The Reason We Get Stuck Spiritually

It would indeed be wonderful if we could live, as some have sought to do, in the delusion that there really was no Fall and, therefore, is no sin. But we know better. Sin is a reality—we all bear the marks of the Fall. Hence we must consider how God makes provision to lift the sinner out of his man-centered universe into a God-centered position. We shall see how the work of the Cross moves man from the old center . . .

To a New Center

A friend of mine has recently printed a little motto which reads: KEEP LOOKING DOWN. It, of course, causes no little comment from those who are accustomed to the phrase: KEEP LOOKING UP. The shock most often achieves its intention. If the observer is a believer, it serves to remind him that it does make a difference where he is positioned. If down here, of course, we must look up to Him. But if we have truly entered into our position “with Christ in God” we have risen to a heavenly vantage point from which to view a whole new life.

A simple story will illustrate this. Little Billy promised faithfully that he would not leave the yard. He was reminded there would be throngs of people on the street that day to watch the parade. But once the bands started playing and the floats began moving by, he suddenly realized what he was missing. Oh, to be free of the tall board fence that surrounded the safety of his yard! All Billy could see of the parade was what he glimpsed through a small knot hole in the board fence. People were constantly getting in his way.

Then he heard the voice of his big brother calling from the upstairs veranda, “Billy, why don’t you come up here.” Billy couldn’t quite reach the bottom rung of the outside ladder, so his brother came down, lifted him in one strong arm and carried him to the top.

Of course! Here was the place to see everything! He looked down at the wide avenue from one end to the other. He thrilled with excitement. “Oh,” he cried, “now I can even see what went before, and what’s passing now, and way up the street I can see what’s coming. It’s like living in a new world.”

For Billy the past, present and future had come to blend into one big now. So it is when we come by God’s invitation to view the parade of time from the heavenly vantage point. God not only sees in one vast sweep the events of time, He sees all He had planned before the book of Genesis began and all that will be consummated after the Revelation. As viewed from His eternal now, eternity becomes one complete whole, with the span we call time as a minute parenthesis.

It would seem that the Psalmist must have been desirous of this heavenly position when he wrote: “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.” Understand! What? Did the Psalmist sense our need to look out from God’s viewpoint before we could understand all He intended? But it is really the Apostle Paul who considers this viewpoint imperative. In his prayer for the Colossians, as given in Phillip’s translation, he makes this thought clear: “We are asking God that you may see things as it were from His point of view, by being given spiritual insight and understanding . . .” (Colossians 1:9).

Thus every man is either still centered in himself, “looking up” from his own viewpoint, or he is enjoying the viewpoint Paul prayed about: He is “looking down” from God’s vantage point—looking out through His eyes.

But mere wishful thinking will not move fallen man into this new position. It is not man’s doing, but God’s. It was God who entered into humanity completely enough to raise man to another plane of life, to deliver manhood into a new center where all things become new. Notice that below we have pictured the means by which God translates man from the family of Adam into the kingdom of His son.

“A” Illustrates All Men in Adam

“A” illustrates all men in Adam as they live unto themselves, relating all life’s happenings to self. Instead of enthroning God, Adam enthroned himself by deliberately eating of the forbidden fruit. From that time everything has been out of order for Adam’s entire family. By attempting to be ultimate himself, man seeks to use God and relate all His works for his own desires.

God expresses man’s predicament in this way: “Destruction and misery are in their ways”—not as a result of their ways but inherently “in their ways.” Nothing will come out right for the person who either consciously or subconsciously makes the universe to revolve around himself. What a penalty, to live with a self you can’t live with! As long as you center in yourself, you won’t like yourself. Another has put it this way. “It’s so wonderful to get yourself off your own hands and into the hands of God. It’s like living in a new world!”

Man was not created to be the center, and any attempt to build this false, self-centered universe will only cause confusion. God has made life that way, and there is no use kicking against the good, as Paul did to his hurt.

“B” Illustrates How God, Through the Work of Christ on the Cross, Has Put an End to the Old Race of Adam

“B” illustrates how God, through the work of Christ on the Cross, has put an end to the old race of Adam. Paul explains it this way, “We thus judge that one died for all, therefore all died; and he died for all, that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who for them died and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

Paul reveals that it was God’s purpose to take all of Adam’s race to the Cross in order to deal with the “I” that stands in opposition to God. So when God looked down upon the Cross, He saw us united in death with His Son. All that is involved in the treachery of S-I-N (Selfishness, Independence, Negation) is dealt with there. Thus from God’s viewpoint man was crucified with Christ—but more, he was raised with Christ in Joseph’s new tomb. He was raised with Christ to newness of life. But still more than that, he was positioned with Christ in God in a new heavenly position.

