FROM the very beginning of this world’s history, two things have been very plainly manifested. One, the pleasure that God finds in man’s blessing; the other, Satan’s persistent endeavor to rob Him of that pleasure. No sooner had God established our first parents in Eden, then the enemy came forward to cast suspicion on God’s kindness and boldly deny His word as to the consequences of man’s sin. The result is well known. Man fell into the enemy’s trap, incurred the penalty which God had warned him of, and was sent forth from the garden. The “mother of all living” thus became the mother of all dying. Sin had entered into the world, and death by sin; “and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). It looked as though the deceiver’s design would be successful, and God’s desire defeated. The creature whom He had made could not remain on earth, and his sin had excluded him from paradise; so that if he could neither stay on earth nor go to God’s dwelling place, it seemed impossible for God to find the pleasure He desired in His creature’s company. But love was not thus to be defeated. God’s secret purpose was that One should be born who would perfectly express His good pleasure in man’s blessing, and endure to the uttermost His judgment on man’s sin.
In the fullness of time the promised One was born. That day the Bethlehem shepherds had a great surprise. The glory of the Lord shone round about them as they watched their flocks, and an angelic messenger made a special announcement. “Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Then with the angel there was “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (or good pleasure in men)” (Luke 2:8-148And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8‑14)).
Now there were two ways in which God’s good pleasure in man’s blessing was expressed by the Lord Jesus on earth: by what He was in Himself Personally; and by what He said and did. What He was in Person was the perfect expression of God Himself. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)). So that the beloved Son could say, “He that ‘lath seen Me, hath seen the Father” (John 14:99Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (John 14:9)).
At three distinct epochs in His Marvelous history, God’s voice was heard from heaven expressing His heart’s delight in Him; and blessedly worthy He was of this mark of honor. No need in this troubled world found Him either unable or unwilling to meet it. The devil-oppressed were delivered, lepers were cleansed, the blind received sight, the dumb were made to speak, hungry multitudes were filled, and even the dead brought to life. So that, when God opened heaven to express His pleasure in such compassionate service, it was because His heart was so deeply gratified that His needy creatures were being so freely benefited. In their blessing He found pleasure.
But now come to the Marvelous end of His gracious service on earth. In early days God had made known to the patriarch Abraham, that He had before Him the blessing of “all the nations of the earth” through Abraham’s promised seed. And let us remember, that, in course of time, Abraham was requested by God to offer his beloved son upon the altar on Mount Moriah; and that though his son’s attention had been drawn to the knife in his father’s hand, Isaac meekly submitted to being bound.
What a blessed foreshadowing was this of God’s beloved Son bound for death on Calvary’s cross, the perfect expression of God’s good pleasure in man’s blessing! Such a thing was never suggested by men or angels. It was the outcome of His Own Marvelous love; and this was expressed by the lips of Jesus Himself. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). Then from His inspired apostle we have the same truth repeated, “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)).
The glad tidings of the blessing must now be universally proclaimed. Repentance and remission of sins must be preached in His name everywhere. “Go ye therefore”, said the risen One to His servants, “Go ye therefore into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15,1615And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15‑16)). Satan’s misrepresentation of God in Eden was thus exposed, and his daring lie as to sin’s consequences absolutely contradicted. But in due time the proof of the adversary’s defeat will be as clearly marked as his exposure. When He who suffered to express God’s heart to man, and secure blessing for man, shall appear in power and glory to reign; and the kingdoms of this world claimed as His, Satan’s position will be absolutely changed. We read in the book of Job that when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan was found among them; and when asked, “From whence comest thou?” he answered, “From going to and fro in the earth” (Job 2:22And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 2:2)). But for the thousand years of the reign of Christ, that liberty will be his no longer. An angel from heaven Will bind him, and “cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled” (Rev. 20:1-31And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1‑3)). When the thousand years are expired, and he is loosed out of his prison a little season, it is quickly made manifest that a thousand years in the dark abyss has not changed him. He deceives and opposes again. Then will follow the climax of his doom; for we read, “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire; and will be followed there by” the dead, small and great”, after they have been brought to stand before God at the great white throne and been judged out of the open books according to their works (Rev. 20:7-157And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7‑15)).
Now, dear reader, in the light of these solemn things, how do you stand? One of two things is certain. In the light of the declaration God has made of Himself in the life and death and risen glory of His beloved Son, your heart’s confidence has been won, and you confessed it to Him and to your fellow-men or the great deceiver still holds you by his subtle wiles. Oh, do consider which, before it is too late. Throughout eternity you will either be in the company of the blessed Saviour, and uniting with the myriads of His redeemed ones in singing His praises; or with the devil and his angels in unbearable remorse. And remember, your day for deciding will soon be gone!
GEO. C.