THE PRESENT PATH
THE PRESENT PATH
There are two things put in contrast here. We get the present path for God’s people, and also that which will eventually take place for Israel, when rest from trouble sets in for that nation. In christianity we are called into a path where it is impossible for man as man to walk. The call is to come out of the ship and to walk on the water to go to Jesus. It is a path entirely apart from the natural order of things, so that only those formed by the Spirit of God can respond to the call. The Lord calls out of the ship as the shepherd calls out of the fold, so that all may be left behind which pertains to the old order of things, and that like the flock led out into liberty and pasture, we may [p. 268] walk on the water to be with Him. It is difficult to explain, and only those who are Spilt-taught can enter into it, for who can naturally take in what it means to have living association with One whom we have never seen? “Whom having not seen we love”. It is to walk in the light of this love that we are now called out of the ship, or that which expresses suitability to man. The ship was this, and to secure safety in crossing the waters according to natural means. But christianity is apart from all this in a path unknown to nature, and it is now during this present interval, that we are called to walk on the water to go to Jesus. It is He who says to His own “Come!” By-and-by the people of God will enter the ship again! The Lord will appear for Israel and all their tossings and turmoil be forever ended in the calm of His presence who will speak peace to the nation. But christianity unfolds something else to us, and in leaving the ship to join the Lord, we shall find what the wind and waves are, but it is here we shall prove His sustaining power and love to the end. But we must leave all here if we would answer to the call or prove the sufficiency of His grace. Thus in the scripture before us we get the present path for the Lord’s people and in contrast that which points onward to Israel’s day of blessing.
1898.