Editorial

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1904

Looking Unto Jesus

In the Christian race every weight is to be laid aside, the sin which doth so easily beset us is to be put away, and we are to run with steadfastness, “looking unto Jesus the Leader and Perfecter of our faith.” To ensure success in our Christian life it is absolutely necessary that we should keep our minds stayed upon the Lord, and that we should run the race “looking unto Jesus.” To look elsewhere is to forget Jesus. To look elsewhere is to invite defeat. To look elsewhere is to acknowledge that there is a greater than Jesus. Let us try to understand the fulness of meaning in the simple expression “looking unto Jesus.” Consider these words: “Looking, not to ourselves or our sins, but to him who hath put away sin forever. Not to ourselves or our faith, whether in its weakness or its strength, but to him whose presence is the life of our faith. Not to the world or its temptations, but to him who hath said, ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ Not to Satan or his threats, but to him who hath brought him to naught. Not to men, or their fear or their favor, but to Jesus, the God-Man, Immanuel, God with us, our Brother and our King. Looking to Jesus, and Jesus alone. Looking to him always and in all. In trial and trouble, as in joy and prosperity; in solitude and repose, as in company and business; in religious worship, as in daily life,—always, only, looking to Jesus. Looking to him, to see what he is, to hear what he speaks, to do what he says, to follow where he leads, to trust for all he waits to give. Looking to him and his love, till my heart burns with that love. Looking to him, till his eye meets mine, and I know that he watches over me. Looking to him in the power of his love and Spirit, knowing that he himself is drawing me to himself, leading and perfecting my faith. Looking to him, to be changed into his likeness from glory to glory.” Ah, what blessing will be found in the experience of “looking unto Jesus”! “Look unto me, and be ye saved.”

The Meeting Place

Very appropriately is the tabernacle in which the typical service was performed frequently called “the tent of meeting” in our Revised Version of the Scriptures. The people did not meet in the tabernacle for worship, as congregations now assemble in places of worship, but there God and man met over the broken law of God, and pardon and peace were assured to those who were willing to accept the divine provision in their behalf. This is one of the particulars in which the tabernacle was a type of the things which were afterward to be fully revealed. What was thus set forth in figure was realized in the person of Jesus, Son of God and Son of man. He clothed his divinity with humanity. “The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” Thus it was upon earth. And in heaven “the Lamb of God is represented before us as ‘in the midst of the throne’ of God. He is the great ordinance by which man and God are united and commune together. Thus men are represented as sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This is the appointed place of meeting between God and humanity.” Such is the mystery of the incarnation. It is “in Christ Jesus” that we are made to sit in the heavenly places. It is “in Christ Jesus” that “the exceeding riches of his grace” is shown unto us. It is “in Christ Jesus” that we are created for good works. It is “in Christ Jesus” that those who “once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.” It is “in Christ” that the Father “hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing.” And it is only in him and through him that we are able to draw nigh unto God. Through no other channel has the Father made a revelation of himself for salvation. Do you desire to meet with God? Believe on Jesus. Do you desire to experience the union of divinity with humanity? Believe on Jesus. “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.” What a blessed meeting place!