Book 4 of Musings Created To Be Part of God

The idea of giving up their own life in favor of being united with God's life proves difficult for some believers.

The choice we are required to make as an individual is whether to retain our right to be independent, or to let go of that right and become one with God through Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul said he was crucified with Christ, and now he was living no longer but Christ was living in him.

Probably many Christians know of this verse. But I wonder if they have thought of what is involved in such an experience. Paul was way ahead of us, wasn't he!

Sometimes Christians say they have given their heart to the Lord. I wonder if they have. I think they mean they have made a profession of belief in the Lord and in His blood atonement. But I am not certain they actually have given their heart to the Lord.

The Lord is looking for people today who will give up their own lives that they might be part of God's Life. This is what the Lord means when He says He stands at the door and knocks, and if any person will permit Him to enter his personality the Lord will dine with him.

This is an awesome, awesome decision. It gets to the root of what we are as an individual person; our right to be ourselves. How many believers are ready and willing to surrender their right to be themselves in order to be part of Christ?

We truly are more foolish than any other creature on the face of God's earth if we choose to maintain our individual life rather than to become part of God's Life.

We can see how such a choice would benefit us. This is obvious.

But how does it look from God's viewpoint? Why would He want to bring us into His Person to this extent?

To answer this question we must consider what God is doing.

The invisible God is making Himself visible. It is as simple as this.

The Lord Jesus Christ is referred to as the Incarnation of God. This means Christ is God revealed in physical flesh and bone.

Another way of saying the same thing is, Jesus is the Father's House.

But, as the Lord stated, in the Father's House, in the Incarnation of the Father, there are to be many rooms. This is where we come in. We are living stones designed to be part of the great structure that is the eternal House of the Father.

It pleases God to no longer be an invisible Spirit but to be revealed in flesh and bone.

If you can think of anything more astounding than this, please write and let me know. To me it is the supreme event of all history-of all eternity, for that matter.

The eternal God has chosen to reveal Himself in physical form.

Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (I Timothy 3:16)

I do not know how long the spirit realm was in existence prior to the creation of the physical universe. Perhaps that period could not be measured by earthly time.

We must remember there were great lords who apparently held high posts in Heaven. Satan was one of the two cherubim who guarded the Throne of God.

The Father created all these personages through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

Then God, for whatever reason, decided to make a physical realm inhabited by people made in His image.

So now we have a habitable planet, and millions of people, and God is invisible in Heaven. God is not pleased with this. He created all these people so He could have fellowship with them and they could love Him and worship Him. This is what God wants.

However, God's desire cannot possibly be realized while He is invisible in Heaven and we are down here on the earth.

What is God going to do about His frustration? He is going to reveal Himself, give Himself a physical form, so He can have fellowship with the people He has made and they can see Him and love and worship Him.

A simple, practical solution.

The first Person to reveal God in physical form is the Lord Jesus Christ.

But in the Father's house there are to be many rooms, many dwelling places. This is where you and I come in.

Can you see how much better it is for God to have millions of people through whom He can be revealed rather than just One?

All that remains is for each one of us to choose to be the revelation of God rather than a revelation of himself or herself.

I know the world would not profit very much by seeing the revelation of myself. But the world will profit enormously if I choose to set aside my own life that God might be revealed in me. Whom would you rather see, me or God?

But you won't see God until I am willing to surrender my individuality and become one with the Life of God.

The same is true of you. Through means of your own talents you might bring joy to a few people. But if you are willing to be the revelation of Christ your fruit will be incalculable.

How about it? I myself, and multitudes of others, are waiting to see God revealed in you. Are you willing to give us the opportunity to see the Lord and worship Him?

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)