NO DAY LIKE IT
E.T.Maynard
I have a sense, dear brethren, that the Lord will help us to follow up what we had on the first day of the week as to the Person of Christ and His present position. This passage which I have read has been well enlarged on in "the good teaching", which Paul speaks of in 1 Timothy 4: 6, to which, through grace, we have been recovered. It typifies the present time when a Man sits in heaven in control of heaven and earth. The present time is unique, there never was a day like it.
I would desire for myself and for us all that the Lord would encourage us further in the touch we had as to the Originator of life. Even though the Originator of life was slain by the princes of this world, God is not going to be hindered in what He has in mind as to life and the extension of it. He will continue what He set on in Christ regardless of what the enemy has done. The Originator of life was slain but He is now alive and sits in heaven in control of heaven and earth. The extension of that life, so pleasurable to God, is to be seen in the beloved saints; the Spirit of God would promote that in us. I am impressed with this.
You will remember that Paul spoke of himself as the first of sinners (see 1 Tim 1: 15). Also he said he was the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle because he persecuted the assembly. He had set out with all his pretension and man given power to destroy what was the extension of that character of life set on here by the Originator of life. Christ had risen in divine power and was seated on the throne at the right hand of God, in control of heaven and earth, but before He ascended He had said to His disciples "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations", Matt 28: 19. There was to be the extension of the life that had been set on by the Originator of life.
It says, in the passage read from Joshua, that there was no day like that one when the sun and moon stood still in their courses. That anticipated our day, beloved brethren. Let us wake up! I speak restfully and respectfully and appreciatively of the work of God in the beloved brethren, but let us wake up to see that there is no day like our day. The Originator of life who was slain sits triumphantly in heaven making a way through for those who are maintained in life down here. Thank God for any measure in which you and I have part in this wonderful life that was so perfectly demonstrated in the manhood of Jesus. Let us be set to promote this kind of life amongst the saints for the pleasure of God.
In Acts 9 it says that Saul drew near to Damascus. How wonderfully God acts! His thoughts are not our thoughts, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are ... my thoughts than your thoughts", Isa 55: 9. How far is that? We need not attempt to measure the distance for we cannot , but we get some idea from such an expression that God 's thoughts are different from ours. So when Saul drew near to Damascus a light shone out of heaven. From whom? Saul heard the voice of the Originator of life who had been slain but had risen triumphantly from among the dead. What did He say to Saul? "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest'' (v 5). Is that not the proof that the extension of the life of Jesus here was being effected in persons? "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest''. That is the One, the Originator of life, and that life was extended in those whom Saul was persecuting. God is not diverted from His purpose; He will not be hindered in any thought of His.
Saul did not expect to have an experience like this. The Lord told him to rise up and enter into the city, and it would be told him what he must do. Where would he go in the city? To persons like you and me, not super persons but persons of like passions as ourselves in a city. It is the Lord's own thought about a city. He spoke to those hard-hearted, unbelieving Jews to swear not "by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King", Matt 5: 35. In Damascus there was what represented the thoughts of Christ about a city. This is the only reference in the chapter to Damascus as a city; in other references it is called Damascus. But when the Lord spoke to Saul He said "Enter into the city". Saul was to be amongst persons who had been taken up sovereignly by God in infinite mercy and grace to extend, on this earth, the character of life that was seen in Jesus, the Originator of life, and it will be so until the Father is pleased to bring this wonderful day to a conclusion.
I just thought it might be well to follow up this wonderful thought that has come before us. God has spoken very pointedly to us about it and I believe that this is proof that He will support us if we set ourselves affectionately and feelingly to continue this character of life so pleasurable to Him. It is your privilege and mine to continue this stream of abundant life, by the Spirit, that was set on by the Lord Himself. May we be encouraged, for His Name's sake.
BROOKLYN NY
11 June 1974