The Realities of Christ

I had an English teacher in high school that used to tell us, “It is not reality, but one’s perception of reality that defines our actions and behavior.” In many circumstances that statement is true, and we see it illustrated all around us. When I was growing up my family never locked the doors of our home. There was little need to do so. We lived in a small town and crime was generally not something that was a great concern for us. We felt safe and trusted that God would protect us in our home. I had a friend who lived a few miles away whose family held the opposite perception of the town we lived in. Not only did they lock their doors when they left the house, they kept their doors and windows locked when they were home. They faced the same reality as my family, but perceived it in a different way. It is not my purpose to comment on the correctness of either perception, but to point out that our perception affects the way that we live.

            Perception affected the church of John’s day just like it does in our era. From the perspective of the early church there was little hope. The last apostle was in exile on Patmos, and the empire of Rome worked to stamp out their existence. As John considered the state of the church and wondered how God would work in such a hostile world his perception met reality. Jesus Christ revealed a vision that reminded John who established and sustains the church. He saw a vision of the glory of the one who built God’s church in this world; a vision that reminded him of the work that Jesus continued to do among God’s people. John wrote this vision to the church so that they could forge ahead into a hostile world with confidence that the reality of their situation was more hopeful than the common perception. Whether it was a church that considered their circumstances dire, or the Romans who believed that they could overcome God’s work, the reality was that Jesus Christ still carried out the work of God.

 

Jesus Walks Within the Church

 

            “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the mist of the lampstands one like a son of man…” (Rev. 1:12, 13). No matter what the church faces, Jesus walks among His people. From the beginning of time God has desired fellowship with those who place their faith in Him. In the Old Testament we read about the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness, and later, the temple in Jerusalem. God commanded the building of these structures so that He could live among His people. When John saw this vision of Jesus He was walking among His people – the place where we commonly expect to find God.

            Jesus does not simply walk among the church, but He does so in purity. William Barclay explains that the vision of His head and hair reveals the eternal purity of Christ to us. “The snow and the white wool are emblems of stainless purity.”[1] The Son of God walks within His church to establish the purity that defines Him among the people who represent Him. His purpose is to set them apart and purify them. “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood” (Heb. 13:12).

            To sanctify the people, Jesus set them apart for one purpose. He overcomes the double-mindedness of those who seek to serve Him and the world simultaneously and turns our attention solely to God. He works to set the people apart so that the works of the world no longer distract from God’s work and witness through their lives. As God’s people interact with family and friends, go to work and school, and live with a testimony of their priorities, God is seen through the things they do. God does not want a church that serves Him as they work toward other things, but people who will put Him above all else. He looks for people who will act as if they represent Him in all aspects of their lives – because they do. That is why James wrote, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).

            In this vision of Christ, John saw One who is pure as well as one who is able to discern the purity of others. His eyes of fire pierce the depths of the soul and reveal the purity of our motives. As the church carries on the business of God’s kingdom it is necessary for us to assess our motives. People can speculate as to the motives of others, but no other person really knows. Nobody can really be positive why any of us do what we do, but Jesus Christ who walks among us always knows. He is aware of the reasons for our service to God. That alone should be enough to help us to be honest with ourselves about purity of motive.

            He does not simply stand within His church to judge His people, but walks among the lampstands of the temple and makes intercession for God’s people. “[His garment] is a description of the high priest…Jesus is our High priest, even in heaven.”[2] As we strive to live within God’s will Jesus stands before God on our behalf. “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:23-25). No matter where God’s people find themselves, or what He calls them to do Jesus Christ stands as our eternal high priest. “He was girt about with a golden girdle, the breastplate of the high priest, on which the names of his people are engraven; he was ready girt to do all the work of a Redeemer.”[3]

 

Jesus Holds the Messengers to His Church

 

            The motives that seem to be called into question most often are the ones whom Jesus holds in His right hand. He tells us that the seven stars He holds are the angels of the seven churches. The term angel means messenger. Many scholars agree that this refers to the pastors of these congregations. Their ministry and fate lie in His hand of power (the right hand).

            Many Christians today have taken the fate of pastors into their own hands. They make judgments as to the motives and purposes of pastors.[4] As we consider the work of pastors it is important to be familiar with at least a few of the Scriptures that address the response of people to God’s messengers.

 

            During the time of Isaiah we read, “For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children             unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the           prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusion, leave        the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 30:9-            11).

 

            We read in Jeremiah, “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek       your life, and say, ‘Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand’ –    therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them…’” (Jer. 11:21, 22).

