To Be an Eternal Part of the Newness of Christ
. . . and I will also write on him my new name. (Revelation 3:12—NIV)
Jesus Christ never changes. Yet, in accordance with the fact that He is the Firstborn from the dead, the First of the new creation, He has a new name. The new name of Jesus Christ tells what He has become since He walked the earth in a human body, sharing in our pain, and then was crucified.
I think Christ has grown more "human" since the time He shook Mount Sinai and threatened the people and animals with death if they drew near. Yet He remains the Word of God made flesh.
We also have been given a new name in keeping with the fact that in Jesus Christ we are being made a new creation. But now we see that the new name of Christ is to be written on us. This is an indication we are married to Him. We are the Bride of the Lamb, the eternal counterpart of Jesus Christ.
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. (Isaiah 62:2—NIV)
One of the greatest enemies we have is that of our self-will—our frantic desire to remain what we are. Worldliness we can put away. The lusts of the flesh we can drive out by the Spirit of God.
But when it comes to self-will, self-centeredness, self-love, self-seeking, self-importance, self, self, self, we draw the line. "I want to be me," as someone moaned.
The only solution to our destructive desire to remain what we are is our personal cross. When we carry our cross faithfully for a period of time it destroys from us that which constitutes our adamic nature. There is much good in the adamic nature of most people, but all of it must be removed before we can enter the fullness of union with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The two shall be one, the Bible declares. But the two remain two until one of the two decides to relinquish his or her right to remain as a separate entity.
If we would enter our land of promise we must surrender our right to be ourselves. We must enter the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord. He must become our life.
In my opinion, the greatest challenge facing the Christian churches of our day is that of surrendering their right to go forth and try to save the world with the gifts they have, relinquishing their right to plan and scheme how they are going to deliver mankind.
The Lord is not asking us to save the world. He is asking us to abide in Him. To let go and trust the Lord to build His own Kingdom can be a terrifying choice to the intense religious individual.
But until we turn to the Lord in humility and set aside all our plans, religious as well as secular, we cannot enter the rest of God, the land of promise. We absolutely must cease from our own works if we are to enter God's rest.
This is difficult because today the emphasis is on important ministers building ever bigger buildings, creating ever bigger institutions. The minister who instead looks to the Lord for every breath may be regarded as a "loser"—a person lacking in faith, drive, ambition, talent.
In order to be married to the Lamb we have to accept His headship. In order to dance with Jesus Christ we have to let Him lead. He simply will not turn over His role as God's Administrator to men who are attempting to direct the Holy Spirit in revival.
What are some of the roadblocks Satan throws up as we seek to become a pillar in the Temple of God, an eternal part of the Father and the Son?
One roadblock is the synagogue of Satan. The synagogue of Satan consists of self-cantered believers. They are used by Satan to accuse the true worshipers of Christ. They never have accepted the idea that they must surrender their will to Christ. Therefore Satan, the accuser of the brothers, is able to use them to cause division, to gossip, to slander God's servants.
If we respond in any way to their slander we have a difficult time finding our place in the Temple of God. Our adamic nature is provoked by the things that are said about us. We must leave all such accusations in the Lord's hands if we would become a new creation. We just have to pray enough to make certain we are pleasing Him, doing His will in all matters.
We have to endure patiently the years during which God's promises to us are suspended. We must keep the word of Christ's patience.
Americans place a high value on getting out and doing things. The concept of waiting, waiting, waiting for the mind of the Lord is not part of our culture. We want action and success and we want it now.
If we expect Christ to guard us during the hour of testing that is to come upon the whole world we must guard His Word and wait patiently for Him.
Another roadblock consists of people who would take our crown. Sometimes relatives or friends do things that tempt us to come down from our high place in God. We may be pressured to move ahead of God. Someone we love or respect may advise us that we are going in the wrong direction. This may be true and so we must be very prayerful and not arrogant.
One of the greatest dangers occurs when someone injures us spitefully or wrongfully and we develop a root of bitterness, not being able to forgive and lay aside the injustice.
We may be tempted to engage in immoral behaviour
Our position in a denomination or church, or in some other institution may be at stake if we continue looking to the Lord and doing His will.
Some prominent ministers of our day have been brought low because of immorality or a desire to become rich. Many, many pressures and enticements surround us as we seek to set our heart on things above. But as we keep our eyes steadfastly on the goal of becoming a part of God's house, the temptations, pressures, and dangers of the present world lose their ability to draw us away.
• We have set perfect union with Christ as our goal.
• Also, the authority and power to rule in Christ over our circumstances. .
• We seek deliverance from all behaviours that keep us in dread of being tormented by the Divine judgment. .
• We keep on fighting the good fight of faith and thus are kept supplied with the hidden manna. .
• We are becoming a new creation and will be given a new name as we move from the ranks of the called to those of the chosen. .
• We are set on receiving the nations and the farthest reaches of the earth as our inheritance. .
• We desire to be a member of the royal priesthood and thus participate in the first resurrection. .
• We want the eternal assurance of life and to be recognized in the Court of Heaven. .
• We envision being a pillar in the Temple of God.
• We want to belong to God. .
• We are hoping to be a part of the new Jerusalem. .
• We esteem marriage to the Lamb as more desirable than preserving our own individuality. .
What additional areas of Canaan remain to be conquered?