Spring 1993

Looking Unto Jesus
Wade E Taylor

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith;
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the Throne of God" Heb 12:2.

We are exhorted to set the gaze of our spirit upward toward Jesus, whose life was openly displayed for us to look upon. We are to both consider and meditate upon the example of His life, as the pattern for our lives.

The Old Testament speaks prophetically of Jesus regarding the implicit trust He placed in His Father concerning His life and ministry.

"For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I
not be confounded: therefore have I set my face
like a flint, and I know that I shall not be
ashamed" Isa 50:7.

Due to His faith and implicit trust in the character of His Father, Jesus was enabled to fully obey His Father's will. He knew His Father would not fail Him in the time of need.

Paul set the gaze of his spirit toward the Lord and diligently followed the pattern he saw in the example of Jesus. He gave his testimony, expressing the result of his living - as the Lord lived.

"Not as though I had already attained, either were
already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of
Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus" Phil 3:12-14.

We are exhorted to have this same "mind," or "set of spirit."

"Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus
minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,
God shall reveal even this unto you" Phil 3:15.

We must have both vision and direction in our spiritual lives, along with an implicit trust, not only in the ability, but in the willingness of the Lord to bring us into the fullness of His intention for us.

We have not exhausted the depth of revelation that is buried within the Word of God. Rev 2:17 speaks of "hidden manna" - truth not yet revealed, but available to those who have certain overcoming qualities in their lives. As we intently look to Him, there is much that He will yet reveal to us.

"The secret of the LORD is with them that fear
(reverence) Him; and He will shew them His
covenant" Psalm 25:14.

Many theorize about the program of God for the end time. We must have a proper "set" of spirit before the Lord will reveal more. First, we must be walking with Him in the out-working of the Word we have already received. Through illumination, this present Word should be a vibrant, living reality, having relevant meaning for our present circumstances and time.

I Chronicles 12:32 speaks of a company of (spiritually mature) men "that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." Only as we walk with Him in expectancy with purpose and direction, will we be able to understand the things that are before us.

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many; and unto them that look for Him shall
He appear the second time without sin unto
salvation" Heb 9:28.

The book of Revelation is more than a setting forth of future events, it is a revelation of Him. Only as our vision is singularly set upon Him will we begin to understand the message within this book concerning the closing out of the day in which we live, and the birthing of the age to come.

The Lord is progressively bringing us into a greater understanding of Himself, of His desire for the spiritual growth and well being of His Church, and the establishing of His Kingdom rule. This will result in the disclosure of new methods and understandings, richer, and more glorious than previous ones.

There lies between the closing of one dispensation and the opening of another, a period of time which participates in the methods and powers of both ages. We are now in such a period of time, living between the Gospel era - the times of the Gentiles now closing; and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ – the Kingdom age, about to open.

This incoming age will see many extraordinary events. The most noted and central of all will be the revelation and coming of the King. Only those who presently walk with Him with an enlightened eye will understand the unfolding of this new day. We must have Kingdom vision, else our eyes will be blinded.

Many of the Lord's redeemed continue to linger in that which is already known and established, and are unwilling to identify with those who say,

"Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp,
bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing
city, but we seek one to come" Heb 13:13-14.

This day is foretold in Scripture in many guises and forms. We are living near the end of the sixth day of creation, or the second day of grace. The seventh, or third day, depending on our point of reference, is at hand and upon us. In the prophetic word, a thousand years is as a day. Note carefully the following passages of Scripture.

A change in revelation and in manifestation takes place at the end of the sixth day of creation, or second day of grace, and at the beginning of the seventh, or third day in each of the following passages:

"After two days will He revive us: in the third
day He will raise us up, and we shall live in
His sight" Hosea 6:2.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people,
and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them
wash their clothes, and be ready (by) the third day:
for the third day the Lord will come down in the
sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai" Exodus 19:10-11.

"And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox,
behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today
and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be
perfected" Luke 13:32.

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James and
John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high
mountain apart, and was transfigured before them"
Matt 17:1-2.

In each of these accounts, the central thought in the progression is the revelation of the Lord in a higher realm and purpose.

In Luke 22:14-16, Jesus spoke of a certain hour that was come:

"He said unto them, With desire I have desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I
say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof,
until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."

He projected their vision to this day that is at hand, and even upon us.

In Acts 1:6, His disciples asked concerning this day:

"Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the
Kingdom to Israel?"

Two disciples walked with Him along the road toward Emmaus. It was the beginning of the third day (Luke 24:21), yet despite all the Lord had told them, their vision was set upon the former age.

"And they talked together of all things which had
happened" Luke 24:14.

Apparently, they did not consider, or have faith to believe all He had shown them. In this frame of mind, they could neither know Him nor discern His presence.

"And it came to pass, that, while they communed
together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near,
and went with them. But their eyes were holden
that they should not know him" Luke 24:15-16.

They heard the anointed Word of God from the Lord Himself (Luke 24:27) but did not understand.

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He
expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning Himself" Luke 24:27.

It was only when He passed through the gate (the age to come) and broke bread with them, that they remembered His promise.

"For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof,
until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God" Luke 22:16.

Immediately their vision turned toward the Kingdom, and they saw the King.

Most Christians today are as these disciples; looking back, and not willing to go forth with Him. Until our perspective is right, we will not discern His presence as our Lord and King, or His presentation of the Age to come.

The Book of Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus Christ as "Lord of the Age to come." He will "show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass"(Rev 1:1).

In which direction are you looking?