02.11. The Triumph Of Confessing
THE TRIUMPH OF CONFESSING Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Php 2:9-11.
Deep in his heart man hides the hope that truth shall at one time gain the upperhand, and good shall triumph over evil.
All religions cherish that expectation and speak of a blessing, which the kingdom of light, on the end of the age shall gain over the kingdom of darkness. All philosophical systems paint an ideal situation, in which humanity surrounded by the pure air of the future and its clear sunshine, shall live in peace and joy, true, free and good. All people seek for paradise, to which innocence returns and prosperity shall be the portion of all. Even the most unbelieving think of this sweet hope and dream of a kingdom of the true, good and beautiful, that after shorter or longer time will be their portion. But only, there is no ground for that hope. For on what ground can we believe on the triumph of truth and righteousness, when there is no God of truth and righteousness, and no Christ, anointed by the Father, to institute the kingdom and create a new heaven and a new earth? The gods of the heathen are the work of the hands of men. The future hope of philosophy is imagination of the human mind: and the true, good and beautiful are pleasant sounds, but no powers that are able to bring themselves to rule all people. To expect salvation here, it is necessary to build on men and to expect from them, that they slowly and gradually will appreciate truth and exercise virtue. Because of this it is very unlikely that this hope will be realised. For certainly, there is progress in material prosperity, expansion of men’s rule over nature, its powers render more charm to everyday living. But as all acknowledge, material progress is not equivalent to moral progress. Our age looks down on all that went before, yet justice is trodden under foot, truth fails in the streets, greed and covetousness are on the increase, and there are no limits to glorifying the powers. Civilization, science and the arts are willing to serve brute force. On the one hand culture is satiated, but there is misery and complaint on the other hand. It seems that man is further removed from paradise than ever before. In any case, history has clearly proven, that we may not expect anything from human efforts, and the immanent self development of humanity in the world. When there is nothing else, there only is room for discouragement and fearful doubt. To be without God and Christ in this world, is to be without hope in the world. Our salvation is from above.
Again, it is in the spiritual as it is in the natural. Like the earth receives its light and air, its rain and sunshine, its increase and fruitfulness from above, so also for its spiritual life, mankind depends on the world of invisible and eternal goods, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. That is why He, Who is the light, the life of the world, descended from above. From there He gathers, keeps and protects His Church, which is His body. For He is exalted to be the Head on the Father’s right hand, and He will fill all things with Himself, and rule as King until all His enemies are laid at His footstool. And so He will at one time come down from heaven. His second coming is included in the first, and of necessity at its time flow forth from it. It is not just an appendage, but is inseparably connected with it. For the work of Christ is to save; not just making salvation possible, but granting salvation itself, completely and forever. But His work was not finished with just obtaining salvation on earth. How could a Christ, Who only died for us and not lived and prayed for us and not appeared for good before God’s countenance for us, be to our profit? But He Who descended is the same, Who ascended far above the heavens, that He should fill all things. He applies what He obtained. What He began, He will finish. He does not rest, may not rest, before He completely saves His people, and renews heaven and earth.
Maranatha, the Lord is coming. He comes again, first of all, for His own sake. His name, His office, His honour are at stake. He comes again to show to all the world, that He is the true, the perfect Saviour; that He saves, not only in name but in deed and truth; that He grants eternal life to all that are given Him of the Father; that no one plucked them out of His hand, or will do so; that He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.
He comes again, to do vengeance with flaming fire over all those, who know not God and are disobedient to the gospel. But also to be glorified in His saints; to be acknowledged and honoured by all creatures as the only true Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So the history of the world will end in union of confessing. At one time angels and devils, the righteous and the ungodly shall acknowledge with one voice that Christ is God’s only Son, and therefore heir of all things. At that time every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. At the present time this confession can be spoken against and be resisted. For we are looking at a world that contains invisible things. To see its truths, we need a faith that is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We walk by faith, not by sight. The world that only reckons with things that can be seen, can contradict the congregation, deem its faith foolishness, and sees her hope for a dream. Even the appearance is against us. For from the day that the fathers fell asleep, things remain as they were from the creation, and mockers ask the question, "Where is the promise of His coming?" But it will change, Maranatha. In a vision John saw "Heaven opened, and see, a white horse, and he who sat upon him was named Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and makes war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written: KING of KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:11-; Revelation 19:15). When Christ shall appear in glory, no one will be able to resist Him. All eyes shall see Him, also those who pierced Him. They shall see Him with their own natural eyes, and no unbelief, no doubt shall be possible. Then all creatures must acknowledge, that Christ is Lord. They must acknowledge it, if not voluntary, they will be pressed into acknowledging it, if not willing, than unwilling. From the throne in the midst of heaven, through all creation, into the depths of the abyss, only one voice will be heard: Christ the Lord! And all creatures together, shall bow the knee for Him, Who was deeply humiliated and died on a cross, but is also highly exalted and is set on the throne on the right-hand of the Father.
What a future, what a spectacle! All creation on its knees before Jesus! And on all lips, the ever repeating, but all embracing, now by many despised, but then by all acknowledged confession, that Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. And He Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, Will not blot out the name of that believer from the book of life, but will confess his name before the Father, and before His angels.