Thirteen

The call to every Christian is: Let us go on to perfection. To be able to respond to this call, each Christian is reminded that the path that they must take, if they want to achieve their goal, is to continue to behold the glory of the Lord. It is as we focus on continuing to behold the glory of the Lord Jesus that we discover that the Holy Spirit works within us the glorious transformation. By this we become transfigured into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus, so that: “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4: 6) radiates from us.

We recognize that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power” is “ of God and not of us”(verse 7). Therefore, we willingly make it our commitment to become totally transparent earthen vessels so that the glory of the treasure that we contain can be readily seen by all who need to see it.

After several years of very faithful and seemingly most fruitful service in the heart of Africa, C. T. Studd, along with many who were working with him, became very conscious of a very serious problem among the many African Christians who made up the Churches. “Many disappointments, evidence of sin, slothfulness, and self-seeking among even leading Christians and evangelists” (C. T. STUDD, by Norman P. Grubb, page 206). C. T. Studd “set himself to give God and the people no rest until the Holy Ghost should come upon them”(page206). He wrote, “I am getting very fearful lest fizz and froth take the place of divine fire among us” (page 210).

“Those were days of fierce conflict” (page 211). “The experience was a Gethsemane to C.T.” (page 212). “The break came one night . . . . Bwana came to prayers that night . . . greatly burdened about the condition of things and feeling that somehow or other there must be an explosion of spiritual dynamite, which would clean out the hindrances and leave room for the Spirit to work again” (page 213).

“But how to illustrate so great a matter. The talk turned to the Great War and the heroism of the British Tommy who went over the top at the word of command, and did it, knowing that all of the odds were against his coming back alive. But how describe this spirit? The question was asked of some who were present and had been soldiers, and one replied, Well, the way the Sergeant-major would describe it is that Tommy doesn't care a ---- what happened to him so long as he does his duty by his king, his country, his regiment, and himself. These words were the spark just needed to set the train alight. Bwana arose, raised his arm and said, That is what we need, and that is what I want! Oh, Lord, henceforth I don't care what happens to me, life or death, aye, or hell, so long as my Lord Jesus is glorified! One after another those who were present rose and made the same vow, I don't care what happens to me, joy or sorrow, health or pain, so long as Jesus is glorified!”

But, for far too many of us today it would be very difficult for us to honestly say, “I don't care what happens to me!” because we care most of all about: “what happens to me!” There is far too much about our lives, our life styles, our ambitions, our priorities, which shouts: “I really do care so very much about what happens to: ME!” We may protest that it is not the case, but if we are honest in our heart of hearts, this is the case.

But, if I really do care so very much about what happens to me, what about the issue that I claim to be willing to become so transparent that I am invisible, and all that people can see is the glory of the Lord Jesus?

“After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people” (Joshua 1: 1. 2). Then the Lord gave to Joshua the assurance, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you” (verse 5).

Joshua humbly accepted this awesome challenge that the Lord laid on him, and moved in faithful obedience to carry out his God-given responsibilities. The people of Israel were rallied, spies were sent into the land, and then Joshua led the people of Israel through the River Jordan.

Once they had crossed the River Jordan in obedience to the Word of the Lord, the Lord instructed Joshua to re-institute the practice of circumcision as the sign that the Lord had given to Israel that they were God's covenant people, and so all of the males were circumcised. This was necessary because the Lord had suspended the covenant when, at Kadesh forty years earlier, the people of Israel had refused to go into the land. (see Joshua 5: 2 - 9).

With the covenant re-instituted, the Lord permitted the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, again, for the first time in forty years! (verse 10). What a very high price the people of Israel had to pay because of their failure to heed and obey the command of the Lord. There are so many vital lessons for us today to learn from the experiences of the Israelites. It is not surprising that Paul reminds us, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (1 Corinthians 10: 6).

Now, standing out in front of Joshua and the Israelites was their first major challenge as they moved to possess the promised land: it was the city of Jericho. Its walls loomed so high, appearing to be so strong, seeming to be daring Joshua and Israel to attempt to assault them. We must not forget that one of the things that was used by the ten craven spies to enable them to convince Israel to turn back those long years before was the protest: “the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large “(Numbers 13: 28).

