The disciple and the lord of destiny - Chambers, Oswald
Chapter XII
Revelation 3
His divine integrity
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true . . . (revelation 3:7)
(a) harmony with gods character these words suggest that our lords unlimited sovereignty over human souls rests upon moral fitness. In revelation 5 this aspect is again alluded to who is worthy to open the book? The appeal made to us by Jesus christ is that he is worthy not only in the domain of god, but in the domain of man, consequently he hath prevailed to open the book. The disciples lord is in absolute harmony with the highest man knows and with the highest god has revealed. The bible is not the authority, the church is not the authority, the lord Jesus christ alone is the authority. The tendency is strong to make the statements of the bible simpler than god makes them, the reason being that we will not recognise Jesus christ as the authority. It is only when we rely on the holy spirit and obey his leadership that the authority of jesus christ is recognised. The holy spirit will glorify jesus only, consequently the interpretation of the bible and of human life depends entirely on how we understand the character of Jesus christ. If there is anything hidden from us as disciples to-day it is because we are not in a fit state to understand it. As soon as we become fit in spiritual character the thing is revealed, it is concealed at gods discretion until the life is developed sufficiently.
(b) holiness supreme with man
The disciples lord is the supreme authority in every relationship of life the disciple is in or can be in. That is a very obvious point, but think what it means it means recognising it as impertinent to say, oh, well, jesus christ does not know my circumstances; the principles involved in his teachings are altogether impracticable for me where i am. That thought never came from the spirit of god, and it has to be gripped in a vice on the threshold of the mind and allowed no way. If as we obey god such a circum- stance is possible where Jesus christs precepts and principles are impracticable, then he has misled us. The idea insinuates itself oh, well, i can be justi- fied from my present conduct because of so and so. We are never justified as disciples in taking any line of action other than that indicated by the teaching of our lord and made possible for us by his spirit. The providence of god fits us into various settings of life to see if we will be disciples in those relationships.
(c) highest authority conceivable
The highest authority conceivable for a man is that of a holy character. The holiest character is the lord Jesus christ, therefore his statements are never dog- mas, they are declarations. In the epistles we find the dogmas of belief stated and formulated; but our lord never taught dogma, he declared. There is no argument or discussion in what he says, it is not a question of the insight of a marvellous man, but a question of speaking with authority. He taught them as one having authority (Matthew 7:29). The disciple realises that our lords statements never spring from a per- sonal point of view; they reveal the eternal character of god as applied to the practical details of life.
His divine imperialism
he that hath the key of david . . . (revelation 3:7)
(a) abiding sacredness of his inheritance
The disciples lord has the key to every situation in heaven above or on earth beneath. Other powers that are not of jesus christ claim they can open the book, but the unmeasured blight of god rests on an intellectual curiosity that divorces itself from moral and spiritual worth. It is necessary to bear that in mind, for this is a day of intolerant inquisitiveness, people will not wait for the slow, steady, majestic way of the son of god, they enter in by this door and that, and the consequence is moral, spiritual and physical insanity. All kinds of terrible and awful evils come through men having pressed open domains for themselves. They have refused to have the only authority there is, the authority of a moral, holy character. But i fear, says Paul, lest by any means . . . Your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in christ.
(b) antagonists scared by his servants
The easy supremacy of the lord Jesus christ in and through the life of a disciple brings the blatant terror of the synagogue of satan to bow at his feet. Behold, i will make them of the synagogue of satan . . . To come and worship before thy feet, and to know that i have loved thee (revelation 3:9). This is the age of humiliation for the saints, just as it was the age of humiliation for our lord when he was on earth; we cannot stand the humiliation unless we are his disciples, we want to get into the show business, we want to be successful, to be recognised and known; we want to compromise and put things right and get to an understanding. Never! Stand true to Jesus christ, in nothing terrified by your adversaries. We find the features of the synagogue of satan everywhere, but if the disciple will obey, all that power will crumble down as bluff by the marvellous authority of jesus christ. Fear not, little flock; for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. When once fear is taken out, the world is humiliated at the feet of the humblest of saints, it can do nothing, it cannot touch the amazing supremacy that comes through the divine imperialism of the saints lord and master.
(c) alpha and omega
I am alpha and omega, the first and the last. Jesus christ is the last word on god, on sin and death, on heaven and hell; the last word on every problem that human life has to face. If you are a disciple, be loyal to him; that means you will have to choke off any number of things that might fritter you away from the one centre. Beware of prejudices being put in place of the sovereignty of jesus christ, prejudices of doctrine, of conviction or experience. When we go on jesus christs way, slowly and steadily we find he builds up spiritual and moral character along with intellectual discernment, these develop together; if we push one at the expense of the other, we shall get out of touch with god. If our intellectual curiosity pushes the barriers further than god has seen fit to open, our moral character will get out of hand and we shall have pain that god cannot bless, suffering from which he can- not protect us. The way of transgressors is hard. I am the first and the last. Is jesus christ the first and the last of my personal creed, the first and last of all i look to and hope for? Frequently the discipline of discipleship has to be delayed until we learn that gods barriers are put there not by sovereign deity only; they are put there by a god whose will is absolutely holy and who has told us plainly, not that way (cf. Deuteronomy 29:29).
His divine invincibility
. . . He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth. (revelation 3:7)
(a) defied but never frustrated
The word door is used elsewhere in the new testament for privileges and opportunities (for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, 1 corinthi- ans 16:9); but here it means that Jesus christs sovereignty is effective everywhere; it is he who opens the door and he who shuts. Behold, i have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. Behind the devil is God.
God is never in a panic, nothing can be done that he is not absolute master of, and no one in earth or heaven can shut a door he has opened, nor open a door he has shut. God alters the inevitable when we get in touch with him. We discover the doors our lord opens by watching the things unsaved human nature reacts against. Everything Jesus christ has done awakens a tremendous reaction against him in those who are not his disciples i wont go that way. Insubordination is the characteristic of to-day. Men defy, but they Cannot frustrate, and in the end they come to see that Jesus christs is the only way. The gospel gives access into privileges which no man can reach by any other way than the way jesus christ has appointed. Unsaved human nature resents this and tries to make out that jesus christ will bow in submissive weakness to the way it wants to go. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense craving and an equally intense resentment. The door is opened wide by a god of holiness and love, and any and every man can enter in through that door, if he will. I am the way. Jesus christ is the exclusive way to the father.
(b) divine and for ever never
Some doors have been shut by god and they will never again be opened. God opens other doors, but we find these closed doors all through the history of man. Some people believe in an omnipotence with no character, they are shut up in a destiny of hopelessness; jesus christ can open the door of release and let them right out. There is no door that man or devil has closed but jesus christ can open it; but remember, there is the other side, the door he closes no man can open.
(c) desired communion
In revelation 3:20 the metaphor is changed behold, i stand at the door, and knock. . . . If it is true that no man can open the doors Jesus christ has closed, it is also true that he never opens the door for his own incoming into the heart and life of a church or an individual. . . . If any man . . . Open the door, i will come in to him. The experience into which Jesus christ by his sovereignty can bring us is atonement with god, a fullorbed, unworrying oneness with god.