On a recent trip with the saints we visited a large series of caverns. Above ground there was nothing unusual or impressive. But as we progressed deeper and deeper, we witnessed many hidden wonders — rich mineral deposits, stalactites and stalagmites, flowstones, a “dream lake,” and even music generated from the rocks themselves. Our Lord is like this — on the surface many may see nothing impressive. But He is rich, full of depth and endless discovery. His heart’s desire, His eternal purpose, is to make all His multifarious wisdom known. For this He needs a Body, the church.
When we come to the Lord, we are brought into His Body. As His expression, the church life releases all the riches of Christ in many ways, from our speaking the word to our corporate living together — space after space, vision after vision. Maybe at first in our journey we are attracted by the church life without understanding what’s happening. But eventually we look up and behold Him. All that we experience here is Christ.
Our churching is not a “doing” but an entrance into seeing. The more we see, the deeper we are brought into a domain. Once we see, we are empowered to simply live; we walk in this reality by faith, not by appearance (2 Cor. 5:7)! The more we see, the more we are “looking away unto” or “walking in” the dimensions of Christ, the more clearly we sense that He is also deep within us, making His home in our hearts (Heb 12:2; Col 2:6; Eph. 3:17). We see Him. We sense Him. We walk in Him. We make Him known. He becomes tangible to others through us.
We are all changed by this spiritual seeing, not by our self-effort or good intentions. The more we see Him and experience Him in the church life, the more our own vessels or “caverns” are opened, deepened, and filled — and the more we are transformed. Our thinking changes. We become rooted and established in His love that has been poured out into our hearts. If our being remains closed, unwilling to see, trusting ourselves too much, all the riches remain dark, hidden, and separated from us.
How simple and powerful our life is in the Body. Only in this ecology can we grow this secret, deep relationship — a foundation laid on the rock of Christ that is ever richer to us by the day. This echoing, spacious life might start quietly within us, but it eventually manifests through our bright face and expression, through our colorful living, and through our testimony. The tabernacle was also like this — unimpressive on the outside, but full of His glory deep within. May the church release His riches!
Saints, we’ve come down the mountain. I hope we can continue to walk by faith and not by routine! We should not be hidden. Let’s press on to make a way.
— JR