter; dull days do not make Him darker. I am in a place of unalterable value. No panic of my heart can cause any fall in the value of Christ. Satan may charge me, my own heart may charge me, but it will not alter the value of Christ. "In Christ" I have a peace that nothing in the present—nothing in the future—nothing in the world—nothing in hell—can ever alter.
Christ is everything to the Christian. He stands in the simple excellency—oh, who could add to it! —of Christ. The Christian up there is according to the value of Christ; down here he is a weak, failing creature, with nothing good in him but what is of Christ. When a Christian looks at other Christians he can see what is of Christ in them. When he looks at self he sees only evil. Thus the divine precept is fulfilled:—"Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Phil. 2:33Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3).
My reader, take heed: are you safe "in Christ"? Soon He is going to call His own out of this scene. Have you His life—the only kind of life which can answer His shout? He longs to have you with Him in the glory. Be sure you are in Him now.
“Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way,
that leadeth to
destruction, and
many there be
that go in
thereat:
“Strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there
be that find it.”