Book 4 of Musings Christ in Our Heart

It may be true that the entrance of Christ into the personalities of the believers has been reserved for the last days.

How often do we hear the exhortation today: "Let Christ into your heart."

Did you ever think about this? Did you ever consider the fact that the Apostles did not preach this? They preached primarily about faith in Christ, repentance, and forgiveness. Search the Book of Act for yourself and note how many times you find the expression "Let Christ into your heart."

Years ago I decided that, as is so often the case nowadays, we had departed from the Bible. But as I have reflected how easy and naturally that expression comes from us today, it may be true that something is taking place that was not the case in the days of the Apostles of the Lamb.

I have written much about how the feast of Tabernacles follows Pentecost, signifying that the next move after Pentecost will be the coming of the Father and the Son to take up Their eternal abode in us.

Also, we have the following words written to the last of the seven churches:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20)

I don't believe it is happenstance that the above words were written to the last of the churches. Perhaps in our time the Lord is going to enter His people in a manner different from ever before.

Why would this be? It would be because of the tremendous authority that is going to be given to Antichrist as the Church Age draws to a close.

We have made up a flight to Heaven ("rapture") to save us from Antichrist and the Great Tribulation. But I believe the provision God has made for us is to enter us in such a manner that we are able to overcome Antichrist and continue in health and strength throughout the Great Tribulation.

It would be more in keeping with the way the Lord does things to give us the victory in the midst of trouble, rather than to whisk us away so we are not harmed. How does that strike you? Would you rather be removed from the earth, or have God enter you to such an extent you were able to stand in victory in Christ?

We know, from the last chapter of the Book of Revelation, that the Throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem is the glorified Christian Church. So at some point the Throne of God will move from its present location into the hearts of the saints. Perhaps that transition is close at hand, since we are becoming aware of it.

In between Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles were two celebrations. The first was the Blowing of Trumpets. The second was the Day of Atonement.

The Blowing of Trumpets represents the Lord Jesus coming to His Church and declaring the coming of the Kingdom of God and war against His enemies.

The Day of Atonement portrays the removing of sin and self-will from God's people.

Then comes the feast of Booths, or Tabernacles.

Getting back to the Blowing of Trumpets, the observance that occurs after the feast of Pentecost, my personal opinion is that we find it emphasized in the twenty-fourth Psalm.

We are learning today that it is not the purpose of God to bring His people to Heaven to live forever but to resurrect them so they can live once again on the earth.

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." This is how the twenty-fourth Psalm commences.

Then we note the stress on righteous behavior. "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?" The answer is, of course, those who live righteously.

By the way, this condition has never changed. The enormous, error of the current teaching is that "grace" makes it possible for unrighteous people to ascend the hill of the Lord.

We ought to know better than this. We have been deceived. We have turned the grace of God into a license for ungodly behavior.

Then, in the twenty-fourth Psalm, we have the Lord Jesus Christ entering us as a Warrior in fulfillment of the Blowing of Trumpets.

"Lift up your heads, you eternal doors, and let the King of Glory come in, the Lord strong and mighty in battle."

Would you ever think of the twenty-fourth Psalm in connection with "If any man open the door I will come in to him"?

So we see that there may be a reason why we are saying to people, "Let Jesus into your heart," even though the Apostles did not give this invitation.

The Book of Daniel informs us that Antichrist will be given such authority that he can reach into the heavens and attack the heavenly host. Some of them will be torn down. Wherever there is disobedience, it will be removed from the Presence of God and Christ.

During these climactic events that are at hand, our only protection will be to have Christ living in us to a much greater extent than is true in the present hour.

The One who is in us is greater than Antichrist.

"The Lord, strong and mighty in battle." We are not accustomed to thinking of Jesus in terms of a Commander in Chief, are we? But God will be confronting Satan in the last days. There shall be a terrific battle. This war will rage between the heavens and the earth. How will we survive if we are not filled with the Commander in Chief and His authority and power?

We often have thought of Heaven as being a place of safety. Chapter and verse, please!

Isn't it true, rather, that the rebellion began in Heaven? In the closing days of the Church Age there shall be war in Heaven.

We are to make a great effort today to listen for the voice of Christ and open our personality to Him. He wants to live in us and have fellowship with us. It is an inner fellowship.

This means we will have to withdraw from intense involvement in the world culture, handling it lightly, and direct our attention to Christ and what He is saying to us personally.

In everything we are and do we are to place Jesus at the forefront We must become increasingly conscious of His Presence if we are to survive in the coming days and stand before Christ in victory.

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty-he is the King of glory. Selah (Psalms 24:7-10)