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As He Is

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 32.

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“As He Is”

By T. E. BOWEN

T. E. BOWEN
Wonderful statements appear in the Word of God, most sublime truths are given, which we are very liable to pass over without appreciating their value. While we shall never know their unfathomable depths, yet they are for us, God's most sacred heritage bequeathed to us.
Writing to his “little children” in the faith, as he neared the end of his earthly pilgrimage, the beloved disciple John penned these words: “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:16-21.
True love among the believers was the evidence in the apostles' day that men and women had been adopted into the family of God—were separated from the world and had become sons and daughters of God. This unity and love for one another was the evidence to the world, as well as to themselves, that they had been born again, had become new creatures in Christ Jesus. And all this that was true back there, that was evidence then, is true today, and is evidence to us that these same transformations are taking place or have taken place in our lives.
One expression dropped into this scripture stands out with peculiar luster. It helps us to get a glimpse of the glory surrounding this mountain peak of perfection of character, which God's children are to attain. It is this: “Because as he is, so are we in this world.”
These few simple words unfold to us wonderful possibilities as to our attainment of character while here in this world. At first it seems too much to believe. John wrote this sentence long after the time when with his own eyes he watched his Lord go up into heaven. “As he is,” are his words, not as he was. No, it is “as he is.” This must mean, therefore, as Christ now is, up there in his ministry for us, so are we to be in this world.
The thought for us must be that as Christ in his work up there is perfect in love, blameless in his ministry of love, so are we to be as perfect in this same love while we in our sphere minister to others here in this world. As in heaven Christ's heart is filled with the love of his Father, so on earth our hearts are to overflow with Christ's love for others. “As he is, so are we in this world.”
What a revelation this is to us of the possibilities held out to us in our earthly service! “As he is,” takes on the form of a promise, pledging to us the bestowal of Jesus' love, as in sincerity of soul we seek for his indwelling presence that makes our lives actually fragrant with his unselfish love, like unto his own as he ministers in heaven.
We are commanded to love one another as he loved us while he was here. And when we do this, “as he is [now, for he is the “same Jesus” up there], so are we in this world.”
In this “day of judgment,” this time in which we now live, when Jesus in heaven is going over the record of men's lives, surely we need to have our love made perfect,—a love that casts out all fear, all hatred, all envy, and all evil speaking from our hearts forever. And this can be done only as the love of Christ fills the soul, and the words are fulfilled in us, “As he is, so are we in this world.” This being true, the way is prepared for the fulfilment of this other wonderful statement, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Takoma Park, D. C.