"As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly."
--1 Corinthians 15:48
The head and members are of one nature, and not like that monstrous
image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. The head was of fine gold, but
the belly and thighs were of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet, part of
iron and part of clay. Christ's mystical body is no absurd combination of
opposites; the members were mortal, and therefore Jesus died; the glorified
head is immortal, and therefore the body is immortal too, for thus the
record stands, "Because I live, ye shall live also." As is our loving Head,
such is the body, and every member in particular. A chosen Head and chosen
members; an accepted Head, and accepted members; a living Head, and living
members. If the head be pure gold, all the parts of the body are of pure
gold also. Thus is there a double union of nature as a basis for the closest
communion. Pause here, devout reader, and see if thou canst without ecstatic
amazement, contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus
exalting thy wretchedness into blessed union with His glory. Thou art so
mean that in remembrance of thy mortality, thou mayest say to corruption,
"Thou art my father," and to the worm, "Thou art my sister"; and yet in
Christ thou art so honoured that thou canst say to the Almighty, "Abba,
Father," and to the Incarnate God, "Thou art my brother and my husband."
Surely if relationships to ancient and noble families make men think highly
of themselves, we have whereof to glory over the heads of them all. Let the
poorest and most despised believer lay hold upon this privilege; let not a
senseless indolence make him negligent to trace his pedigree, and let him
suffer no foolish attachment to present vanities to occupy his thoughts to
the exclusion of this glorious, this heavenly honour of union with Christ.
"Girt about the paps with a golden girdle."
--Revelation 1:13
One like unto the Son of Man" appeared to John in Patmos, and the beloved
disciple marked that He wore a girdle of gold. A girdle, for Jesus never was
ungirt while upon earth, but stood always ready for service, and now before
the eternal throne He stays not is holy ministry, but as a priest is girt
about with "the curious girdle of the ephod." Well it is for us that He has
not ceased to fulfil His offices of love for us, since this is one of our
choicest safeguards that He ever liveth to make intercession for us. Jesus
is never an idler; His garments are never loose as though His offices were
ended; He diligently carries on the cause of His people. A golden girdle, to
manifest the superiority of His service, the royalty of His person, the
dignity of His state, the glory of His reward. No longer does He cry out of
the dust, but He pleads with authority, a King as well as a Priest. Safe
enough is our cause in the hands of our enthroned Melchisedek.
Our Lord presents all His people with an example. We must never unbind
our girdles. This is not the time for lying down at ease, it is the season
of service and warfare. We need to bind the girdle of truth more and more
tightly around our loins. It is a golden girdle, and so will be our richest
ornament, and we greatly need it, for a heart that is not well braced up
with the truth as it is in Jesus, and with the fidelity which is wrought of
the Spirit, will be easily entangled with the things of this life, and
tripped up by the snares of temptation. It is in vain that we possess the
Scriptures unless we bind them around us like a girdle, surrounding our
entire nature, keeping each part of our character in order, and giving
compactness to our whole man. If in heaven Jesus unbinds not the girdle,
much less may we upon earth. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth.
