WE hear of great rejoicings on every hand, throughout England just now, because of the long reign of Queen Victoria. Now, no one for a moment will doubt that we have all enjoyed many mercies and blessings during her reign; we have been able to live a quiet and peaceable life; have also had religious liberty, with protection, and many other privileges which under a less gracious Sovereign we might not have enjoyed.
The Christian is able to thank God for all these things. He ordained the powers that be, and in His providence for the good of mankind, He has given us all these blessings, perhaps more fully than any other country in the world.
Now, while we would rejoice and be glad for these favors, we would draw your attention to One who has a far greater and more exalted position than even the Queen upon the throne, and from whom far greater blessings flow.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is exalted to the right band of God. Blessed fact! Oh wondrous truth! The One whom the world has rejected, the heavens have received.
Look away from the world and all its vain glory, and cast your eye upward through those open heavens, and behold Jesus crowned with glory and honor. See also the marks in His hands, His feet, and His side, showing the treatment this world gave Him when here. Yes, the world is guilty of crucifying the Lord of Glory. And “God has appointed a day in the which He will judge this world” (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).
Though man gave Him the lowest place here, God has given Him the highest place there, saying, “Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool” (Acts 2:34,3534For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (Acts 2:34‑35)). “God hath made this same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:3636Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)).
There are two truths brought before us in the Scriptures, in connection with His exaltation, to which we would call your special attention.
The first is found in Acts 5:31: “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” He is exalted a Prince―that is, one having power. We read in Revelation 1:5,5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5) that “Jesus Christ is the Prince of the kings of the earth.” Put all the kings of earth in array, and Christ ruleth over all, and ere long will exercise His power as “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
But the blessed fact is, that in this day of God’s grace, He is exercising His power in saving lost, perishing souls.
He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour. Before He had that place of exaltation at the right hand of God, He first took the low place in humiliation, in order to work out a way whereby in righteousness He could save. It is written, “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). And redemption’s price must be paid, that sinners might be redeemed to God.
And, oh! glorious news, all has been accomplished. “It is finished.” Christ’s precious blood has been shed. Jesus has died. God has been glorified in all that Jesus has done, so much so, that He has raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand. All power is His, in heaven and on earth; and as the exalted, living, loving Saviour, He delights to dispense blessings, rich eternal blessings, far and wide, to the needy, the lost, and the hell-deserving.
“And now exalted high;
A Prince and Saviour He,
That sinners might draw nigh
And drink of mercy free―
Of mercy now so richly shed,
For Jesus liveth who was dead.”
Now all have sinned, therefore all need forgiveness; and be assured of this, my reader, if one sin shut Adam out of the presence of God from the garden of Eden, the many sins of your lifetime, if unforgiven, will sink you into an eternal hell forever.
But Jesus is exalted a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. “Be it known unto you that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)). “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
And let me say that, apart from the “forgiveness of sins,” no soul will ever enter heaven; and no one will ever know what real happiness is. Scripture says, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Rom. 4:77Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (Romans 4:7)).
Now, the difficulty is that so many people resort to other means, instead of accepting God’s way. No, my reader, not all your religiousness, your good works, or the best life you could live, could ever atone for one single sin. “It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.” Trust your whole soul upon the blood of Christ, we beseech you, which cleanseth from all sin. Rest in child-like faith upon His finished work. You are asked to do nothing, but simply to take your true place in repentance before God, and the remedy is within your reach, even at your very door. Again we say, Trust the Blood, and trust it now.
Now let us turn to the second truth in connection with the exaltation of Christ. “Jesus humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:8-118And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8‑11)).
What a solemn truth for those whose hearts are hardened against these things, and whose backs are turned upon God and the exalted Christ.
Is the reader such an one? If so, let me say, however you may ignore and scoff at God’s word, the truth remains, and though heaven and earth shall pass away, God’s word never will.
The Queen has her subjects who own her authority, and bow to what she says; and if one dares to ignore or set aside her word, they suffer. Then we say, how much more will the one suffer who manifests indifference to the authority of the Lord, and sets aside God’s word.
Ah! reader, bow you must, sooner or later. To bow in this day of grace is salvation; but to be made bow in the day of judgment will be damnation. “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom. 14:1111For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)).
The saints in heaven will delight, with all the angelic hosts, to bow and confess the worthiness of Jesus; while those on earth will have to bow and confess Jesus as Lord; and the devil, with all the infernal beings, will be made to bow and confess Him too.
Has it ever crossed your mind, reader, that after all this may be true, and then? Yes! what then? You will have to bow and confess in judgment, when mercy is gone forever.
Oh! be wise, face the matter of your eternal destiny now, and get right with God; you will get the good of it now and to all eternity.
Many and great have been the blessings that have flowed from the throne of England during Her Majesty’s reign. But the blessings that flow from the exalted Christ on the throne of heaven today, far surpass.
Out of that throne proceeds a river of living waters. “Let him that is athirst come.” “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” They are indeed rich eternal blessings.’
Soon the Lord Jesus Christ will take His place and reign, and those who side with Him in this day during His rejection, shall be with Him in the day of His manifestation, when He shall come forth with power and great glory, putting all His enemies under His feet; destroying the wicked one with the brightness of His coming. Then those who obey not the gospel He will punish with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power. (2 Thess. 1:8, 98In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:8‑9).)
If we think of all the greatest monarchs of the world, with all their glory, it all falls into nothingness, when we think of the Lord’s greatness, power, and glory, as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
And now, my reader, with all that bids fair to you in this poor sin-stricken world, what are your prospects for eternity? Is it the everlasting joy of heaven, with Christ in glory; or will it be the eternal miseries of the lake of fire, in the blackness of darkness forever? Choose you this day.
Oh! decide for Christ. And then you will see that this world with all its glory is but a glittering show, which passes away, leaving you unblest, unsatisfied. If converted, you can afford to wait with patience to share the glory of Christ when He shall reign. “If we suffer we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12)).
“O God, Thou now hast glorified
Thy holy, blest, eternal Son;
The Nazarene, the Crucified,
Now sits exalted on Thy throne!
To Him in faith we cry aloud,
Worthy art Thou, O Lamb of God!
Father, Thy holy name we bless;
Gracious and just Thy wise decree,
That every tongue shall soon confess
Jesus the Lord of all to be!
But oh! Thy grace has taught us now
Before that Lord the knee to bow.
Him as our Lord we gladly own;
To Him alone we now would live,
Who bowed our hearts before Thy throne,
And gave us all that love could give:
Our willing voices cry aloud,
Worthy art Thou, O Lamb of God!”
J. E. B.