THE present period is especially the day of God's grace; the day when God is not requiring anything from man, but the day in which He has everything to give to man. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17.) JOH 1:17
Thank God for this precious word! God is essentially now in this day, a giving God, not a demanding God. He is dealing with the poor sin-stricken, benighted world in rich and sovereign grace, in "grace and truth," and this "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
You may ask, What has this to do with the heading of the paper, "The Man in the Tree"?
Dear reader, the man in the tree had to learn this all-important, yet precious soul-saving, lesson of God's grace. It was everything to him. What his position could not secure, what his wealth could not purchase, what his conscientious and constant daily practice could not procure, contact with Jesus, the Son of man, the Saviour of sinners, could and did bring to him.
The Holy Spirit of God has unfolded the man's history in the following verses of Luke 19 LUK 19:1-48 "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus Who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way." (1-4.)
In reading these verses it is manifest that with this man who "sought to see Jesus,'' neither his littleness of stature, nor the great crowd of people hindered him from carrying out his purpose. JESUS" was to pass that way," and, nothing daunted, this little man" ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see HIM; his object was to" see JESUS," it was a real desire, consequently circumstances were nothing. The man in the tree was waiting his opportunity, but as to himself, quite ignorant of his lost state as a sinner, and therefore "when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." (v. 5.)
There are doubtless many real anxious souls in this and other lands in the same condition. They are up in the tree, but they must "come down." Jesus knew well the desire of the heart of Zaccheus; and Jesus knows well the desire of your heart. Is it to see Him? Then He will fulfill your desire.
Zaccheus was in the high place, but Jesus was in the low place. He was essentially the meek and lowly One, therefore Zaccheus must "come down” to the same level; and so must you, dear earnest soul. Listen, oh! listen to the response in the heart of Zaccheus, "And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully." (v. 6.)
With what astonishment and delight did he hear the words of Jesus, “To-day I must abide at thy house" At once he responded to the voice of Jesus, and Jesus had only to say in reply, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."(vv. 9, 10.) Grace triumphant reigns in Zaccheus' heart, and salvation enters Zaccheus' house. Others might murmur and say," He is gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner" (v. 7); but the man in the tree has “come down" at the bidding of Jesus, and joyfully receives Him at his house.
Zaccheus himself might stand before the Lord, and speak of his good deeds and conscientious dealings, which two principles are valuable in their right place; but the Lord shows him it was not the time to talk about himself, therefore at once meets him with these cheering, soul-satisfying words, " This day is SALVATION come to this house." “The grace of God which bringeth salvation” appeared to Zaccheus; all was settled forever. The Son of man was come to seek and to save that which was "lost." If he receives the Son of man "joyfully," how much greater the joy of the One he receives to speak to him of salvation come to his house! “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted “is a divine principle, and it proved to be so in this case. (Luke 14:11.) LUK 14:11 There was no meeting-place in the tree. It was down in the dust of this poor world that the Saviour, the Son of man, and the sinner Zaccheus met, and all is divinely settled for eternity. This, dear reader, is a most heart-searching word for all who have not known the blessed God as a "Saviour God" in the Person of His Son, the Man Christ Jesus. God is speaking to you, to all in this day of grace. He has done all He could to encourage your heart to accept His great salvation.”
Take heed you do not neglect it. Remember, oh! remember the solemn words, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Heb. 2:3.) HEB 2:3 If still negligent, may the Spirit of God create in your heart a desire to "see Jesus," and like Zaccheus of old may you be brought face to face with Him of Whom it was said, “Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46.) JOH 7:46 It is He tells out from the depths of His loving heart the wondrous tale of God's salvation to lost sinners.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2.) 2CO 6:2 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."(Acts 16:31.) ACT 16:31" Make haste, and come down"; take the low place, that of “a poor sinner, and nothing at all," and then you will be able to say, "JESUS CHRIST is my all in all.”
R. E. K.