When a believer is full of the Holy Ghost, where will he look? and what will mark his testimony? We are told that Stephen, “being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7) Thus we learn that the Holy Ghost led him to look away from his present trial to the Lord Himself, where He now is in the glory of God. He was thus led by the Spirit to gaze steadfastly on that blessed One who loved him and gave Himself for him. He was occupied with the glorified Man who a short time before had suffered at the hands of His betrayers and murderers, who no doubt was strengthening His servant’s faith, and encouraging his heart, by presenting to his view a martyr’s crown. It was not now Stephen remembering a finished work done for him on the cross, blessed as it always is, but occupation with the Person who had done the work. Thus the Spirit of God directs us to look to Christ in glory.
Stephen’s testimony to others, therefore, was concerning this wondrous Person who now filled his soul’s vision, occupied every faculty of his mind, and filled every chamber of his heart. He was absorbed with the Lord Himself, so that he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
Of what else could he speak at such a moment, but the glorified Man? What a testimony! It was not abstract doctrine, however true, or important in its place; but what he saw and was occupied with, was the Lord Himself.
We read also of Barnabas being “a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,” and what was his testimony? Like the martyr we have been looking at, he could only speak of Him who was the chief treasure of his heart. “He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (See Acts 7:55, 56; 11:23, 2455But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55‑56)
23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (Acts 11:23‑24).) How true it is that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Occupation then with Christ glorified is certainly the Object to which the Holy Ghost directs us, and the One He leads us to commend and minister to others.
On referring a little further to scripture, we shall find that the secret of our walking as Christ walked, of growing in grace, of sustainment in the life of faith, and of joy—blessings which we all so desire—are realized in personal intercourse and communion with Christ glorified.
The effect of Stephens being taken up with Christ in heaven, in all the attractiveness of His grace and glory, was that he acted like his Master, and that under the most trying and distressing circumstances. The suffering martyr was able to pray for those that hated him and despitefully used him—“He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” We also find that when the stones of his cruel murderers were rolling in upon his body and crushing him to death, he quietly and confidingly committed himself to the Lord, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Thus the suffering servant on earth looking up steadfastly into heaven, and occupied with the Lord Himself, was able in measure to walk as He walked, who when suffering all the agonies of the cross, prayed for His murderers, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and also closed His path of suffering with “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” What then can be more plainly taught than that if we would manifest the ways of Christ on earth, we must be taken up with Him who is now on the right hand of God?
Making spiritual progress, or growing in grace, is also connected with beholding Christ glorified. We most thankfully remember that He was on earth, and delight to call to mind all the grace manifested in the death of the cross, and know also that He hath left us an example that we should follow His steps; but we see Jesus where? “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor.” (Heb. 2:99But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9).) The veil was rent, the heaven opened, Jesus rose from among the dead, and entered into heaven itself by His own blood, so that all distance was removed between us and God, and title given us to stand in the presence of God in acceptance and nearness forever. There we see Jesus. There we behold Him without a veil. There is now nothing between. We come boldly to the throne of grace. There we have to do with the risen, ascended, glorified Son of man, while waiting for Him to “come again.” The effect of our being occupied with Him there by the Spirit, as He is made known to us through the scriptures, is that we become more and more changed according to His own mind. “We all with open [or unveiled] face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as, by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3) Thus we have seen not only that the Holy Ghost directs us to look up to a glorified Christ, and occupies us with Him, but also that then our ways will be like His ways, our testimony be of Him, and our progress will be according to His own mind—“from glory to glory.” How encouraging to our hearts to look up to Him!
The secret too of sustainment in the trials connected with the life and walk of faith is having to do with the ever living Sustainer. There is One, now in heaven, who has been here, and passed through sorrows and temptations, who, though verily and truly God as well as man, yet emptied Himself, took a servant’s form, and trod perfectly the path of faith from first to last. He was the Beginner and Finisher of faith, and at last sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. It is to Him, the Forerunner, we, who are running the race, are exhorted to look; to look away from every other object to Him, with the eye fixed on Him, who has gone through the path perfectly, and knows all its difficulties, temptations, and trials. This ever-living, ever-loving Jesus on the throne is then our Sustainer for every step of the way. It is well for those who thus look off unto Him!
Christ glorified is also the unfading, and unfailing Object for our hearts—“whom having not seen ye love.” Yes, there is One in the glory who has attracted, comforted, and satisfied our hearts. Oh how He loves! We see in Him eternal excellencies and beauty which eclipse every other object. “We love him, because he first loved us;” and not only so, but we love Him for what He is in Himself. As we often sing—
“Jesus, Thou art enough
The mind and heart to fill.”
Being thus occupied with Him, our hearts are filled with joy. We remember His finished work upon the cross, and have peace, we look up to Him in the glory and are filled with joy. “Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.” Looking up and gazing by faith on a Person whom we have never seen and cannot see, and yet knowing Him so well—His worth, beauty, perfections, moral excellencies, official glories and fullness—as to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
What never-failing springs and resources we have in Christ! What an ever-flowing fountain of refreshment and comfort! Gladly we flee to Him in time of trouble for relief, but what do we know of Him as an unending source of delight for our hearts? Would indeed that we could say more of His manifesting Himself to us, of the hearty and deep-toned joy we find in personal intercourse and acquaintance with Himself! Then obedience, testimony, fellowship with Him in His rejection and present work on earth, as those who look for His coming, naturally, as it were, flow out. Ο to know increasingly the blessedness connected with looking up into heaven, and beholding Jesus there till we hear the shout! How soon He may come for us! What a moment that will be when we actually see His face! and then
“Forever to behold Him shine!
For evermore to call Him mine!
And see Him still before me;
Forever on His face to gaze!
And meet the full assembled rays,
While all His beauty He displays
To all the saints in glory!”
Η. H. S.