Do you think we shall want to talk about self when we get to heaven? I am sure that when the glory shines into our hearts, we can talk of nothing but Christ. If we sorrow, and anyone comes in and talks about the world, does it cheer the heart? No; but if he talks of Christ and all His glory, the heart gets comfort directly. Why talk so much about self now? Why so vexed about self, so troubled in spirit? And why is there so little to be heard of this Christ who has brought us where we get all the mind of God and of heaven? I should like to have the thought of the living Christ in heaven to be the only object before the soul, so that when we meet one another we may be occupied only with Christ-perfectly satisfied with Him. Can there be any lack of joy? Oh, no, Christ died for me. Any lack of glory? Oh, no, I am one with Him at the right hand of God.
But often, even when a large place is given to Christ, people forget that it must be only Christ, and not self. If occupied with Christ, where are my own thoughts, my own plannings? We may give a large place to Christ and to God's plan, but forget that energies of our own run counter to Christ. If you are quickened, you must expect to die daily, to let all your own plans and energies die. What has my energy to do with Christ? Human energy connects me with things round me down here, but never drives me to Christ.
Directly you know Christ, you must follow Him. He traces out a path for us that does not allow for retreat in any way; He gets people directly, through faith, into present association with Himself. If you and I were to go forth this week full of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, occupied with Christ really as seeing Him, what single thing of our own would stand? We would follow Him as a little vessel towed along by a large one; and not only that, but our fellowship, joy and glory would all be in Him, because we are His blest people. Oh, for grace now to serve and follow Him! Oh, for grace to openly confess Him who has enabled us to say that we are accepted in Him, that all His glory is our glory! Oh, to walk down here according to the place of blessing we are in.
There is nothing in man that can ever get to the truth of what the anointed Man is, until death and resurrection are known; the first draws men to Him; the last gathers them in association with Himself.