p. 245 | ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST by Wm. Covert

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 16, 1901

ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST

By Wm. Covert

WM. COVERT (Bethel, Wis.)

There can be no character formed in man except as life is made its basis. If the character of Christ is produced in any one, it must stand in the life of Christ. It is the nature and power of Christ’s life which works the transformation. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

Righteous works are the works of Christ manifested through the faculties of those in whom Christ dwells. The life which prompts and performs the works, being the life of Christ, must in the very nature of the conditions be eternal life. It can not be otherwise, because it is the life of Christ, and His life is eternal. He can die no more. Jesus says: “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The life of Christ is a lamp, a guide, a teacher and sustainer. It illuminates the way, and directs the steps on the road. The mind of Christ is connected with the life. It gives wisdom and proper decision. It is the working force of redemption.

Redemption is re-creation. Its working logically begins where creation finished. The Lord first formed man’s body, and subsequently added life, and then created thought. But in redemption the work is of necessity performed transversely. Re-creation begins by renewing the mind, and then making the life of Christ, which is eternal, the basis of character.

The apostle, in speaking of the gifts and riches received through Christ, says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Cor. 4:7. The suffering, dissolving clay is for a time made to contain the priceless treasure of Christ’s righteousness and life. Man’s individuality must be made to co-operate, and his constancy must be tested, while in mortal flesh. This is needful before being intrusted with an immortal body. Jesus sees His own image shining forth in the character of His children, before their bodies are made into the image of His glorious body. Therefore the last thing in the work of redeeming man is to give him a body that corresponds to the nature of his divine Lord.

But questions will be asked concerning the keeping of this treasure when the earthen vessel falls into decay. The Scripture answer is, “This life is in His Son.” Christ is our life. “Ye are complete in Him.” “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” “When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory.” Col. 3:4, R. V.

Even in Christian experience and Christian living, Christ holds the life within His own power. He applies the eternal principle all the while that man abides in the present state. He also keeps it for him while man sleeps in death. Paul wrote of this, saying, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Tim. 1:12. That which Christ keeps is the life and everlasting crown. And this the apostle explains further on in the same letter, saying: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

When Lazarus of Bethany had died, Jesus said to His disciples, “Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. The disciples therefore said unto Him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover. Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that He spake of taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” John 11:11-14, R. V.

Then the righteous dead man is sleeping; and bringing such a man to life is waking him from his deep repose. Jesus, with His disciples, proceeded to the vicinity of the sleeping man, and found, when they arrived, a large number of persons weeping with the family of the deceased. Inquiring for the tomb, He approached it, and requested that the stone which barred its entrance be removed. To this a sister objected because her brother had been four days dead. But when Jesus made her believe that God would manifest His resurrection power if she would trust Him, the stone was taken away. And there, in front of the open sepulcher, and in the presence of the assembly, the Saviour prayed, and after prayer, with a loud voice He called: “Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus did come forth, in obedience to that call. There he stood before his wondering neighbors, a living man, wrapped about with burial clothes.

We can imagine how readily Martha and Mary bounded to his side to remove the grave clothes, when Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go.” We can almost imagine ourselves in that Bethany home in the evening after that eventful day, with Jesus in the midst, and Lazarus returned from the dead after having been four days in the tomb.

What an evening of interest and joy that must have been for Lazarus and his company! Four days previously to this he had bidden “Good-by” to his friends; and then had died. His sisters had him buried after he was known to be dead. Four days of dreadful grief had slowly worn away. No hope of meeting their brother in the present life encouraged their hearts or soothed their sorrow. But the coming of Jesus had brought their brother from the dead. He was now at home, and well. But even then the circle was not complete. The parents had not been awakened. Their resurrection in connection with the second coming of Jesus most likely was talked of on that occasion.

Jesus was by His works illustrating the truth that He had been teaching concerning the resurrection and the life.

Soon the voice that called Lazarus from the tomb will again call, and every sleeping saint will bound forth from the grave. The resurrection of Lazarus was but an illustration of what will soon be done in all the world. Broken circles will then be complete. At that time both heaven and earth will hear the joyful sound of many ten thousands of voices singing the praises of Jesus our King. Eternal life will then imbue the glorified bodies of all saints. It will be the same life then that now gives joy to the heart. The same emotions, only more real and intense, that have guided the Christian’s course here will govern him there. The same life that gladdens his soul now, will cause him to shout for joy then.

The same Jesus who came down from heaven is the one who went back to heaven. The same life that He laid down is the life that He took again. “I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” John 10:17. This life came from heaven. The same life must lift man up to heaven. The life that enables man to know Him that is true, is the true life, even eternal life. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”