THERE IS NO CALLING SUPERIOR TO HIS CALL, TO HIS CHURCH. Of a truth, Paul the Apostle had caught that vision. There was a continual drive evidenced in him as he sought after spiritual things. His aggressive language is well worthy of consideration. I press. Phil. 3:14 It has the ring of one who is resolute and going forward with an extreme amount of determination. He had settled his vision on that which was before him. The perimeter of the race track was well established. The race must be run within the confines which had been marked out, and so must we. Eyes must be set on the ultimate prize, which in this case is the high calling of the Lord. A calling which embraces the fullness of Christ being manifest in His church. The concluding aspiration of the Lord Jesus Christ is to so motivate a people that they will longingly desire to be His Bride. The contest is exciting, but the joys of the race go to the winners. They are the recipients of the trophy. They are the champions, the victors. All the glory of their accomplishment belongs to them. We are not dealing with things which are temporal but things eternal. May the Lord give to each and every member of His church a full and complete vision of the standard which He has established for His Bride.
WHERE THERE IS NO VISION. Prov.29:18 How vital a vision, dream or revelation is to the continuance of the Christian walk. Without a vision the people perish or are set at naught, loosened, restraint is cast off. In connection with our subject, Christian standards are eroded and in some instances drastically lowered. Happiness, joy and gladness is reserved for those who keep, obey the Word of the Lord. The Christian vision involves the treasure of our heart. That which consumes our thoughts, our ambitions and our desires is the treasure of our hearts. That which is strongly desired is that which we resolutely seek after. Basically we have two choices, the things of this world or things which are eternal and heavenly. That which is striven for is the complete and full desire of the heart. What we seek after indicates our standing before the Lord. Mt. 6:21
SET YOUR AFFECTIONS. Our Lord, who is very love personified, would establish a vision of true love in the heart of each and every child of His. We can and must learn to love as He loves. It is His divine will that our hearts be overflowing with the fullness of His mighty love. His love is not contaminated with humane emotions and desires but is pure and holy. How necessary it is that we establish our emotions after a heavenly direction. Col. 3:2 The longing of the heart will determine our goal and direction in life. If our mind is set on the things of the flesh, then the crop will be death. If we earnestly seek after Spiritual things, our reward is in things eternal and heavenly. We each make our individual choice. Rom. 8:5-6 When the proper choice is made it will become self evident that ones affection have been firmly established of Christ. The righteousness which the Law could not accomplish in man, is by the nature of the presence of Christ within, completely satisfied. Walking in the Spirit is walking in the fullness of the Lord. A blessed and wonderful life and place to be. Rom. 8:4
LOVE NOT THE WORLD. A direct and positive statement. It must be received as a command of those who would fully serve the Lord. While we are in this world, we are not of this world. Added to this is to not love the things of this world, all its wealth and attractions. Johns next statement is a shocker, if our interest is concentrated on the world and its interests, the FATHERS LOVE is not in us. What a tremendous loss, not to have the eternal, everlasting ONE who is LOVE abiding within. 1 John 2:15 That leaves a vessel of utter emptiness and loneliness. It also brings us to a moment of decision. The only thing that the world has to offer is lust, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. These are not from the Father but are of this world. They are all temporal and will be destroyed. Only those abiding in the Fathers love will find their way into that which is heavenly and eternal. 1 John 2:16-17 As much as Johns teachings might want to be dismissed, it is impossible to ignore truth from the Word.