p. 13 | Fellowship With Christ in Service by L. R. Conradi

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 12, 1914

Fellowship With Christ in Service

By L. R. Conradi

(Reading for Tuesday, December 15)

Fellowship With Christ in Service

L. R. CONRADI

FELLOWSHIP with Christ is equivalent to fellowship with God’s fullness: “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9. It is the secret key which unlocks heaven’s choicest treasures to us, conveys to us every spiritual blessing, and fits us to become fruit-bearing coworkers with God in saving souls. The first Adventist mentioned in the Bible cultivated this fellowship with Christ to such an extent that he by faith walked with him, and his character was thereby changed into the same image, from glory to glory, so that the Lord could translate him and change his body without his ever tasting death.

Abraham, the father of the faithful, so fully confided in Christ that God could call himself “the God of Abraham,” and could call him “my friend Abraham,” and could safely reveal his purposes to him. Abraham in setting up altars everywhere in heathen Canaan, preached the name of the Lord from Dan to Beersheba, and thus became the first missionary to the heathen. With God as his shield, he overcame the mightiest foes and prospered among the high-handed giants.

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, the faithful servant Moses talked with Christ, the real leader of Israel, “face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend.” Moses drew so near to the presence of God that he was privileged to abide with him on two different occasions forty days on the mount. He “neither did eat bread nor drink water,” and when he came down the second time, the skin of his face reflected the glory of Christ, so that the people could not bear to look upon it, and he had to cover his face with a veil.

Joshua enjoyed the same close relationship. The Lord was with him as with Moses, and Christ revealed himself to him as the great Captain of the Lord’s host, who knows no defeat.

Samuel was dedicated to the Lord’s service before his birth, and as a child learned early to regard his voice, saying, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.” At his death the people could find no wrong in this ancient prophet.

Isaiah, beholding God’s holiness in vision, and realizing his own unfitness, was fitted for service, as his lips were touched with live coals from off the altar. Thus he proclaimed the sufferings and the glory of Christ in such vivid colors that he is justly called the evangelist of the Old Testament.

A VILLAGE IN THE WAR ZONE, HAITI, ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED

Young Jeremiah was sent forth as a mighty prophet, in whose mouth the word of the Lord indeed accomplished that for which it was sent.

Ezekiel learned in his fellowship with God his overruling providence. His forehead was made hard as an adamant, and he became a faithful watchman on the walls of Zion, declaring to a rebellious people the righteous judgments of their God.

The prime minister of a world empire, Daniel, found sufficient time to commune thrice a day with the Source of all help, and the Lord not only made him the wisest of the wise men, but Christ himself appeared to this man so “greatly beloved” of his God.

But our greatest example of true fellowship with heaven is Christ himself. While on earth, he cultivated the closest relationship with his Father. He declared: “I am in the Father, and the Father in me;” “I do nothing of myself;” “He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” As the Father sent his only begotten Son into the world, ever abiding with him, so also Christ sends us into the world, assuring us, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” As the vine is dependent upon the husbandman for an abundance of fruit, so the branch is even more dependent upon the vine: “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” In his conversation with one of the foremost of Israel’s rulers, this Teacher from God said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Each soul must be born again out of himself into Christ. He must die to self, bury the old carnal man, and be raised with Christ to walk with him in newness of life, as did Enoch of old. This was Paul’s experience: “An Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, . . . that I may win Christ.” Phil. 3:5-8. “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Thus it was Christ who lived, overcame, wrought, spoke, and appealed through Paul, making him the most successful missionary to the heathen.

Christ is the tried corner stone, on which God’s church may stand without fear; for the very powers of death and the grave cannot prevail against him. In him, the living Head, dwells all the fullness of God, and Jesus has but one desire,—that his church, for which he has given his life, be filled with this same fullness, receiving grace for grace. The more we cultivate this fellowship with Christ, the better we learn to know him. And the more we learn of his love, which passeth all knowledge, the more we shall be rooted and grounded in that love. No power in heaven or earth can separate us from it. Though we may suffer tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, yet “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” We should ever strive to become better acquainted with this our best Friend, and to know “the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means” we “might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Of all the books of the Bible, the Revelation is in this very end of all time the most important. The first chapter reveals the beloved John exiled on the lonely Patmos, communing with his Master. In the first revelation of all, he beholds the Son of man among the seven golden candlesticks, upholding his servants as the seven bright stars in his right hand. O, that the church might evermore behold Jesus walking in its midst and have fuller fellowship with him! Whether two or three gather in his name, or a hundred, he is ever present by his Spirit, always ready to minister unto their wants and to bestow showers of blessing upon them, if they only recognize his presence. As the sun is always in the firmament, whether it is hidden by clouds or not, so Christ is ever with his people, in bright or dark hours. In sweet fellowship with our true Leader, we ought to watch his guiding providences, giving all the glory to his grace, and not to any human instrument. We should listen first of all to his counsel, claim his rich promises, make him our spiritual food and drink, be rooted and grounded in his love, abide in him, and by beholding his face, be changed from one glory into another, until we grow into the perfect image of Jesus Christ, and become master builders in his service.

