ASSOCIATIONS
J.A.Petersen
While our brother was speaking about communications I thought it right to add a word as to associations. There is a link between associations and communications. The brethren will remember the notes of meetings in London in October 1978 in which Mr Hibbert spoke of 'communicative associations', pointing out that John's gospel is peculiarly one of communications between divine Persons. As to John 1: 1, "the Word was with God", he said that Mr Darby had said that the word 'with' involved 'communicative associations' between divine Persons (see Notes and Comments, Vol.7, p.1) and this gave colour to John's gospel, especially in what the Lord said to His own.
The expression in the verses read refers to our commonwealth, and Mr Darby's note says 'commonwealth does not satisfy me, but citizenship gives a different idea. Conversation is wrong, though it be a practical consequence. It is 'associations of life' as I am born an Englishman'. You can see that he speaks of communications but as proceeding from a heavenly association. It is the associations of life. I think it is helpful for all of us to lift our sights to what is heavenly. Our brother remarked that we touch things in the gatherings of the saints and I would say that that should be something of heaven. Our commonwealth, it says, has its existence in the heavens (plural).
I think Abraham and Isaac already referred to are the older and younger ones in the local meeting able to maintain a spiritual conversation. The world speaks of the generation gap and in that connection it is not always easy to maintain conversation between the young and old. But Abraham and Isaac did enter into a good conversation which has been recorded by the Spirit, and it would seem that Abraham impressed Isaac with what was heavenly. I need not say that Isaac especially is a type of the heavenly Man. And where did he learn that? He would have learned that in his father's house and in the local meeting, so to speak. We certainly have to get through this present world and need to be helped as to the many practical matters facing us; the epistles are full of guidance and wisdom in that regard. I was reading tonight some comments by Mr Taylor on the epistle to the Colossians and he said it was a 'tightening up' epistle in our relations with God and one another and in the various relationships in which we find ourselves. Then there is the heavenly land and I think it was in Abraham's house that Isaac learned about that position. One's desire is that all of us might be encouraged to relate ourselves more to what is heavenly, because that is where Christ is.
It says here in Philippians "from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour". It is not as Lord, in that sense, but as Saviour because of the great weakness and humiliation attaching to the human condition. The very fact that we have sickness amongst us and falls and the like is only to help us to see the frailty of the condition that we are in. Young people do not often think of that as much as older ones, but we have an older sister staying with us in our house who is suffering, and we are made to feel the frailty of the human condition. So we are waiting for our "Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, who shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory". The Lord Jesus is in that body now - the body of glory. At the same time, we would say too, that the Lord Jesus being a divine Person may take any form at the present time. He is a real Man in heaven but He may manifest Himself in other ways, because He can do that. The scripture tells us that he manifested Himself to two in another form. We cannot place any restrictions or constraints on Him in glory; that is where He is and we are waiting for Him from the heavens. In the meantime that is where our life and associations are by faith. What preserved Isaac was his associations; his associations with his father were maintained in full confidence, and this is so needed between brethren, the older with the younger ones. When the test came as to Isaac's marriage there is no evidence of any difficulty on Isaac's part in taking a wife that was of a heavenly order. He submitted to Abraham's arrangement as to his wife Rebecca. What a great result for the furtherance of heavenly associations in the family! Abraham and Isaac refer to heavenly associations in life, and as applied to us in our localities (although it may be difficult to work out) the blessing is there for the old and the younger ones in this association.
Paul was converted from heaven and every difficulty was removed by the Lord in His direct service to the apostle. I have noticed that brethren about to depart to be with Christ give no trouble to the brethren. They are not the ones giving trouble but rather troubles come in from those that are earth dwellers or seeking something of self, and that has always been a cause of disruption in the assembly. Heavenly-minded persons have Christ before them, and the apostle is calling upon the brethren in Philippi to see that: "fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model". The apostle was going on to glory; although in prison he had the glory before him. Nor was he complaining; it is a wonderful thing when the spirit of complaint is removed from among us because we are going on to glory and trusting in the promise that God will change this body of humiliation in which you and I are travelling home. God Himself will change it through our Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour into conformity to His body of glory, according to the power which He has even to subdue all things to Himself. We will be in full association with Him then; and this we now anticipate by the Spirit. I think beloved, the more we are in the company of Christ, the less we will want the company of the world. That is how it works out. We may rightly say to the brethren, Walk in separation. And where there is obedience, God will honour that. But oh, what attractiveness is in Christ, that I want His company and I am prepared to leave every other company to be with Him in His affairs. That is just what Mary and Martha did in John 11 and 12; they wanted the company of Jesus in the hour of bereavement
So also in the book of Malachi: they spoke often one to another - communications - and they wanted His company. God took account of it. The Lord Jesus comes into our gatherings and we experienced that here on Lord's day in all three meetings; He brings in heavenly circumstances. In the meantime we are awaiting Him for He has the power to subdue these frail conditions in which we are walking. He will come and subdue and change us that we might come into the glory which we have already enjoyed here by faith and the Spirit. Much could be said as to the matter of associations but association is this: that Christ is the centre of the company; otherwise there is no association for the Christian. The power for association in life is the Holy Spirit. What maintains the association is love, held in the truth. Any other association we have to leave, as the associations of men do not flow from the headship of Christ. We had occasion to say to some brethren the other day that if the Lord Jesus is not head of any particular body we cannot be in that body. We have been baptised into the body of Christ by the Spirit and our association with Christ is in His power. Our brother earlier said that you look for what is good in the brethren, and that is what we are in association with; it is His glorious work. Our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens; that is, it is our country and associations. The Lord has left us here in testimony in faith and in the Spirit but the outlook is our Saviour's coming from the heavens.
PLAINFIELD
4 August 1981