What joy to see God’s Son put in the place of power Lord of all with all put under the seed of the woman. But how could my God, setting up His own power in the hand of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, come to me (as I am by nature) without suffering?
How can this light come in contact with darkness? It will find that in me which is ever ready to lend itself to Satan, even the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Can this new thing meet all the evil in me without there being conflict from beginning to end?
Our position (as believers) must be one of endurance—of suffering—of wrestling against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places. God is going to establish His power, and that will overthrow all the natural thoughts of my heart.
Observe the beautiful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in redemption as displayed to us. Are you a saved sinner? That enables you to say, “Not a cloud above; not a spot within.” How can this be? Is it by something you have done? No! This is something God has done for you, and every step of the way afterward, too, it is the same all is God.
God will not let the people come out of Egypt under His power and then leave them under their own wills. When they were out of Egypt, He left the way apparently open for them, to prove whether they had a God or not. If they would go back, He would stop them; He would not head their retreat. He would break them down. He would have a willing people—make them take His will for theirs—His position for their position.
He [the Lord] will make us take His God for our God, as Ruth said to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-1716And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16‑17)). He will form us in the heart to be willing to have the portion of our Lord here below.
What was the difference between Paul and some of the Hebrews? It was that Paul was not satisfied just to begin; he would hold fast would be “firm unto the end.” They went forth, their hearts failed them, and then they let slip.
The Ephesians had got fast hold of the truth, and the truth had got fast hold of them; so to them Paul writes, led by the Spirit, to strengthen them for conflict. He would have them above the fear of the power of darkness; if it was high, God was higher still. They need not be daunted.
“Be strong in the Lord.” How could they stand in such a position, living members of a living Head—here where He had been, occupying a place between Him and the enemy and not be suffering? Impossible! He was the “Man of sorrows” when here.
In His grace He left them down here that it might be truly brought out that there was such a thing as a heavenly Christ. And all who are partakers of the heavenly portion are born to suffering dare not expect exemption from it. Far from that, they must be willing and ready to endure it.
G. V. Wigram (excerpt)