As messengers of Christ, we ought always to realize that if we cultivate true fellowship with him, Christ will hold us in his right hand, and no one can pluck us from him. In danger, seen and unseen, he will ever hold up his servants, ever be ready to make of them successful fishers of men. A few instances suffice to show that what Christ has been of old he is also to his servants who proclaim this threefold message today. In the early days of this cause, when we had had but little experience in working for people of other tongues, quite a company of these had begun to keep the Sabbath. But our ministers could not induce them to unite with us. A beginner, who had once offered himself to visit them but had been refused on account of his youth, was finally sent. Instead of going straight to them, he labored successfully among people of the same nationality, and thus became acquainted with their ways. Meanwhile, division had taken place among those Sabbath keepers whom he was appointed to visit, one party having become really hostile. The minister was not aware of this, but as he drove along he was directed past several of the houses of the hostile party to the very house which he would have chosen had he known all the conditions. Another instance of God’s guidance is that of a minister who was accustomed to take a certain path every night when he went to his appointment. As he bowed down one evening before starting and asked God to assist him, he felt strangely impressed not to take the usual road. Next day he learned that an enemy had lain in wait for him that night to attack him. But God, who kept his servant in his right hand, led him another way.

At one time when a revolution shook one of the great empires of the earth and all railway traffic was broken up, one of the messengers of this truth was en route. As the train was stopped early in the morning by an angry mob, the first man he saw on the station platform was one of our brethren, who had no idea this brother was on the train. While the train was held up for three days the worker met with our company there, which thus far had been able to meet only secretly. He held meeting after meeting, unmolested by the police, whose power had been broken.

We know of missionaries of this message who were booked for certain trains or certain boats, but for some reason were delayed, who later learned of accidents that had befallen these trains or boats, and saw how wonderfully God had preserved their lives.

Volumes might be written of such overruling providences and such wonderful guidance in missionary experience. I remember an incident when a coworker and I were called hundreds of miles to follow up a supposed interest. But when we reached the place, nobody came. Being persuaded that God had some purpose in our going so far, we began night after night to plead with him for direction. A letter came from a sister far away, informing us that only forty miles north of us there were people waiting and praying for some of our ministers to come. We took this as an answer to our prayers, thanked the Lord, and went. In a little while a great interest sprang up, and hundreds of souls were converted and embraced this truth. Thus we can truthfully say, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Heb. 13:8.

But though we have a cloud of witnesses around us testifying what sweet fellowship with Christ has done in the past, and though we ourselves have had such experiences, yet our Lord Jesus Christ is anxious to let the last church on earth know by a special message his special care for them. Undoubtedly he as the true and faithful witness, before whose eyes nothing can be hid, knows that the greatest lack consists in the Laodicean church’s not recognizing the need of his presence, and not sufficiently prizing constant fellowship with him. In a most entreating manner he appeals to the Adventist people now: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20. If we now heed his voice and open our hearts this day and let him come in, we may feast with him of the good things heaven has in such abundance in store for us. There will be no question of our overcoming, and no question of our fruitfulness in his service.

The church of Christ must learn to expect and hope and pray for great things. But their eyes will not be anointed to see these unless they cultivate the closest fellowship with their true Leader. A writer truly says, “In wealth of praying we might any one of us be millionaire helpers, if we but seriously put ourselves to the trouble of it.” Our missions, both at home and abroad, would be advanced enormously, beyond all our expectations, if we would cultivate more and more of this fellowship with Christ and become true coworkers with him, fully understanding his ways and his thoughts and forsaking ours. He who fully unites in service with Christ here, and cultivates the closest fellowship in this short life, will soon share with him that eternal fellowship in glory, when we shall sit with him on his throne, even as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”