 

            Amos wrote, “Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. ‘You say, “Do not prophesy against           Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.” Therefore thus says the Lord: “…you       yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land”’”          (Amos 7:16, 17b).

 

            There is an authority given to those whom God has sent to His people as messengers. They are under a great burden to speak only God’s word and no others, but they possess this authority nonetheless. God could have sent heavenly beings to each congregation in this world. He could have thundered His direction from the highest mountain, or from the very throne room of heaven, but He did not. He chose to use those whom He has called to preach His word. Jesus Christ holds them in His right hand so that this word might be proclaimed clearly to the people of God. The Apostle Paul recognized this call when he wrote Romans: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching” (Rom. 10:14)?

            It is imperative that the church of this day make every effort to understand the importance God places on this. “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 21). When the rich man in Hell asked for one to be sent to his brothers the response from Abraham was, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:29). There are those who have been called by God to deliver His word, and Jesus Christ holds them in His hand. This is not to say that pastors are infallible, but far too many have lost sight of the fact that Jesus Christ has called them, and will protect them when necessary. There are times when it must be recognized that God will speak to them, and we must take heed.

 

Jesus Provides Everything Needed to Sustain the Church

 

            God has given us more than messengers of His word to sustain the church. It is no coincidence that each of the characteristics of Jesus in John’s vision are listed in the letters written to the churches in chapters two and three of Revelation. They see the Son of God as the One who provides for every need that they face, and today we live with the reality that He provides for all that we need.

            Jesus Christ stands among the people with feet “as burnished bronze.” When John saw these feet of bronze the vision of Ezekiel would have come to the forefront of his memory. Ezekiel saw four creatures bearing the throne of God among His people in exile. Ezekiel 1:7 tells us, “Their legs were strait, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze.”

            These beings that Ezekiel saw revealed the throne of God. They surrounded Him, and His light came from their midst. Jesus walks within the church as the one who brought the throne of God into the midst of man. He came into the darkness of the world to walk among man and restore his fellowship with the Holy Creator. No matter how much resistance we face from the world, God’s throne is still among those who will submit to Him. Through persecution and trial, tribulation and difficulty God’s presence is with us. This is a promise that the church carries into a hostile world.

            God’s throne is the place from which His word proceeds. Jesus bears the throne of God in the New Testament temple, and from this place proceeds the sword of His mouth. The word of God comes into the world through the church. When our perception tells us that we face overwhelming obstacles, God gives us a word that will overcome all enemies. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

            This sword of God’s word brings conviction that will cause the sinful world to stand exposed before God. It will work in each heart, and place each soul before the measuring rod of our Lord: “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).

            God’s word always carries power with it. That’s why John heard the voice of Jesus that was “like the roar of many waters.” Matthew Henry commented, “His voice was as the sound of many waters, of many rivers falling in together. He can and will make himself heard to those who are afar off as to those who are near. His gospel is a profluent and might stream, fed by the upper springs of infinite wisdom and knowledge.”[5]

            Just like a rushing river the word of God cannot be held back. Man may put a dam in front of it to slow its progress, but the power of God builds behind it until it cannot be contained. It will always burst forth into the world with the full power of heaven. It can be suppressed, but never contained, slowed but never stopped. Jesus spoke to the church in such a way as the world could not overcome the wisdom and power delivered by the Son of God. If our words, once spoken, cannot be taken back, how much harder would it be to stop what has been spoken by God about the church? Can anyone stop His promises, or hope to inhibit His power? No power on earth, or from hell, can keep God from carrying on His work through the willing, submissive soul. Our perception may tell us that things are hopeless, but the reality we live is that we serve a God whose very word cannot be overcome. It will work when it becomes a reality in the lives of His people.

 

            There are thousands of directions the church can look today for something that will sustain God’s work. We can consider each circumstance we face and the felt need of each person, but how can we possibly act on so many different perceptions of reality? The reality the church faces today is the same as the one John faced. Jesus Christ walks among us; holding the fate of those He has called; testing our motives and purifying us; interceding on behalf of God’s people; redeeming lost souls; speaking the word of God and overcoming enemies. We base our view of reality on a lot of different things, but shouldn’t it be on only one? Shouldn’t the church live on the reality of Jesus Christ?

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[1] William Barclay, Daily Study Bible, 49

[2] Adam Clarke, Commentary 973

[3] Matthew Henry,  Commentary 904

[4] I cannot discount that there are pastors who do not carry out their biblical responsibilities, and each one must be measured against Scripture. It seems that in our current social climate pastors are far more often judged based on the consumer mentality of man.

[5] Matthew Henry, Commentary 904