Now all this which God reckons to have happened from his viewpoint, we must likewise reckon to be our experience by faith-appropriation. So Paul describes it in four words: crucified, buried, risen and ascended. This is not something we do. No, we see it by revelation—see that it happened to us “in Him”—and we by faith live in that reckoning.

“C” Illustrates How Man Has Been Raised with Christ and Is Now in a New Position “in Him”

“C” illustrates how man has been raised with Christ and is now in a new position “in Him.” We know of multitudes of believers who have been well-taught about their position in Christ. They speak with conviction of the finished work by which they have forgiveness, deliverance, victory and authority. And well they might rejoice in all that has been done for them. Yet here is the trouble—the snare. They have missed the deepest severing power of the Cross which would deliver them to a life centered in God where all things are related to Him.

For almost fifteen years this writer preached the glories of our position in Christ and emphasized the truths of identification in the death and resurrection of Christ as this made available a victorious walk—a truth which is now being taught by hundreds throughout the country. Yet, I was, without realizing it, always relating all this to man and his needs and welfare. It was all for man—what man received through his new position in Christ. Thus the center had not really changed.

Then one day the truth exploded. I realized just how short this emphasis was of bringing man to a full and total emancipation from his man-centeredness whereby he could live a whole, new life with a new center of relatedness. It became evident that as long as one is still appealing to man for what man can get, it fits into the popular approach. But it is a vastly different thing to experience the radical working of the Cross which liberates one from self to a new center. As long as one is still more alive to what God does for man, to what the Cross realizes for man, to what our position in Christ means for man—that individual has never grasped the Father’s full intention for placing us in His Son: that we might come to the same vision, purpose, dedication and philosophy of life as the Son shares in the Father.

“D” Illustrates What It Means to Live with an Utterly New Center of Gravity

“D” illustrates what it means to live with an utterly new center of gravity. We are not merely centered “in Christ” but, with Him, are centered in God the Father. As we shall see, in this God-centered position it is no longer our victory, but living in His victory; it is no longer our purpose, but living in His purpose; it is no longer our dedication, but living in His dedication. All things have truly become new.

The vast majority of believers stop at “C” where they seek to enjoy all that comes to them through their position “in Christ.” They hear the cry, “possess your possessions, live in your full inheritance.” But soon many wonder why their attempt to appropriate all their blessings leaves them cold, empty and dissatisfied. It is because the full light has not dawned. God is not calling them to a life of getting, but instead to be centered in Him where all is giving, where . . .

All Things Are New

In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, Paul seems to share the very heart of the issue. He explains what caused him to live a completely God-centered life. With Paul, being a new creature in Christ was more than a doctrinal position; it was an actual experience which became real by revelation. To be with Christ in God meant to look out through God’s eyes, to see and interpret and relate all things to Him. One who has entered into this experience needs no one to explain it to him. He knows what it means to be released from the captivity of the old-world-center where all was self-relating and to be translated into a new world where all is God-related.

“Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, BEHOLD ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Let us consider four of the changes this will bring as we begin to look out through His eyes and appreciate all things as they work to realize His ultimate intention.

A New Viewpoint

In 2 Corinthians 5:16 Paul writes, “. . . from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view—in terms of natural standards of value. (NO) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint . . . we know him (THUS) no longer . . .” (A.N.T.).

Once we looked at our own weakness and failure and it only brought despair. Once we lived under the scrutinizing eyes of others and it only brought bondage. Now we look out through His eyes and behold the rough stone upon which He is working—but we also see beyond to the finished product which He will make. We see ourselves as He sees us—not as the rough stone, but as the finished stone which will bring delight to Him.

What a difference! Seeing ourselves and others no longer after the flesh, but seeing as God sees—living stones that He will fit into the Temple of the Ages. How small this makes our wishes and our problems! Yet how great to be a part of something so tremendous as His ultimate intention.

