Paul's Seven Wishes # 4

Paul's Seven Wishes # 4

My soul, I charge you so to live, so to labor, so to suffer, so to believe, and so to die - that you may rejoice in the day of Christ. Look forward to it, as to the day of jubilee, the year of release - and expect grace to be brought unto you at that appearing of Jesus Christ.

We have thus looked at Paul's seven wishes. He had others, no doubt; but these were his principal, his abiding ones. All of Paul's desires are gratified - but one.

Now he knows Christ, not in part - but even as also he is known.

He was won Christ, and possesses Him as the prize of his high calling. There is no running, wrestling, or striving now. No, no, Christ is his - in the highest, in the fullest, in the most glorious sense of the term.

He has magnified Christ in his body, both in life and in death; and he now magnifies Christ in glory before thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers!

He is found in Christ. Death found him in Christ, and he said, "I am ready!" The ministering angel found him in Christ and conducted him up to the eternal throne, and there is is in Christ forever!

He is conformed to Christ in holiness, happiness, and glory - as concerning his soul, and will be in reference to his body "at the resurrection of the just."

He is with Christ, in the presence of His Father. With Christ, in the mansion prepared for him in his Father's house. With Christ, and with Christ forever!

But the last wish waits to be realized - and it will be soon. For "he who shall come, will come - and will not tarry!" "The Lord my God will come, and all the saints with Him!"

The redemption of the body will soon take place - the redemption of the purchased possession will soon be realized; then the groans of creation will be silenced, the prayers of the church will be ended, the promises that refer to that glorious period will be fulfilled, and the whole earth will be filled with His glory! Then the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. All flesh will see the salvation of God. The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together - for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it!

We must close our remarks. A man's state before God, may be known by the nature and character of the abiding desires of his soul. For if as Solomon said, "As he thinks in his heart - so is he;" so we may say, "As he desires in his heart - so is he."

If our desires meet and center in Christ - we must be true Christians. If to know Christ, to win Christ, to magnify Christ, to be found in Christ, to be conformed to Christ, to be with Christ, and rejoice in the day of Christ's second coming - are the desires of our souls - then we are as really Christians as Paul was!

Paul, you see, begins with Christ, goes on with Christ, and ends with Christ. Christ was his Alpha - and Christ was his Omega. Christ was the circle within which he moved, the center to which he constantly tended.

The grace of Christ converted him, faith in Christ gave him peace. Is our religion, then, like Paul's?

Holy Spirit, glorify Jesus in us, by us, and through us, more and more every day! "For to me, to live is Christ - and to die is gain!

Christ is my all, my sure defense, 
Nor shall my soul depart from thence: 
He is my rock, my refuge too,
In spite of all my foes can do!

Christ is my all, and He will lead
My soul in pastures green to feed;
'Tis he supplies my every want,
And will all needful blessings grant.

Christ is my all - where should I go?
Without Him I can nothing do;
Helpless and weak, a sinner great,
Yet in His righteousness complete!

~James Smith~

(The End)