THE GOD WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO
L. A. Barlow
Hebrews 2: 9, 10; Romans 9: 19–24
Just a simple touch, beloved, as I believe an occasion like this would leave with us the consciousness that we are having to do with God. We are having to do with God in a most glorious way, having to do with the God of glory, having to do with a God whose thoughts are glorious and who has purposed in the infinite wisdom and love of His own heart to bring many sons to glory. How good therefore to live in this dispensation when God is working out the greatest of His thoughts, things that are said to be becoming to Him, truly suitable to what He is in His own glorious Being. It is wonderful to think, as the glories of Christ have come before us, of the infinitude of love that has operated in such a way that not only is Christ made glorious to us, but there are going to be persons who are glorious with Him, as like Him.
What a privilege to see Jesus at the present time; indeed, the Spirit of God has helped us in these occasions to see Jesus. In spite of the conditions around, our outlook has been directed to that glorious Person and to see Him crowned with glory and honour. It is in this way that there is a sphere of things where the glories that will yet shine out publicly in the blessed Son of Man are already appreciated and understood and where there is an answer in affection to His own heart. How glorious it is to have any part in such things. It is wonderful to consider that not only is God glorious, but He has operated in the hearts of persons in view of bringing them to glory. What encouragement, and how elevating, as we are lifted up in the realisation that, through wonderful grace, we are the subjects of these operations of God.
I read that scripture in Romans because what must surely run alongside this sense of glory is the consciousness of sovereign mercy. What a need there is to be maintained in our souls in the recognition of God as God. Paul brings up this matter of a man raising a question with God and he says in effect, ‘Well, God is God’. What rights He has; what rights He has to do just what He will. What rights He has to effect everything, beloved, in the expression of Himself thus. How sobering it is to have to do with God. Both these two things should be carried in our souls all the time we are here, the blessedness of having to do with God known in grace, and yet, on the other hand, the reverential fear which rightly becomes persons who have to do with such a God. So He is seen here operating just as He will, and as perfectly justified in all that He does. Think of that—the solemnity of it! It must come home to every saved soul—Why did not God operate in a different way in relation to me? What a sense it gives our souls of the riches of His glory—“Vessels of mercy ... prepared for glory”.
May we be encouraged in the knowledge that we are having to do with God, beloved, God in relation to the greatness of His thoughts, and we on our side just vessels of mercy prepared for glory. This will enable our hearts to rise up in a note of thanksgiving to the God who would strengthen and encourage us as we are affected in simplicity and reality by any experience of His presence amongst us of a truth. May He help us to realise it increasingly.
Word in meeting for ministry, Buckhurst Hill
24 December 1976