Joshua knew that within a very short time the Israelites would face their first battle since crossing the River Jordan. At this moment the city of Jericho stood out so ominously, almost totally overshadowing him as he stood there. He still had no idea what would be involved in the battle to take Jericho, as he had still not received any instructions from the Lord as to how they were to prepare for, and then carry forward, the battle against Jericho.

Joshua's level of alertness and caution would have been immediately raised to an ever higher level by being confronted by this unexpected intruder. “A Man stood opposite him, with His sword drawn in His hand.” Joshua was not expecting this development, even as he was concerned and puzzled by it.

“And Joshua went to him and said to Him, Are You for us or for our adversaries?” Whose side are you on? From Joshua's point of view it was the most obvious question for him to ask. It was the question that should enable Joshua to discover where he stood as far as this unexpected intruder was concerned.

It is this kind of question that does so quickly jump to our minds. Are you on our side or not? We want to be able to find out what to expect from others. Will they support us? Or, will they oppose us? Where do we stand as far as those people are concerned?

Whose side are you on? Very often this is the question that many Christians want to ask of God. “Lord, are you really on our side or not? So often we get confused and wonder where we really do stand with You.”

This is true, even though most Christians automatically feel that if you are a Christian you have every right to expect that the Lord is on your side. The problem with such an attitude is that it presumes far too much, even as it is an obvious evidence of spiritual immaturity.

“So He said, No!”(verse 14). No! What do you mean? How can you say, “No!” It has to be one way or the other. Either you must be on our side, or, you must be on the side of our adversaries. Surely that is the way in which most Christians would respond to such a development.

“No!” I am not on your side. No! I am not on the side of your adversaries. Such a strong, clear, decisive “NO!” quickly gets our attention. What can it mean? “As Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” But, if He really are the Commander of the army of the Lord, then surely Joshua, who was leading the people of the Lord, had every right to expect Him to be on his side.

The Commander of the army of the Lord is the one who has every right to expect Joshua to realize: it was Joshua, who had to confess that he was on the Lord's sid. Josshua could never expect that he could demand that the Lord be on his side, until Joshua clearly established the fact that he was on the Lord's side!

Every Christian today urgently needs to learn this same vital lesson, even though most Christians never even think to evaluate their strong expectation and demand that the Lord be on their side. The Lord refuses to permit us to press Him into being in service on our side. He demands that we humbly confess that He has called us to be on His side.

Joshua immediately grasped the significance of the answer of the Man with the sword drawn in His hand. “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, What does my Lord say to His servant?”(verse 14).

Joshua instantly, humbly took his rightful place of subservience. The Lord would be Lord in all things as far as Joshua was concerned. Joshua was committed to give his total allegiance and loyalty to the Lord. To the Lord he gladly yielded total control. The Lord would formulate all of the plans. The Lord would make all of the decisions. Joshua would give immediate and full obedience to every Word from the Lord.

All those Christians today who desire to be used by the Lord to reveal the glory of the Lord must take the identical position that Joshua took. The Lord Jesus must be willingly and fully acknowledged to be Lord of all! It is the Lord Jesus who will always be making all of the plans and all of the decisions.

It is because there are so many Christians who still have to learn this crucial lesson that their lives are so obviously marked by failure and defeat. The Lord Jesus is urgently looking for the clear evidence of our total loyalty to Him, to His Word, to His will, to His plans and purposes. He does require us to give absolute loyalty to Him.

Listen again, “Then the Commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so” (verse 15). Have we heard His word to us - You are standing on holy ground? Have we obeyed His Word? Do we live as those who do know that every step that we take in on holy ground? That every step we take it must be with the aim of always humbly and fully honoring and glorifying Him?

The apostle Paul knew well what it meant to be a soldier. Not so much by his own choice, but as the result of his imprisonments, he had spent long periods of time in the company of Roman soldiers. It becomes obvious from his epistles that he had used much of that time to study the soldier, his life, his responsibilities, his equipment, and so much more.

