WORDS IN A MININSTRY MEETING
(i) PRESERVATION
W.McKillop
This passage would impress us with the thought of preservation. The Lord says, “both are preserved”. We would rightly think of God in regard of the great matter of preservation. In writing to Timothy, Paul says, “I enjoin thee before God who preserves all things in life”, 1 Tim 6: 13. I suppose that would take in every feature of life in the universe, whether it be an angel, a blade of grass, or animal life, or vegetable life, God preserves all things in life. Paul also says to Timothy, “who is preserver of all men specially of those that believe” (1 Tim 4: 10), so that being among those that believe we are special objects of divine interest and preservation. It is of great import at the moment that we should be preserved in the testimony, in the fellowship of God’s Son, preserved in the assembly, and preserved in the service of God.
In this passage the Lord speaks in parable as to preservation. It would remind us too that in writing to the saints Jude speaks about, “beloved in God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ “, Jude 1: 1. The preservation is linked up with that order of man “preserved in Jesus Christ”. I suppose it is illustrated in Joseph who said to His brethren, “God sent me before you to preserve life”, Gen 45: 5. I think it is a great matter that whilst so many sorrowful things are happening, not just in the world, but some happening among the brethren, preservation should be more in our minds and exercises and prayers. From one point of view we cannot preserve ourselves, we are shut up to God in that regard and happily so; knowing that He is the preserver especially of those that believe and I am sure that every heart that loves Christ is desirous that every person we know and love in the fellowship should be preserved.
The Lord speaks here as to things that can be preserved, “both are preserved”. Matthew adds another word, “both are preserved together” (Mat. 9: 17). It is not only that we are preserved individually but we are preserved together. Being preserved together I am assured that the Lord would have to be a leading mark among the saints in these last days, that we are preserved together. I have no doubt that the Lord speaking about two of you agreeing (see Matt. 18: 19) would indicate that they are preserved persons and they are preserved together in the maintenance of assembly interests, and the rights of Christ in the assembly.
Luke says, “He spoke also a parable to them: No one puts a piece of a new garment upon an old garment”. I suppose the Lord has in mind here that these persons He refers to would be spiritually intelligent. While the Lord is actually speaking about garments and new skins, new wine, I am sure He is thinking as to what is deeper in a moral and spiritual sense, and that spiritually intelligent persons would not attempt putting a piece of a new garment upon an old garment. The word “new” here means, as to the garment, wholly new and different. The word as to the new wine is that it is fresh and youthful, and both thoughts would enter into the matter of preservation. It is not that we should be preserved in the oldness of the letter, but in newness of spirit and that there should be the evidence among us of what really is morally out of heaven. What is wholly new and different must be out of heaven, because what is on the earth in a general religious way is aged and near disappearing. So, “No one puts a piece of a new garment upon an old garment, otherwise he will both rend the new, and the piece which is from the new will not suit with the old”. Every priestly person would understand that, that the piece from the new will not suit with the old, they are spiritually incompatible. Then the Lord says, “And no one puts new wine into old skins, otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be poured out, and the skins will be destroyed”. Intelligent persons understand that, that the first man is not morally capable of containing the new wine. The company that was together in Acts 2 were all new skins, they were not old skins and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. What the Lord had produced was capable of containing the new wine, was capable of containing the effect and energy in life of the Holy Spirit who would come down. So He says, “new wine is to be put into new skins, and both are preserved”, I would suggest that we want to see preservation in this sense in our localities, that the new garments and the new wine are both in evidence and that we are on this line as persons who have been given an understanding and we understand the need of what is wholly new and different to contain what is fresh and youthful in the presence of the Spirit and His actions in us and the result is “both are preserved”. I am sure every heart feels as I do that the preservation of brethren is a vital matter at the present time, the children, young people, middle aged persons, older persons, we want all to be preserved together and I think it lies in the recognition of what the Lord says here. We are with the Lord in intercession and with the Spirit dependently so that what is new, both in the skins and in the wine is preserved in our localities. The first man is not in evidence, the old wine that appeals to the first man is not in evidence; and no one is saying that the old is better because we have acquired a taste for the new wine and we have developed an appreciation for the new skins. I think these things are intended to draw us closer to Christ and draw us more into communion with the Holy Spirit that there might be preservation of all the saints and preservation in our localities of all the persons, and of the little ones, all having in mind that there should be this state of things when the Lord comes.
I commit the word to the brethren for their exercise and thoughtful because we need to think thoughtfully about these matters, especially considering such matters as happen among us from time to time. We might say it is abnormal that young persons should lose their lives especially violently because the Lord’s mind is that both are preserved together. That is a characteristic feature of Matthew that as assembly persons we should be preserved together.
May the Lord bless the word.