LETTER for APRIL 1993
Dear Friends,
This month we celebrate again the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, including his ascension and sitting in glory at the right hand of God, the Father,
Last month we looked in a general way at the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3. In verse 10 of this chapter Paul expresses a particular desire, amongst many. which is appropriate for us to meditate upon as we consider the fact of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Paw says, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection".
There is so much more in Scripture than we can ever appreciate, and this is so true when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. Paul is speaking of his relationship with Jesus - his knowing him in personal communion and friendship, so that Jesus may communicate to him al the blessings he has for his redeemed people.
The power of Christ s resurrection is the first thing he mentions.
The first thing about the power at Christ’s resurrection that I want to know is the presence of the living Christ in my life. Because Jesus is alive we can meet with him, and live with him, and he loved by him and love him in return. Human relationship and love is wonderful. To be without a friend or human love would be awful, but better by far is friendship with Jesus. Jesus is the best lover to have, and because he is alive we can know his hove. He promised his disciples in John 14:18 that he would come to them This relationship is the great joy and solace of our souls. It is the strength and contentment of life. It is sweeter than all other relationships. Human love fails and lets us down. Jesus never does. There are limits to human love, there are no limits to the love and intimacy we may have with Jesus. With him we can be entirely open, and what we are unable to articulate he knows. He knows the worst about us but loves us just the same. I want to know the power and wonder of this friendship with the risen Christ.
Then I want to know the power of his resurrection that assures me of the completeness of his salvation for me. Jesus rising from death is my assurance that he has fully and completely carried the punishment for my sin and fully paid the whole of its awful debt. He has exhausted death which is the punishment for sin. God declared the perfection of Christ’s work by raising him from the dead. I want to know this powerful assurance, not only in my understanding, but applied to my heart, so that the comfort and assurance of it gives me the peace that I am his and he is mine, and that in him I am alive for ever more, and death has no more dominion over me, as it has no more dominion over Jesus.
Further I want to know the power of his resurrection in the experience of dwelling in heavenly places with Christ. Faith unites me with Christ, so Scripture affirms, and I have risen with Christ, and partake of his resurrection. I possess now, in Christ, eternal life and have been translated into the Kingdom of heaven. Just as actually Christ has ascended to heaven, I too spiritually have been raised and made to sit in heavenly places with Christ, (Ephesians 2:5-6). I want to know the blessed experience of this as the new delights of this heavenly realm are made real to my living and experience.
What I mean is the desire to know God. The delight in prayer and entering heaven by prayer. The joy of meeting with Christ in his Word and finding the Bible so attractive. The wonder of heavenly desires and aspirations. The. hunger for holiness and purity. The love for God and others which comes from Christ and reflects Christ. The power of his resurrection brings this to our lives, and want to know this.
The essence of it all is new life. I know about this as I read God’s word, but like Paul I am not satisfied with just knowing about it, I must have the reality and power in my life. I am ashamed to say that earthly things are still so powerful, and attractive, arid have power to sway my will and actions, and take up an inordinate amount of my time. I want to know him and the power of his resurrection so that this may be reversed, and that I may delight in heavenly things rather than earthly.
Thus I make this my prayer to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. The beginning of realising and experiencing this is to want it with all our hearts, What we want we will seek, and when Christ sees this desire within us he will not let us be disappointed.
Let us make this desire of the Apostle Paul our great desire also, and then we will seek It until we begin to know more of heaven on earth.
Your servant for Christ’s sake,