Here he refers to the basic reality of what it means to be a soldier. “A good soldier!” He knew that the good soldier always kept in mind what his position was. He was a man who had been enlisted in the service of Caesar and who had sworn total allegiance and loyalty to Caesar. He would henceforth live, serve, fight, and, if necessary, die at the word of his king.

These are some of the crucial qualities which Paul has in mind as he wrote to Timothy, and to us, about being “a good soldier!” We are to always keep clearly in view who our King is in whose service we are enlisted, it is the Lord Jesus Christ. To be regarded as being His soldier confirms the fact that we have already sworn our total allegiance and loyalty to the Lord Jesus; therefore every other consideration must be kept subordinant to that allegiance and loyalty to the Lord Jesus at all times.

As “good soldiers” all aspects of our lives are lived according to the Word of our King, and solely according to His Word. We are totally available to Him to give ourselves under His orders whenever and wherever He appoints. When His Word impels us into the battle field, we immediately obey, just as the British Tommy immediately obeyed the command of his sergeant-major. We leave the result of our involvement in the battle completely in the hand of the Lord Jesus, whether it be life - or death.

Paul also knew that the soldier's life was not an easy one. “Endure hardship!” The soldier was required to accept circumstances and conditions in his life which required the sacrifice of all normal ideas of comfort and ease. Whatever the command of Caesar required of them, they faced, even the most difficult and dangerous of situations.

This must also be true of every Christian who professes to have given their total allegiance to the Lord Jesus. We will demonstrate a real willingness to “endure hardness,” to embrace sacrifice as we accept difficult and dangerous circumstances, the kind of situation which the majority of Christians expect that they will not have to face.

The Transfigured Christian immediately goes forward in obedience to the command of their Lord, not counting the cost, but willingly sacrificing all that they are required to sacrifice. He remembers that the Lord Jesus said, “The Son on Man has nowhere to lay His head!”(Matthew 8: 20) We willingly identify with Him because we want to be totally transfigured into His image and likeness, so that we become fully transparent, and people see Jesus, seeing the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in us.

The Roman soldier who had been appointed to service in Ceasarea knew that he had to give his totally attention to his duty in the place where he had been appointed to serve. He had been enlisted by his king and his king had chosen his place of service. He could not adopt the attitude, I know that Caesar has appointed me to serve in the responsibility which he has entrusted to me in this place, but at the same time I want to give much of my time and my attention to my many other interests back in Rome and elsewhere.

You have been enlisted as a soldier by the Lord Jesus in His service. You have sworn your loyal allegiance to the Lord Jesus and to the cause to which He has appointed you. As His soldier, you dare not become entangled with any other interest save that of your King.

Yet there are far too many Christians who have willfully chosen to ignore this warning against such entanglements. They have been seduced by the idea that, even if others cannot take the risk, they can divide their time and interest between being the soldier of the Lord Jesus and those other things which have captivated their minds.

The result proves to be that all too often those other interests have increasingly demanded their time and their loyalty, so that they can no longer give to their Lord the immediate obedience to His Word as He requires. Unchecked this tendency grows increasingly counter-productive to the vital interests and issues of the Lord whom they, and we, are sworn to serve.

The clear Word of the Lord Jesus decisively reminds us of the grave danger of divided loyalties: we can come to love so much those other interests that we come to resent the command of the Lord to whom we have sworn our allegiance. This means that we are therefore no longer His soldier, as we are no longer giving our complete loyalty and allegiance to Him.

How strange it is that so many Christians know that the Lord Jesus has established the regulations for all those who would be His soldiers, and yet they so easily convince themselves that they can exempt themselves from some of His “regulations”, and that they can do so with complete impunity.

“Disqualified!” - by God! Once being a transparent earthen vessel through whom the glory of the treasure within could be fully seen. Only to become: disqualified by God! All because this once good soldier of the Lord Jesus came to believe that he could disregard His Word on some issue or other.

There were those people whom the Lord Jesus called to follow Him who responded with the qualified statement, “Let me first go” (Luke 9: 59). Lord, Yes, I will be loyal to you, but first I must consider my family!