A New Relatedness

From this new viewpoint we begin to see with Paul, how all things work according to God’s purpose. Previously we might have related events to ourselves and considered them as they affected us, but now we see them as related to His ultimate intention. So we say with Paul, “All things are of God . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

One night a veteran missionary on furlough sat with us before the fireplace. She told how God had prepared her heart to move away from a self-centered to a God-centered life. She explained how for several years she bit her lip when pressures or problems came and inwardly groaned, “Well Lord, you know about this. I am sure ‘all things work together for (my) good.’ So I guess I can endure, since it will eventually work out for my benefit.”

Then she continued, “Tonight, I’ve entered a new life with a new relatedness.” She went on to explain how for years she had been a victim (unconsciously) of self-reference. She saw everything as it related to her and trusted all to work out eventually for her own good! “How much,” she confessed, “I’ve been the center of my little religious world. Without realizing it, I have been trying to use God and interpret the bitter experiences just for me. I always meant well, but I have been utterly blind.

“Tonight I have come to see the great difference between being occupied with God Himself, instead of with myself. The Holy Spirit has unveiled to me what Paul meant when from his new viewpoint he related all to God: ‘I would that ye should understand brethren, that the things which have happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.’”

What an emancipation! When we begin to relate all the parts to the whole we will see how God is doing everything with a perfect relatedness to that desire He has purposed in Himself.

A New Occupation

Paul further reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “. . . so we are Christ’s Ambassadors, God making His appeal through us . . .” The songwriter who understood something of this new position put it thus: “Once I tried to use Him, now He uses me.” Once we were occupied with working for Him. Now we are occupied with Him and He works through us. So it is the new man “in Him” who clearly understands his separation unto God. He refuses to meet men any longer on the ground of the flesh. Now as Christ’s personal representatives this is our message: “We beg you for His sake, to lay hold of divine favor . . .” No longer do we appeal to men merely for their own sake, but rather for His sake. Only from this new viewpoint do we understand our new occupation: We are first occupied with a Person, then with His purpose; first with worship and then with His work.

A New Yardstick

So much is being said these days about being adjusted to God, and coming into harmony with Him. But with what shall we measure? Adjusted—but to what? Too much of the preaching about reconciliation has been reconciliation to God—but wholly for ourselves. Surely Paul has much more in view when he says (vs. 19): “God reconciled us to Himself (brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation that by word and deed we might bring others into harmony with Him” (A.N.T.).

The question is: What is the yardstick for measuring whether we are fulfilling or falling short of God’s purpose? We can only be in full harmony with the Father as we are dedicated to and living for the same thing: HIS ULTIMATE INTENTION.

It is imperative to recognize that the Father has purposed at least three things FOR HIS SON. Let us see the several phrases which, when pieced together, give us the full picture of this intention.

1. Paul speaks of “my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4). What was that mystery? It was that the Son might have a corporate Body through which to express Himself. It is the mystery of Christ in you—the means by which God’s glory shall be manifest in every believer (Colossians 1:27).

2. Again, it is the Father’s intention that His Son shall be the Head of this Body, the altogether preeminent One who expresses not only Himself, but the fulness of the Godhead. Thus the Father and the Holy Spirit also are revealed and expressed throughout the whole universe by the lives of His many sons (Colossians 1:18).

3. Further, the Father has intended to make Him (the Son) to be the center and gathering point for all things in heaven and earth—“to sum up all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). All things were not only created “by Him,” but “FOR HIM” (Colossians 1:16).

What a glorious unveiling—almost beyond our comprehension. To think that the Father hath purposed in Himself to make Christ the center of His working. The altogether lovely One, His Son, is to have the preeminence. Knowing this ultimate intention for the Son we can better understand the Father’s intention for His many sons who make up Christ’s Body. Now we can recognize that whatever comes short of revealing that which the Father ultimately intends for His Son is just short—it needs to be rectified, brought into harmony. Looking out from His Father-heart, we now have the ultimate yardstick by which we can measure things which fulfill or fall short of the Father’s intention. Everything that harmonizes with this has His approval.

To some it may seem strange that the Father would dedicate Himself to such an end. Yet, that is what He has purposed in Himself from the counsels of eternity past. But let us remember, the eternal Son and His Body of rectified sons are destined to live for one thing: the most complete and supreme honor, glory, pleasure and satisfaction which they can bring to the heavenly Father. So while the Father is concerned for His Son, the Son is also concerned for the Father. The divine rule of action which governs all heaven, is that all His sons shall be invited to embrace this divine purpose and philosophy of life.