NOT OF THE WORLD

J. S. Speirs

Exodus 8: 16–19; Philippians 2: 14–16; Psalm 84: 5–7

I was encouraged by an impression received on Lord’s day and confirmed last night at the prayer meeting. I was thinking of the words of the Lord Jesus in John 17 where He said, “They are not of the world, as I am not of the world” (John 17: 16). The Lord Jesus says that in relation to His own and, as wondering how that character would be seen in the saints now, as in the world but not of it, I thought of this scripture in Exodus. Perhaps it seems obscure, but I think we have been taught that this plague of gnats can be looked at in one way as representing the saints in life. It is interesting that this plague is quite different to the others; firstly, there was no warning given to Pharaoh about it; secondly it was not said to be withdrawn; and thirdly it could not be imitated by the sorcerers of Egypt. I think that these features help us to understand the kind of life that is seen in believers here. It is not of the world. It cannot be imitated by the world. In the first two plagues the sorcerers were able to imitate the rivers of blood, and they were able to imitate the frogs. Man is able to give full evidence of the corruption that is in the world, and indeed of the corruption that is in the flesh itself.

I found it helpful that these first two plagues have been said to correspond to Romans chapters 6 and 7 (C. A. Coates ‘An Outline of Exodus’, p.39). Think of the rivers of Egypt; think of the power they wielded and their influence. You know, the believer no longer needs to be under that influence, the power of sin in the world. Think too of the frogs; the corruption within their very dwellings, affecting every aspect of their lives! Good does not dwell in the flesh; evil is there. The believer comes to that in Romans 7 and then he realises in chapter 8 that he has been set free to know life in Christ Jesus, a life that cannot be imitated by the world. The gnats would not be appreciated by the Egyptians; they would have been an irritation to them. The manner of life that you lead may come as an irritation to unbelievers round about you. It has been pointed out that the presence of believers has a restraining effect in the world (J. Taylor Vol. 57, p202). Governments may have modified their conduct due to the presence of believers.

This manner of life is not welcome in the world and we see also in this chapter in Exodus how God put a separation between his people and the Egyptians, he distinguished the land of Goshen. I feel the need of evidencing this kind of life, not trying to get on with the world, or those who are of the world but accepting that I am not of the world. Jesus was not of the world. Think of Him; the world hated Him. He said prophetically, “They that hate me without a cause”, Psalm 69: 4. He was doing only good, always, in perfection. Think of that, constantly, nothing else. Yet men hated Him. We might say carefully ‘He was so inconvenient to them’ and their system could not function the way they wanted it to with the Lord Jesus there. So perhaps that is the place the believer has to take, not looking for any recognition from the world, or looking for ways to get on with the world, but just being here, giving evidence that we have our life in Christ. Perhaps as a result we will be a restraining influence on behalf of God. That was the simple impression I had here, life out of death. It was brought about from the dust.

The believer is in the gain of resurrection. These men of Egypt could not replicate it. Man in the flesh knows nothing about resurrection. He knows about corruption. He can see what the problem is. He can see the effects of sin and he can show you different examples of it but man away from God is not in the secret of resurrection. The gnats came out of dust, a humbling reminder of what man is, and speaking of death. God has seen to it, however that there is now life out of death; a different kind of life; a life that is bound up with Jesus, the One who has been in death but who is no longer there. And the believer, as bound up with Him, living in another power; not the power of the world, not the rivers of Egypt, but a different power. Think of those in the Acts who really knew the power and influence of the Holy Spirit and were apart from the world. Am I under that influence, or am I still trying to keep with the streams of the world? I feel challenged by it.

My thought in Philippians 2 is that by being ‘in the world but not of it’ we should be light bearers, to bear some testimony to the fact that Christ is in glory. As it says, “holding forth (the) word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ’s day”. Believers have been left here in the world. The Lord did not demand that they should be taken out of the world but that they should remain here. Why? One reason is; to be a testimony to Him while He is absent. I feel challenged as to how much I am a light bearer. There may be some evidence of Christian life with me in the presence of moral death, but is there light seen in me in the presence of moral darkness? The light does not exactly originate in the believer; it has its source in God. Think of the light from God that has shone into the heart of the believer. Why? For the shining forth; not only for the blessing of that individual but for the “shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”, 2 Corinthians 4: 6. Is my state before God such that the light can shine forth freely and be taken account of by others, perhaps for them to see something of the glory of the Lord Jesus and be attracted to Him; not attracted to me necessarily but attracted to Him. Am I able for that? Well, God would help us, He would reassure us. He has left us here, He has not taken us out of the world yet but has left us here with the power of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus in heaven. Christ in glory! What a provision God has made that we might be light bearers. What a privilege to be here for Christ as lights in the midst of what is dark. I was affected by our brother’s prayer, the contrast there is between the life of the believer and the life of the world. I feel for myself there should be more of a contrast; too often I try to blend in with the world.

I feel limited as to what I can say about Psalm 84, “they, in whose heart are the highways”. Am I a channel for blessing? Am I a channel for succour? Am I a channel for bringing in refreshment when there is bitterness and sadness? We see the Lord Jesus shining as an example for us, in life, in light and in blessing. He is “the resurrection and the life”, John 11: 25. He says “I am the light of the world”, John 8: 12. Think too of the example of Him drawing near to that woman at Sychar’s well for her blessing. I think she was like one in the valley of Baca, she knew about bitterness and disappointment. He transforms the whole situation. The believer in the good of his links with the Lord Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit is able to transform a situation. I often think of this scripture when at the graveside of a believer. “The valley of Baca, they make it a well-spring.” They can bring about what is for solace and comfort, and indeed even refreshment and joy.

Well that is a challenge to me? Is there a highway in my heart? Am I able in some little way to be a channel for blessing from God? Maybe a fellow saint is going through a difficult time, am I able to draw near and bring in something of Christ to encourage them? Perhaps someone is growing a little cold; can I bring in something of God’s love to help revive them, not of myself but to be a channel of blessing from God. “Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a well-spring”. They make it a well-spring. It is what the saints themselves do. There is remarkable potential in what the saints can do. I underestimate too much the value of believers in the Lord Jesus here on earth at the present time. What will it be when they are gone? Rejoice therefore if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus now and have the Holy Spirit, rejoice that you can be a channel of blessing and a source of refreshment where there may be difficulty and sorrow, a point of light where there is darkness all around and to be one in whom there is evidence of spiritual life in the midst of moral death. I leave these simple thoughts for our consideration and blessing, for the Lord’s name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Grangemouth
4 October 2011