And this same answer has been repeated in every generation, over and over, since. Yes, I am ready to enlist, put on my uniform as Your soldier, take the vow of loyalty and allegiance, and go out to face the heat of the fiercest battle for You Lord, but, first!

It is for this reason that in so many places the lines of the faithful and loyal soldiers are so pitifully thin and inadequate. The result is that the cause of Christ is suffering defeat after defeat. It is not because the King has suffered defeat, but because there are far too many of His “soldiers” who never really reach the battle front to fight!

Yes, those very people would loudly argue that they are loyal to the Lord Jesus, that they give Him their loyalty and allegiance. But their claim is an empty one. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10: 37).

Whenever the Lord Jesus calls to anyone of those who professes to love Him and be loyal to Him, “Follow me!” - and they do not immediately leave all to obey Him, it is because they are holding on to those personal reservations which they use as a worthless excuse for their failure to be absolutely loyal to Him.

There was one thing that stood out in the attitude of the Israelites after the Lord used Moses to lead them out of Egypt. Whenever they had to face any difficulty, they immediately thought about how much better things had been for them in Egypt before they obeyed the call of God to leave. “We remember the fish that we ate freely in Egypt. . . But now -”(Numbers 11: 5, 6).

That is the whining comment of an ungrateful and disloyal people. Yet, there are so many Christians who would so loudly protest their strong loyalty to the Lord Jesus, and yet so very often they are constantly reminding others of all the things that they once enjoyed that they had to give up to follow the Lord Jesus. They give the impression that they should be so loudly applauded for being so willing to make such great sacrifices - to follow the Lord Jesus.

Such an attitude actually expresses an insidious disloyalty to the Lord Jesus. There is no person on the face of this earth who is more privileged than the one whom the Lord Jesus has enlisted as His soldier. It does not matter if He has called them to leave the most luxuriously appointed mansion with all of its most modern conveniences and comforts to go and be His transparent earthen vessel living in a dirt-floored shack in some third world, poverty- stricken country, if only those people there can see the glory of God in the face of the Lord Jesus in them.

The faithful soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ has his eyes fixed, He is looking to Jesus. In His love for the Lord Jesus who in grace redeemed him, and in his unswerving loyal to the Lord Jesus who has enlisted Him in His service, the true soldier persistently disciplines himself to always maintain his focus on the glory of the Lord Jesus. Yes, he knows that there will be those times when the going really does get tough, when the fight will be fierce, when there will be others who quit the field to go back. At such times the tempter will suggest that maybe the cost is too high, think about the way you once had things so much easier. But the true soldier of the Lord Jesus refuses to even consider such an insidious, treacherous thought.

There are many Christians today who glibly ridicule the Israelites, particularly at that time when “they said to one another, Let us select a leader and return to Egypt”(Numbers 14: 4). Such Christians hold Demas up to scorn as they repeat Paul's comment, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world”(2 Timothy 4: 10).

But so many of those very Christians who are so quick to point their fingers at others in an attitude of scorn, have actually themselves long been “looking back.” And, not only “looking back,” but in their hearts they have actually gone back. There came a time when they believed that the Lord was expecting too much of them, and they just stopped going on with Him. The moment you have stopped going on with the Lord, you have started looking back and going back.

Yes, those Christians may still fill their places in the Church, they may still serve in some position or other within the fellowship of Christians, but their hearts are cold. There is no longer that strong burning love which they once had for the Lord Jesus. Their loyalty to the Lord Jesus has been sacrificed to ease and self-will. They may have a “form of godliness” while they are utterly empty of “the power.” There remains nothing of the vitality of the true fruitfulness of those Christians who have remained totally true to the Lord Jesus.

They are earthen vessels who are so thankful that they are no longer transparent, because if they were still transparent everyone who see that the glorious treasure that they once contained has long since been removed. They are so empty and so cold.

To remain as Transfigured Christians we must remain utterly loyal to the Lord Jesus. When we do, the Holy Spirit who fills us will continually flood our hearts with the love that is on fire, a love and a loyalty that continues to grow stronger and more active no matter how difficult or hard the way our Lord leads us may become.