The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Greatest Reality"
When the Lord Jesus Christ walked upon the planet during His earthly lifetime, He was certainly the greatest reality thereof. Yes, the God who made all things became human and experienced life in the world He brought into existence. In the first chapter of his Gospel, the Apostle John proclaims the wonder:
"The Word was God… All things were made by Him… The Word became flesh" (John 1:1; 3; 14).
The Apostle Paul concurred - "Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh" (I Timothy 3:16). No more wondrous miracle has ever occurred than the Infinite taking upon Himself the finite, and the Eternal, the temporal. Again, the Lord Jesus surely constituted the greatest reality of the world during His earthly lifetime.
But what about now? Christ no longer resides upon the earth. Or does He?
"I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 3:16).
Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, Christ returned to His disciples on the day of Pentecost, and has since then spiritually inhabited all who have trusted in Him. "Christ in you, the hope of glory" declared Paul of the ongoing miracle of Christ's presence in His world (Colossians 1:27). Thus, the great Reality that traced footsteps upon Galilee long ago now treads upon the earth as an even greater influence and power. This likely explains what our Savior meant by an intriguing statement made to His disciples:
"He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto My Father" (John 14:12).
The Lord Jesus walked in one physical body during His earthly lifetime. He has walked in millions who have comprised His spiritual body since that time. He thereby has been - and is - the greatest reality of the world He made. It often doesn't look this way, even as it did not when He was here physically. It always is this way, however. If we could see reality more clearly, we would witness our Savior administering His glorious and risen life through His spiritual body, the church (or as Paul termed it, "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" - I Timothy 3:15).
Part of our ministry involves conducting services in retirement communities and nursing facilities. I sometimes think of the truth we consider when standing before these congregations. I see aging bodies, stilled limbs, and wheelchairs that hold many of these dear people. However, if I open the eyes of my heart, a greater reality glimmers before me. Yes, I look upon Christ as He dwells in His people, in those who believe. I must be careful when pondering such truth because it completely overwhelms me. However, I do try to remember.
I seek to do the same when pondering the planet and its conditions, circumstances, and situations. Our Lord has been in His world a long time. He has traversed the trails of His globe by His own feet physically, and by believers spiritually (and He will one day set His feet again on the earth). Therefore, no matter what happens in a world that "lieth in wickedness," the greatest reality ever abides. Yes, the risen Christ is here. He is here in us. Nothing compares with this "hope of glory," nor can anything transcend the wonder and power of His presence. As we open the eyes of our hearts by faith, we will behold His light shining in the darkness. Long before the advent of the Lord Jesus, the Psalmist affirmed, "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord" (Psalm 33:5). Little did he know how much brighter the illumination of the greatest reality would one day become…
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
(Matthew 1:23)
Weekly Memory Verse
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:25)
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