WHERE WE HAVE COME

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel" (Heb 12:22-24). Salvation is much larger than ordinarily perceived. Our position in Christ far transcends that of Israel under the Law. We have not come to a mountain that can be touched--flaming with fire and surrounded by smoke and quaking (Heb 12:18-21). That was an economy of sight and sound, apprehended by the senses, and within which satisfactory moral and spiritual progress could not be made. But this is not the case with those in Christ Jesus. We have come where God is! Under the Law, God came where the people resided, filling the tabernacle with His symbolic presence. Now, in Christ, we have come to HIS residence--"the heavenly Jerusalem." We have been elevated to "heavenly places," and a blessed habitation it is! (Eph 1:3; 2:6) We have also come into the company of countless angels "in joyful assembly" (NIV). They are our appointed ministers (Heb 1:13-14). They are not at our beck and call, but are dispatched by the Lord Jesus to aid us in our trek to glory. They have an intense interest in the Gospel we have embraced (1 Pet 1:12), and have been marshaled for our protection. Now, we have come into a vibrant fellowship of all whose names are written in heaven. We are at liberty to enjoy all that are born again, whether in the world, or with the Lord, their works being left behind. We taste even now oif "the powers of the world to come" (Heb 6:5), heavenly influences that transcend our comprehension, but are integrated with our experience. God Himself is enjoyed--in the capacity of Judge. He does not condemn us, but, in Christ, judges in our favor, scattering our enemies and dispelling our fears. "If God be for us, who can be against us" (Rom 8:31). And, bless God, we enjoy the Lord Jesus Himself, Who administers the New Covenant to us, and through His blood keeps us clean and suitable for heaven. His blood is "the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things than that of Abel." Whereas Abel's blood cried out condemnation, Christ's blood declares justification! These are the benefits we have appropriated in Christ Jesus. They belong to us, and may be enjoyed to a remarkable degree. There is no acceptable reason for any in Christ to fail or be overcome by the adversary!

-- MONDAY: THERE IS A MARK! --