FOR HIM OR WITH HIM
[p. 245] FOR HIM OR WITH HIM
Isaiah 38: 1 - 5; Luke 2: 25 - 38; Acts 7: 55
It is interesting to see that while Hezekiah had faith in God - “The just shall live by faith” - he is distressed at the thought of dying. He had been in active service here, and as he has no prospect before him at the other side of death, he wept sore at the thought of leaving this earth. The first tabernacle was still standing, and hence the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest. Christ had not risen - the first fruits of them that slept.
Many have faith in God, and through His mercy are eternally saved, who prefer the earth to heaven because they do not see that to die is gain. Paul could say that he was in a strait between two, “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you”, Philippians 1: 23, 24. If not with Him, his purpose was to be here for Him.
Now in Luke 2 we learn the blessed effect on Simeon when he saw Jesus. He is a pattern to us. “Then took he him up in his arms”. Do you embrace Him in faith? He blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ... for mine eyes have seen thy salvation”. He is in faith on the other side of death; he sees Christ in resurrection glory. “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel”. The prospect and joy of the devoted heart is to be with Christ. The Lord said to the thief, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise”, Luke 23: 43. His own desire is to have His own with Him - “that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him”, 1 Thessalonians 5: 10.
Now, as Simeon is a pattern of the heart resting on Christ in faith, so Anna the prophetess is a pattern of [p. 246] those who are here for the Lord waiting until they are with Him. She “departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem”.
Finally in Stephen (Acts 7) we get the fulness, the completion of the gospel. He had believed in Christ risen and had received the Holy Spirit. And now “being full of the Holy Spirit”, before a stone was thrown at him, “having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus”. The new scene is opened to him, he saw his bright home with Christ, and now he is able to bear unswervingly all the violence of the enemy, and to enter death as a stepping stone to cloudless light with Christ for ever. He is, by the power of the Spirit, so superior to his suffering, that he can kneel down and cry with a loud voice, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge;” he had overcome evil with good. “And when he had said this, he fell asleep”.
The one burden of our hearts should be either for Him or with Him. If not with Him, then for Him; and if not for Him, then with Him - “to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”.