Bro. Bakht Singh
Chapter one: Keep Looking Unto Jesus
More about JesusIn Rev. chapter 1, we read how the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in His heavenly glory to His apostle John. Six times in his the apostle calls himself 'the disciple whom Jesus loved '. This shows that he has a great desire to be very close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Some people wanted to be around the Lord to be honored by Him. When a great person comes to a city some people desire to be very close to him, not because they love him but because they want to be in the front so that they might be able to say," we saw that person", and thus be honored by men. But John the apostle was not sitting near the Lord for any honor, but because he loved Him, and wanted to enjoy His love. That is why he speaks much more about God's love than any other apostle. And because of that same love, he had the privilege to see, in his old age at Patmos, something more of the Lord Jesus Christ than what he had seen in his whole lifetime. John then saw His glory in a more wonderful way than ever before. Even though in the pat years he had many glimpses of His glory and His beauty, yet now he saw Him in an entirely new way.
It may be that most of us have had many experiences of the Lord Jesus and we thank God for them all but according to God's word there is far more to be seen and learnt of Him. But we should have eyes to see Him. Sometime ago a young man went to Bombay. When he returned his friends asked him, "how did you like Bombay?, "it is a wonderful city," he told them," why is it so wonderful" he replied, "because they gave us very nice 'biriyani' " .He was so pleased with the biriyani, that this was all that he could say of Bombay. He was not at all attracted by the buildings, the sea, the gardens and the people; but he could say truthfully and joyfully, "I never ate such a biriyani anywhere". Perhaps you also may be in that condition because you do not know more of Christ, however we do hope and pray that God will give us much more by looking unto Him.
John the beloved Apostle -A lonely prisoner
Many of us live lives of defeat and shame and we soon become discouraged, depressed and dejected. How easily we are deceived by the Devil! We are warned through God's Word that the enemy is very subtle and wicked, and very powerful. He can come like a roaring lion, a ravening wolf, a flood, or an angel of light. But our Lord told us, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. "John 16:33.let the enemy come any way that he pleases. Our eyes have to be kept fixed only on the Lord; not on ourselves, nor on the preacher, nor on the gifts, talents, position or place. We read in Psalm 46:10,"Be still and know that I am God ". Only when we stand still we know who the Lord is. God takes us to see His true beauty and glory, and appreciate Him. This is our desire and prayer in these days.
John was the most beloved disciple of the Lord, and yet in his old age he became a prisoner for the Word of God and for the testimony of the Lord. We see that on other occasions the Lord sent His angels and delivered His servants from prison. If he had so desired He could have delivered John in one second, but He allowed him to be a prisoner in that lonely place. He was not treated as a special prisoner but only as an ordinary one. Though he was a man of God, 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' there he was, a prisoner in a lonely place. John must have felt discouraged and must have gone through many inward conflicts.
We read in Acts 6:7,12:24,13:49 and 19:24, how God's word went on spreading and prevailing. The Scripture says that a few men turned the world upside down in a very short time. Wherever they went men started trembling. Suddenly, however there came falling away. Many believers lost their first love. For the sake of money and worldly gain and advantage many went away. They preferred worldly pleasure rather than God. On the other hand some did suffer and even become prisoners because of the Word of God. Only a very small number thus remained true to the end. When the apostle saw such conditions he felt very much discouraged. Just as Patmos was a barren island, so also John saw the same barrenness spiritually among the people. He cried "Oh Lord! Why this spiritual barrenness? Why are Thy people become so cold, so weak, and so indifferent? Lord, why cannot we now see the same power as we did before?" Questions such as these were in the mind of the apostle at that time. I do not think he was anxious so much about his own physical discomfort and sufferings. He never complained about them. But he was concerned only about the spiritual condition of the God's people everywhere. He was discouraged when he saw the enemy so active. He felt downcast because God's people were helpless and weak. The same condition is prevailing today among God's people and His witness in every part of the world. We also would say, "oh Lord, why is this? Oh Lord, how long? Oh God, give us an answer and show us Thy way".
The Lord Speaks-Listen, Turn, Look
We are told first of all that John heard the voice of the Lord behind him (Rev 1:10-12). It was for a purpose that the Lord appeared and spoke of him from behind. The Lord could as well have appeared in front of him. The Scripture says that the Lord spoke loudly like a trumpet, in a clear voice and said, "I am Alpha and Omega." Then the apostle says, "I turned to see the voice that spake to me." Why did the He not appear front of him? The reason is He wanted to answer the questions in the mind of the apostle. By appearing behind him the Lord was saying, "John! I know exactly what you are thinking. I know all your fears and troubles. I know you feel discouraged and defeated. But John you are looking in the wrong direction. You had better turn around, then all your questions will be answered and your problems will be solved. When you turn right round you will see Me and know who I am." John could say that He knew all about the Lord, His miracles and teachings. He was an eyewitness to his transfiguration and ascension. Still the Lord was saying the beginning and the end, 'don't you understand the full meaning of what I say? Then turn right round and look at Me and you will know Who I am. "When he turned around he saw the Lord in a way in which he had never seen Him before (V.17). As he turned round he was so taken up by the vision that he exclaimed, "Lord, I never knew that you are so glorious. I never knew that you are so great." To reveal Himself this our Lord spoke to John from behind him.
Keep looking unto Jesus
Because ye do not see Him as He is. We live a life of defeat. Our eyes are unsteady looking in two directions; one eye upon the Lord, and one upon the world.
