"And He turned him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." [Lk 10L23-24]
Have you ever thought to yourself that it would be better for your spiritual walk and love of God, to have lived back in the Old Testament days? That if you could only see the miracles and hear the booming voice of God, like we often see those saints of old seeing and hearing, that you would be able to follow and love God much better than at present? As immature of a thought it might be, we have all probably thought or felt it at one time – for we are often so inclined to think “I could believe only if…” even as the Pharisee who petitioned Abraham, “nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” [f.f., Lk 16:30] But this way of thinking goes against what The LORD has said and done, which Paul speaks on to the Athenians:
“[God] hath made of one blood of all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek The Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.” [Acts 17:26-27]
The Lord has positioned us in the exact right time in history for the very purpose that we might seek Him and find Him. But alas, even so, we can easily be deceived to think that if we could see the mighty acts of God and see the prophets of old, or if angels would appear to us in glory, that we might be more zealous for our Lord and motivated unto His kingdom’s purposes. But let us remember what Jesus has told us through the gospels, as the verse for today shows:
“Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” [Lk 10:23-24]
As great as the miracles of Elijah and Moses are; as stunning as the appearances of angels; as grand as the prophetic words and as mighty as the battles and victories of The LORD over His enemies were – there is yet something greater and better! That better thing is Jesus Christ. What every saint of old longed for, we have. What every person hoped and yearned and waited their whole lives for: we have it secure in Jesus Christ, for He was their hope and stay all those years. The very climax of all human history is ours to remember, read about, and enjoy. The climax of The Father’s plan is ours to enjoy: grace upon grace in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts. As it is written, “and of His fulness have all we received, and grace upon grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” [Jn 1:16-17] And again,
“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” [Col 1:25-27]
There is no miracle, no work of God, no prophetic utterance, no glorious and magnificent military victory; no, there is nothing that can compare to the revelation of Jesus Christ as we have come to know through His cross and resurrection. The glory of Jesus Christ, which we can freely lay hold of in the New Covenant; the grace of God abundantly lavished upon us for every situation in Jesus Christ; the hope of eternal life – there is nothing in history that may compare. And so, may Jesus Christ be looked upon with awe and with praise: for His worth and value are beyond all others and all else. As Hebrews says, in contrast to what those Old Testaments saints had and experienced, “God [has] provided some better thing for us;” [Heb 11:40] and that better thing is Jesus Christ, and especially the faith and glory He displayed on earth, which we can gaze upon and enjoy.
Click here to see more posts in Daily Meditations on Jesus’ Glory: Volume IV