“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
The teaching of the Lord through the Apostle Paul concerning the body of Christ, is most extraordinary. First of all, we find that it is God alone who puts every individual into that body, by the new birth, sealing him or her in this blessed union with Christ for time and eternity. Secondly, we discover that not one of the members of the body of Christ is identical to another. Each has been given certain gifts, and a measure of faith, to know communion with God, and to fulfill the purpose for which God placed the individual in the body according to His wisdom. It is by the edifying, or building up, of the body in love, according to truth, that there is the increasing manifestation of Christ Himself. It is as every facet, every member, of the body walks in communion with Christ, avoiding everything that contributes to a schism, or division, that there is the unveiling and witness of the life of Christ in the midst, in an ever-increasing manner. We catch a glimpse of this in Jesus’ teaching on unity in prayer, and the coming to the Father, not only individually, but as two or three, even a congregation, a local church. In Matthew’s gospel, the Lord declared: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” We know that there is great blessing in coming to the Father, and Lord, alone, in quiet, undistracted solitude with Him. But there is what appears a greater blessing when two or three come, unified in purpose and purity of heart. The Lord says, “There am I in the midst of them.” He does not say that He will appear as He did to the disciples after the resurrection, when they were gathered together, not expecting His physical appearing. However, we do see that He is well pleased to be present in a very specific, special manner in the midst of those who seek Him in faith and love. Christ reveals His presence to the hearts of those who seek Him, not only because of the knowledge that God is everywhere, but that He is present, working and moving, revealing Himself to the hearts of those who are seeking Him. It is this knowledge of Christ, in the body, revealed to and through the believer, that is the important thing, and God’s great purpose. God has created every member of the body of Christ to be a clean and honorable vessel, a good receiver of the beauty, wonder, and power of Christ. However, it is only as the entire body is in communion with Him, in the unity of the Spirit, that the revelation of Christ shall be most fully expressed. What then of the testimony of all those believers who have gone before us? What effect should it have upon us?
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews declares that those believers who have gone before us are “witnesses,” and that they “surround us.” They are there, probably beholding us, but certainly that we should behold them, and understand that they have known Christ individually. They are so very different, and yet, possess the same faith, the same Spirit, having the same Lord. God has revealed Himself to them, and through them, at different times, in different places, as a testimony of His grace and power. They in turn, have proven God, having tasted of the blessedness of knowing Christ, the experience of which is of greater value than their lives. They lived and died by faith, a testimony, and witness, that Christ is worthy to be known, loved, and served.
Dear Father, Reveal Thy Son’s life in us by by Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.