Each one of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, are acquainted in some measure with the joy which comes to our hearts when we embrace God’s “WHOSOEVER.” For instance, when we heard the joyful news, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), we were filled to overflowing, many of us wept for joy. O, what gladness filled our hearts when first we could read our title clear to glory. Doubts forever gone; no longer to sing:
If I could read my title clear,
To mansions in the sky.
No, no, through Jesus and His shed blood we have a TITLE WITHOUT A FLAW and a PROSPECT WITHOUT A CLOUD. We look back to Calvary and see every question settled forever in our adorable Substitute. We look forward with delight to the moment when we shall gaze on His blessed face, and we shall praise Him with full adoring hearts, as none have praised below. All this is glorious; and fills our ruptured hearts with joy.
Between these two moments lies a journey with some, short, others, long, but whether short or long, in it we receive training which fits us – for heaven? O, no, we are already fit for God’s own presence; yea, even now we have boldness to enter into, the holiest by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10). What then does this training fit us for? Did it ever strike you, fellow believer, that God has a kingdom, and in that kingdom of glory you and I are going to have a place? All that we pass through here, the sorrows and trials of many kinds, are used by Him to give us a sense on the one hand of what He can be to us in these very trials, on the other hand that we may gain experience thereby with God Himself, and thus be fitted to take our place in connection with the administration of the coming universe of bliss.
In this connection how vastly important then is the word which stands at the head of this paper – WHATSOEVER. Jonathan could say to David, “Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee” (1 Sam. 20:4). The king of man’s choice was in power and he sought David’s life (1 Sam. 19:1). Already David was God’s. anointed king (1 Sam. 16:1-3). At the commencement of David’s time of persecution by Saul, how comforting are the words of Jonathan to him. The first thing we read of Jonathan after he had heard David speak was, “His soul was knit to the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Sam. 18:1). Next, everything that distinguished Jonathan and gave him honor in the eyes of men, must go for David (1 Sam. 18:4). Again in 1 Samuel 19:2, “Jonathan, Saul’s son delighted much in David.” Then in the verse already quoted he wants to know what David’s soul desireth. Let us consider Him of whom David was a type and figure. He is now outcast and rejected by man. We can say to Jesus, as some said to David, “Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse” (1 Chron. 12:18). We have taken our stand with and for Christ. Let us ask ourselves, Are we acquainted with His desires? What is it the Son of God desires: Has He deep soul longings? Yes; He has, He wants our hearts for Himself. In the coming day of glory He will reign without a rival, but beloved, there is a throne today He values far more than that, He wants to reign in the affections of our hearts, without a rival. This is His one great desire. If He gets this place, the rest will come all right. He too desires our company. Now, yes now, like David He is in rejection. He wants you and me to follow Him. Well you say; This means that I’ll be rejected as He was? Yes; but what a recompense the joy and sweetness of His company.
Look what the three faithful friends of Daniel got for their faithfulness, to Jehovah. The burning furnace? Yes; and in that burning fiery furnace what they would not have missed for all the glory of Babylon thrice told. “The fourth was like unto the Son of God.” Better, far better, be in a fiery furnace with the Son of God than in the palace without Him. No matter what it may cost you, it is better to be where He would have you, than in a coming day look back to your own loss – yea, dear believer, the Lord’s loss too, for He would lose the joy you might have given Him, and also the glory you would have brought to His name by walking in His company. We see a little later where Jonathan took a wrong path (1 Sam. 20:42). Look too at the end thereof (1 Sam. 31:2). Did David feel it Read 2 Samuel 1:7-27. May the Lord give you and me much prayerful diligence to become more and more acquainted with the WHATSOEVER of His desire till we see His face: Hear Christ, that formed by Him thou mayest be, Think Christ, that more like Him thou mayest be, Live Christ, that all men Him in thee may see, Speak Christ that all may hear of Him through thee.
So shalt thou please the heart of Him who planned, Before were fashioned heaven, sea or land, That thou amongst His many sons should stand. Like Jesus “Chief,” and “Firstborn” of the land.