CHRIST’S OBJECTIVE
J. Wilson
This scripture is comforting at such a time. It says, “having taken them in his arms”. The Lord’s love is displayed to us in the taking of this beloved child, a lovable, sweet child, always ready to give you a smile. It is a wonderful thing to see what is in a child. A child is not marked by active sin; what is seen in character suggests what is without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.
I believe the Lord is speaking to us, beloved friends. He has spoken once, He has spoken twice, and now He has spoken the third time to us. We have to see what the Lord is seeking to bring about in us. It is only a few months since we baptised Roland Thomas Clark and now the Lord has taken him to be with Himself. We do not quarrel with that way; we know he is safe in the arms of Jesus, and we would wish him there; but the great thing to see is that there is something to be formed in us. The Lord is speaking to our hearts in this way to show what He is working to bring about in each one of us, for Christ loved the assembly and delivered Himself up for it. Now He is sanctifying and purifying it. It is a great thing to see what is going on; He is purifying the assembly, and He uses suffering to that end. The grief and sorrow that affect us are to bring about an answer in our hearts.
It is seen in John’s gospel. Lazarus died and Mary and Martha suffered. The grief and sorrow they entered into was fruitful, and we see the fruitfulness in what came out in John 12. I believe the Lord is looking for fruit. He has demonstrated in this little child what He is seeking. Think of what He says, “Suffer the little children to come to me; forbid them not”.
What a wonderful area to be in, the area where Christ is. It is wonderful to think of Roland safe now with Jesus, but, beloved brethren, He is seeking to bring about an answer in us, that which He can take to Himself, an answer and result from the sanctifying and purifying. He is bringing out an answer; we are to be seen without spot or wrinkle or any of such things. I think it is through these sufferings, these sorrows. What sorrows they are! but the great thing is to see the object He has in mind, an answer to His own heart, an answer to His own affections. We experience the cold north wind, the awfulness and the fierceness of it, but we experience also the love of God, the warmth of the south wind, bringing comfort, and God’s sustaining grace.
May it be the portion of our brother and sister and the children to know the love of God coming in in comfort, and Christ’s priestly, succouring grace, and to see that the Lord has an end in view; we shall be with Him eternally as those who will be suitable to Him, without spot or wrinkle or any of such things. May it be so, for His name’s sake.