WALKING IN THE LIGHT
WALKING IN THE LIGHT
As to your question about communion and walking in communion, I think it is quite possible to have had communion with God as to a certain part of His purpose and grace, and to have made no progress from it; and yet it was true communion as far as it went, and one might even revert to it as a known moment of power and enjoyment. I think a soul may have a true sense of the value of the blood in the sight of God, and can always refer to that moment with delight and assured [p. 243] blessing; but when he has to revert to it for present cheer, this in itself proves that he is not in present communion; for if he were, he would connect the past with the present, like the source of a stream, which only widens and deepens as it proceeds, the first drop swelling with every fresh acquisition, but still the present part of the stream imparting a force and a source of power and blessing which the first drop could not alone. If I have to revert to the first drop in order to prove that I have tasted of water in the desert, I am not walking in the light, or in communion with the Lord. I only refer to a moment when I was true to my calling, and had in the light a sense in my soul of enjoying a certain blessing. It was according to God’s mind, and in that mind I was for the moment; and such is the impression that it has made on me, that I always revert to it, proving that I have never known any other like it.
Now there may be, and is, a great distinctness about the first drop to a parched soul in the weary land; but then the era which began with this distinct taste is to be continued; not merely as a taste of water, but a stream of endless blessing, which communion with God necessarily is; for in all His counsels and interests I find increasing strength and cheer.
I do not doubt that many have had a taste, but I fear there are many who comfort themselves by the past taste instead of being daily invigorated in the deep full stream of His love and purposes which can only be known in His own region, namely, the light. This is our only proper region too; and hence when we walk according to it, we go on in concert with the mind and thoughts of God, and in our onward course and journeying we find ourselves increasingly in company with His interests and counsels; through grace we are formed in keeping with His mind, not reverting to past gleams of light, however great their value, for cheer or assurance, but shining more and more unto the perfect day.