The Signs of the Times, vol. 26

November 28, 1900

“The Christian’s Outlook” The Signs of the Times, 26, 48.

E. J. Waggoner

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1. This is the dwelling-place of every true Christian: for God has made us alive together with Christ, and “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6); and in that we are made alive in Christ, and raised to the heavenly places in Him, we are placed “far above all principality, and power, and ight, and dominion.” Ephesians 1:21. From this elevated position the Christian has a broad outlook. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.1

First of all, he sees the King in His beauty. “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seed after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me.” He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High must necessarily see the Lord. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.2

God is the one great object in the Christian’s horizon, and it is this continual view that insures his safety. “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, it shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8. With the Lord always before him, he can not fail to obey the injunction, “Behold! your God!” “We all, with open [unveiled] face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.3

None of this language is figurative, it is literal and real. “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God”—not only in the future, but now, for nothing but impurity can shut out God from the sight. Wherever there is purity of heart and life, there is the vision of God. His glory is to be seen in the heavens, while every flower reveals some of His beauty. “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord,” and therefore the one whose eyes are opened has all the goodness of the Lord continually passing before him. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.4

For the Christian’s eyes are opened. Christ is the light of the world, and God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Those who have fellowship with God “walk in the light, as He is in the light,” so that we can say, “Whereas I was blind, not I see,” for “the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind.” Psalm 148:8. And with his opened eyes the Christian sees “wondrous things” in the law of God. Psalm 119:18. The law is magnified and honorable in his eyes, but he sees it as “the perfect law of liberty,” the life of Jesus Christ. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.5

What more glorious outlook could anybody have than this, to behold God and His salvation? for of the one who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, it is said, “With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:16. It could not be otherwise, since God is his salvation. The Christians, therefore, beholds the arm of the Lord revealed,—the arm that brings salvation,—and he rests in Him. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.6

From his safe retreat in the Lord the Christian looks out upon the earth, and having been made a new creature, he sees everything with new eyes. He that sits upon the throne says, “Behold, I make all things new,” and He begins with the man who abides in Him. “Therefore it any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Looking beyond that which to the mere physical eye seems to be all there is, he sees all things transformed, and tastes even here the power and the joy of the world to come. In every stream of pure water, in every shower of rain, and in every sparkling dewdrop, he sees the “pure river of water of life clear as crystal.” What matters it to him if others say that they can see nothing? He whose eyes are opened must needs be a seer, and the universe of God will reveal to him wonders that are hidden from those who have eyes, but they see not.” He has in earth a heaven in which to go to heaven. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.7

Some one may object to the statement that the Christian can see the river of life, saying that is spiritual. Very well, have we not the assurance that “the things of the Spirit of God “are spiritually discerned”? 1 Corinthians 2:14. And, further, “Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” Romans 8:9. God Himself is a spiritual being, yet He is revealed to the pure in heart, to the one who is spiritual. As to seeing the water of life, we have in it a daily illustration of how people can have eyes, and can look directly at an object, and not see it. Read the following from Psalm 65:9-11:— SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.8

“Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water; thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers; thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.9

There is nothing good that does not come directly from God, and He does not keep any good thing back from us. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. The rain that falls from heaven, enriching the earth and making it fruitful, is the overflowing water of life from the throne of God, and it comes to us laden with God’s own righteousness. Isaiah 43:8. All may see it as such if they are dwelling in the secret place of God, the place whence the water of life springs. God does not reserve the right of His glories for a select and specially favored few; but He spreads them out in full view of everybody, so that whether or not any one sees them depends wholly on himself. Whoever walks in the Spirit can daily see wonders that are hidden from the eyes of the one who as only the mind of the flesh. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.10

The Christian, having God continually before him, sees the power of God, which saves; “for the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity.” Romans 1:20. R.V. Thus it is that he sees the salvation of God. Everything that is made, even his own body, reveals the personal presence of the Divine Word that upholds all things, so that he sees victory written on every blade of grass and every leaf of the forest; upon every flower, and in ever star. So he is glad through the works of the Lord, and triumphs in the works of God’s hands. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.11

Still more, the one who dwells with God, sees His ways, and learns how o live. “Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11. So, instead of going about feeble in body and mind, the Christian has before him the prospect of renewed youth and fresh, joyous life, which, beginning now, will continue without interruption throughout eternity. Surely no outlook could be more pleasing and encouraging than this. Everybody who has ever been ill-and how few there are who have not suffered more or less from disease-knows how dark is the outlook when the vitality is low. It can not be otherwise, even though one hopes in God for a final release from pain. But God provides for us a glorious view, and invites us to enjoy the reality of it here and now. “The life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” God wishes all of His children to be healthy and happy, and He provides the means to that end. SITI November 28, 1900, page 771.12

If the Christian looks ahead, he sees before him a time of trouble such as never was when plague and pestilence-the out-breaking of the plague that is in the hearts of all who have not turned to the Lord will ravage the land, but in that time of trouble he sees deliverance for “every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1. Though a thousand fall at his side, and ten thousand at is right hand, he has no fear that any plague will come near him. Where others see nothing but darkness, he sees only light, “because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” SITI November 28, 1900, page 772.1

In short, the Christian, “looking unto Jesus,” “the fullness of Him that filleth all in all,” in whom all things consist, and beholding God, “who is over all and through all, and in all,” sees only perfection, for his eyes are turned away from beholding vanity. He beholds Christ crucified before him, and he unto the world. He sees the new creation in the cross, and knows no man after the flesh, so he begins the life everlasting, living in this world just as he will continue to live throughout eternity, for he lives now in the secret place of God, as close to Him as he can possibly be. Taking refuge under the shadow of God’s wings, he sees light in God’s light, and drinks continually from the river of God’s Eden.” Psalm 36:7-9. SITI November 28, 1900, page 772.2

And so, with Christ and His power and goodness filling the whole range of our vision, we look forward with glad anticipation to the time when we shall see Him come in the clouds of heaven, even as He left the earth (Acts 1:11), for we shall behold His face in the righteousness which he imparts, and shall be satisfied with His likeness. E. J. WAGGONER. SITI November 28, 1900, page 772.3