LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Testimony Entrusted to the Church
The revelation of the mystery and Christ's centrality are deposited in the hands of the Church.
David Vidal
"But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets" (Daniel 2.28).
Glory to God! We have a God who has not hidden what He will do, or, rather, what He is doing. The Father had a mystery, something that was born of Himself which fully pleased his heart, something that (if one could say so) He bet everything on.
I want to imagine the scene. One morning the Father calls His Son and tells him: "Beloved Son, I have a plan and I want to share it with you", and He tells Christ. When the Son hears it, He responds: "Father, it is the most glorious thing that I have heard, only you could think up something so magnificent". When the Holy Spirit hears them, He applauds, saying: "Glorious, glorious, I fully agree with you!" The scene finishes with the Father saying: "So then, let us do it".
The mystery revealed to the church
For many years the church has ignored this plan. Yes, the Father has wanted to share it, not only with his Son, but also with us, but Christianity has ignored this mystery, and has given importance to things that are a secondary part of this plan, but not the very essence. We have sung and prayed, and even preached that the most important thing for God is salvation, healing, heaven, or worse, hell. For a long time we have thought only about man- the maximum expression of the creation, the living being for which God acts. So the place of glory is quickly changed, as the apostle Paul says, they: " worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator " (Rom. 1:25).
But, let us return to the topic that concerns us, which is a certain mystery. Mystery can be defined as, "something that is beyond knowledge by natural means". That is why the apostle calls it 'the mystery'. We can see in the Scriptures how Paul received this "secret" and how he was given the responsibility of making it known to us by means of the spirit of revelation. This is " the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith " (Rom 16:25-26). In another place he tells us: "how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery" (Eph. 3:3) and he also says: " and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery " (Eph. 3:9).
This plan which was so perfect, was made known by God through the apostles and prophets, in the time that had been reserved for revelation by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:5) to His beloved church, to His holy people to whom He (the Father) wanted to give the Kingdom; to those whom Jesus called friends, to those whom he wanted to make known His most intimate plan. These would be the very fullness of this mystery, those washed by the Lamb, who the Savior snatched, by His blood from the very claws of hell. Glory to Christ!
Let us return to the beginning of history, to the origin of this purpose, when everything began: the Father lifts his working hand and begins a symphony of colors and angelic forms, seraphs, cherubs, archangels, angels, heavenly beings, full of light (of the light of God). Before such a great orchestrate more colors and forms appear, and they are allowed to see planets, stars, the sun, the moon, the beautiful sea, the clouds. All applaud and they glorify the Creator.
In a moment, silence, and then this powerful hand gives a beginning and forms a living being in His own likeness. The heaven explodes, the cheers burst at this creative wisdom. But was this the plan? Part of it .Let us therefore now see this heaven 'now'.
The Lamb has overcome
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals " (Rev. 5:1). The vision shows us God having this written plan in His hand, but not yet opened. Nobody can look at it, much less read it. Who would dare to remove it out of His hand? That's why our brother John weeps (verses 2-4). No, brother, don't cry, the Lion with attitude of that of a Lamb has overcome. Yes, He has overcome with His submission, with His love for the neighbor, by doing the Father's will in everything, without opening His mouth, as the perfect Lamb, as a lion to defend us, but also as a Lamb giving us an example. And when He took the book, this plan is revealed to us. What did the Father say to the Son? What was the secret? Let us see: "Son, the day will come when all that was created will surrender under your feet; angels, living beings, every tongue, nation and people will give you the glory for ever".
Brothers and sisters, He is among us. We see Jesus where the Father has always had Him, at the center of everything, as head of everything, as Lord of everything. Let us not allow anything else to take Christ's place in our meeting, in our fellowship, in our house, marriage and even in our own life. If He really washed you with His blood, give Him the place that belongs to Him and may nothing less than Christ sit on the throne of our adoration, songs and even preaching. Let us return to Christ's centrality in everything that we do.
The responsibility of the church
The writer of Hebrews (cap. 11), gives us a list of men and women who died and were tormented for giving this testimony; whole families that preferred to lose everything to win Christ. Our brothers and sisters who were sawed in two, killed by the sword, others destitute; who, when seeing and contemplating this plan, gave everything, not only their time or money, but also their own life. By living what they lived they passed over these truths to generations, to people, to tribes, to different languages. This plan was present in the mouths of many, those who preceded us that they might bring the torch to us. It is for that reason that we remember: " lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us ". (Heb. 12:1).
If God made known to us His plan, if He also trusted His plan to us, why do we look to smaller things? This weight may be an economic one, or the daily tasks of life that become so heavy, our plans, our own projects- even in God; but even more shamefully, our own sins which ultimately means looking to other things.
Church, look unto the Author of the faith again! Church, return your gaze to the only plan that God has! Church, you are also included! Church, today, what testimony will you pass on about the mystery that was entrusted to you?