66.
The natural man has no hope beyond this life, yet when a loved one passes, the expectation is that they are in heaven, in the presence of the Lord. Surely, with any trip that is made, even if in haste, there are certain steps of preparation which have to be made. The most important trip of any persons life is when they step from time into eternity. The Lord Jesus in His love and mercy has paid the full price for that moment by giving His life a sacrifice for mankind. Those who will believe are fully and freely justified by the redemption which He has provided. Rom. 3:24 We are now brought into fellowship with Him by the blood of redemption which He shed for us. Where at one time we were aliens, far from the grace of the Lord, now, being in Christ Jesus has enabled us to become members of His family. Eph. 2:13.
Those who are in Christ Jesus find that there are great benefits and blessings to be enjoyed, in Him. What greater blessing than to have an assurance of life eternal , we unequivocally know that we are saved. The New Man is one who has been called unto holiness. Not a self righteousness but a manifestation of the Holiness that is His character
evidenced in a clean pure life. The call is one that is eternal, as a matter of fact, it was made before the foundation of the world. Now His purpose and His grace is being made known. 2 Tim. 1:9.
Being in Christ prepares us to be the recipients of the blessings of the Lord. It is here that we find the grace and love which the world does not have. It is found only by those who have entered into a true relationship with Christ.
1 Thess. 2:14 Where as, at one time we were far from the Lord Jesus and not at that time necessarily interested in becoming involved with Him, we are now brought into His presence through the precious blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13 In Christ, there is faith, trust, confidence the ability to manifest the power of the Lord through signs and wonders. Acts 6:8 We discover that there is a law of the Spirit of Life (His life) which brings liberty from the capability of the law of sin and death ruling over us. Rom. 8:2 Those whose lives are entwined with the Lord Jesus will find that they are accounted of Him as being Children of God, through faith. Gal. 3:6 Most amazingly He has brought His own, His redeemed to a place of unity with Him that we may have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16 As with Paul, it was by revelation of the Spirit that he came to understand the mysteries of God, so it should be with the whole of the church. Eph. 3:3-4.
The New Man is a person who has come into an intimacy with the Lord. It is called in the scriptures “the secret place of the Most High. Ps. 91:1 Of the individual who has come to a relationship such as this with their Lord, it is noted that this is their dwelling place. They feel perfectly at homes here. The word, dwelling, in Hebrew even goes so far as to declare that this involves a wedding. In the ultimate, it can mean but one thing and that is a wedding between Christ and His church. It is where the mystery of the greatest marriage every is revealed. It is that precious moment of the marriage of Christ and His church. Eph. 5:32.
A secret place is generally where we go to be alone with the Lord. Everyone has a secret place to which we retreat to contemplate on circumstances which have occurred in our lives. The physical place is immaterial, but the presence of the Lord is crucial. Life long and life changing decisions are made with His help and assistance. It is here that we may pour out the innermost thoughts of our hearts and minds before the Lord and find that His presence is very real. As we approach the end of the age the church will face more and more persecution and will seek this precious refuge which is in Christ Jesus. In times of trouble He will hide, cover over, with His presence those who place their trust in Him. Ps. 27:5 We are invited to tabernacle, to make our home to be with Him. It is a place unreachable by the forces of the enemy. He has promised a place where we are under the shelter of His great and powerful hand. Isa. 51:16
These who know the secret place and frequently visit there are fully aware of His mighty presence. To be in His shadow, is to be in His presence. The secret place is to become a permanent and an abiding dwelling place. As Israel of old were under the cloud so we today are urged to be found in His abiding presence. Jesus made a very clear invitation to all who would follow Him to enter that abiding, eternal presence. John 15:4-7 The call of the Word and the Spirit are of the very highest degree. His promises are Yea and Amen, in Christ Jesus, and will not return unto Him void. It is the determined purpose of the Lord to have a people in whom He may manifest the completeness of His divine nature. His promise involves the fullness of the Godhead, not only visiting, but dwelling in His church. John 14:23 His requirements are not difficult. We are to love Him, and He is most loveable. We are to obey Him. It is certain that if we love Him we will obey Him.