“AGREEABLE TO HIM”
An occasion like this has its own distinction in that it is not of our arrangement. We are here, as our brother said in prayer, because the Lord has taken one from our midst, and it is because of the Lord’s own action that we are found gathered here, and we would expect the Lord to speak to us as gathered. The Lord has something in mind for us in what He has done. He has something in mind for our sister whom He has taken. Hers is a very blessed portion, to be with Christ, which Paul says “is very much better”, Phil 1: 23. I remember a brother in this city once saying that we tend to think that being with the Lord is the next best thing to being here, but it is not so, it is “very much better”. For our sister, her life of responsibility and service and testimony is over she is with her Lord and Saviour, put to sleep through Jesus. Therefore if the Lord would speak, it would be in view of the benefit to us who are left, that the rest of our time might be filled up so as to be “agreeable to him”.
I have read this portion which speaks about “our house which is from heaven”. We are within a tabernacle now—a mortal tabernacle. It is a provisional condition. But what is in view is a house from heaven, that is what is in view for every one of us as believers. So the apostle says, “For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened”. Every one of us here would be a witness to the fact that we are mortal. The groaning refers to the mortal condition, the condition of suffering and being liable to death. But he goes on to say, “yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life”. When the Lord comes and raises those who are fallen asleep, what is mortal will be “swallowed up by life”. When He comes for those of us who may be alive and remain, what is mortal will be “swallowed up by life”; not simply overcome, but “swallowed up by life”. Paul writes in the previous epistle, “Death has been swallowed up in victory”, 1 Cor 15: 54. Being swallowed up is a very full idea. That is the prospect before every one of us. “Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God”—God has wrought us in view of finality, a final condition, no longer a mortal condition, but a condition “swallowed up by life”, a condition that will go into eternity. How wonderful that is!
“Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord”. That is the condition in which we are, “present in the body” and “absent from the Lord”. Our sister is “absent from the body and present with the Lord”, but the time of our being “absent from the Lord”, “present in the body”, is the time when we need to be committed. For our sister, her time of committal, of devotion, of responsibility and service of a testimonial character is over, over for ever. Our time of testimony is a comparatively short time, hence the need to be faithful.
I was thinking of Boaz in the book of Ruth. In chapter 3 he is engaged in the winnowing process, and he is viewed as having laid himself down at the end of the heap of corn; the threshing and the winnowing have taken place. The winnowing is a refining process; the threshing is a violent, severe process, a process of beating; but the winnowing is more gentle; it is a wind process, blowing the chaff from off the wheat. We would all experience something of the threshing process; our sister has been an example of that. There was a time when she went through very severe suffering, but finally you could see the winnowing process, something more gentle taking place, in view of refinement, in view of a finished product, a finished article. That is what we could see with our sister, and that is what the Lord has in mind for every one of us. In chapter 3 of the Book of Ruth, Boaz is winnowing, and then he lays himself down “at the end of the heap of corn”, Ruth 3: 7. Now the corn has been secured; it has gone through the winnowing process; there is no more service to be rendered to the corn in that setting. The corn represents the finished product. I thought it might represent those who sleep in Jesus. In “the heap of corn” life is latent; there meantime it is latent. He laid himself down “at the end of the heap of corn”.
We tend to forget the Lord’s satisfaction in taking His own to be with Himself. We think of the blessedness for the persons who are taken; we may be reluctant to think that theirs is a blessed portion, but it is nevertheless. But then, think of the satisfaction that the Lord has in having myriads with Himself. The larger part of the assembly He has with Himself secure, the finishing process having taken place, and there for His own pleasure, soon to be manifested. It says that Boaz’s “heart was merry” as he laid himself down at the end of the heap of corn; it is his own satisfaction in that process having taken place. But then Ruth comes on the scene. Ruth came into that threshing-floor. She laid herself down at the feet of Boaz, She, said, “Spread thy skirt” (or thy ‘wing’) “over thy handmaid”. Boaz was active in relation to Ruth. In a sense, the Lord’s service regarding His own who are with Himself is complete, just as Boaz’ activity with the heap of corn was complete, but his activities are in view of Ruth. Ruth would represent ourselves here, the current position of those of us who are “present in the body” and “absent from the Lord”; the Lord is active towards each one of us.
As we read the remaining part of the third chapter of the Book of Ruth and the fourth chapter, we can see how Boaz is active in relation to final relationships known between Ruth and himself, and that is what the Lord is after in this time in which we are. While we are “present in the body” and “absent from the Lord” it is the time of the Lord’s service, and the Spirit’s service, towards every one of us in view of each one of us being a finished article for the Lord’s pleasure eternally. You can think of that heap of corn in relation to the personnel of the assembly secured; you can think of that heap as representing those who sleep from Abel onwards, myriads, millions, all that is now secured for the Lord’s own satisfaction, soon to be “swallowed up by life”, life in manifestation for the pleasure and glory of God and for the heart of Christ.
So Paul says, “while present in the body we are absent from the Lord”. The very fact that we are “absent from the Lord” means that it is to be a time that calls for faithfulness, for testimony, for devoted committal; that is the time that we are in as “present in the body”. The body is what expresses what is inward. We were hearing last night about our being, our spirits, but the body is needed for expression. Those who have been taken to be with the Lord are in a sense unclothed; there is not the same ability to express what there is. That is going to come. What an expression it will be when it does come! What is mortal will be “swallowed up by life”! But meantime we are present in the body, and there is meant to be an expression of something for the pleasure of God, and for the heart of Christ. “Absent from the Lord” is a time for fidelity, a time for testimony, and that is expressed in our bodies. “We walk by faith, not by sight”; that is because we are absent from the Lord. Soon we will see Him, we will actually see the Lord Jesus face to face; the time of faith will be over. Paul says that it is preferable “to be absent from the body and present with the Lord”, but soon, dear brethren, we will be present in the body and present with the Lord. We are going to have bodies of glory to express what God has wrought in each one of us. He “has wrought us for this very thing”. There is going to be the full expression in bodies of glory like that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Think of “swallowed up by life”; how glorious, how blessed and how triumphant these thoughts are! They are to energise us and strengthen us in our time of fidelity while “absent from the Lord”.
Therefore Paul says, “Wherefore also we are zealous”. There is a need, dear brethren, for being zealous, not half-hearted, not just nominal. “Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent”, that is, whether we view ourselves as present in the body or absent from the Lord, which is the time we are in, “we are zealous ... to be agreeable to him”. May the Lord help us all. Our sister has had her active part in this city in testimony, in hospitality, in deaconess service; she has fulfilled her part. There is a need to fill the ranks in this city in which we are. May we all be more zealous “to be agreeable to him”, for His Name’s sake.
EDINBURGH
23rd January 1980
at a burial meeting
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