Many years ago in Allahabad I saw a Brahmin shopkeeper. He had one part of his shop full of idols and in the other part he kept the things, which he sold such as rice, sugar, etc. If anyone came to buy something he would attend upon him, and then he would return to the other side and attend upon those who came to worship the idols. It is the same with many believers; they have one eye upon the Lord, and the other upon something else. That is why they become spiritually blind. When you really want to see him, your eyes should be only upon Him. Suppose you go to the railway station to meet someone. You find many people alighting form the train. You watch them and say; "What a nice man! What a nice woman! How nice they are!" As you are thus engaged your friend will quietly move away. When you return home, you will find your friend already there. You will question him saying, " I have been looking for you at the station. I was searching two hours. But I could not find you. How did you come here?" Your friend will reply; " I saw you there at the station. But you were too busy looking her and they're admiring the other passengers and that is why you could not see me....
Well, that is our trouble also; we waste our time looking at person and things which have no concern with us, and that is why our life is so barren. Even men like John, the apostle, could be deceived. Our Lord loved John and He had so much to show him and give him. You find more mysteries in the book of Revelation than in any other. But they were all revealed to John in his old age. When he was in prison and very discouraged. Then he saw things that nobody else had seen. Our Lord was able to show him the whole of heaven and the whole of His kingdom. This privilege is for us also. Our Lord Himself said in Matt 13:17 that these mysteries are now to be revealed to us. Things, which eyes have not seen which ears have not heard which have not entered into the heart of man, can be revealed to us according to 1 Cor 2:9-10 provided we have eyes to see and ears to hear. But our point now is this; our eyes have been deceived and drawn away by many other things. What are the things that draw you most? Suppose you go to a bazaar with your wife and child and you pass by various shops. Whenever you come to a sweetmeat shop or a toyshop you child shouts "Daddy" and points out to the sweetmeat or the toy. The child has interest only in these things. And when you pass a sari shop your wife says, "Look at that beautiful sari." Thus we are all attracted by things that we like most. Now can you say that the Lord has given you eyes to see the you may learn to be drawn to him alone? If not, pray like' the Psalmist in Psalm 119:18. "Open Thou mine eyes"
When our Lord opened the eyes of the apostle what did he see, what did he hear and what did he do? We shall be considering them later on. Ask the Lord to give you eyes to see; then you will see the beauty and the glory of the Lord Jesus such as you have never seen before. Look unto Jesus, and go on looking unto Him: and let now man or woman or anything else draws away your attention.
Many years ago, I was sailing from Liverpool to Canada. A newly married couple was in the same ship. They were always together. They wanted no one else to come near them. They were so absorbed in each other wherever they went they took no notice of people around them. Their eyes were only on each other Our Lord has the same desire that nothing else should draw away our attention. He would have us to keep looking unto himself.
Chapter two: Look and Follow
Jesus-The Abiding FriendJohn the Baptist said repeatedly, "I knew him not" John 1:26, 31, 33. Perhaps there are many who are in this same condition and cannot say truthfully and joyfully that they know the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though they hear about Him, sing about Him, and talk about Him, the Lord Jesus has not yet become their personal Savior and Friend. He came into world to be a Friend, who can abide with us forever. Earthly friends cannot be with us always But our Lord said in Matt. 28:28, "Lo, I am with you always." These words are meant for all who would like to have the experience of His abiding presence. Even my conversion, I knew one thing; that there was a living and true Friend, who could be with us always. In the Sikh religion I had to recite a prayer every morning at bath time. As soon as I poured water upon my head these words came spontaneously out of my mouth, "O God! Thou art true; Thou hast been true from the beginning and Thou shalt be true. No man can know Thee. Though he meditates for centuries and gathers the whole world's knowledge. O God! I have no virtue in me. I only depend upon thy grace. Show me the Friend and the Satguru (the Teacher of the Truth) who can help me and lead me". I had repeated these words for many years with a longing to meet that living Friend. I used to go to some lonely place, forest or riverside, hoping that there I might meet an old man with a long white beard, who would say with a loving voice, "Come on my child. I will be your Friend." This prayer which I repeated daily in my blindness gave me a longing to see that living Friend. In the end I began to blaspheme against the Holy Bible and tore a copy of it into pieces. I did this to show my hatred to Christianity. Also I became a slave to many vices. Even though I did this, nevertheless, God Himself sought and found me. Even a sinner like me, and forgave my sins. For the past thirty-three years He has been my Friend with whom I can talk freely, and on whom I can depend for help. He supplies my every need.
In my collage days I had a good friend. We would always go out together for walks every evening and eat our food together. Whatever we did we would do together and whatever money either of us had we would share together. If I went to bazaar to purchase anything, I would always buy two of the same thing, one for him, and the other for me. When he went to the bazaar, he also did the same. We quarreled after some time; and even though we were living in the same room, we did not talk with each other of many weeks. Even then, whatever I bought for myself, I brought for him also and put it very quitely on his table; and he also did the same. Even though for some time we were no speaking with each other, yet in our hearts there were the same friendly feelings. Underneath we were still friends, and we desired to share all things. How much more endearing should be our friendship with the Lord and how much more joyfully should we share all things with Him.
Jesus-The Lamb of God
The Lord Jesus said in John 15:15, "all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you". They were not able to understand what He was saying. It was only when our Lord rose again and came into their hearts, they could know the meaning of these words. They were just ordinary fisherman but they were able to learn the things of God. Today you find that through their inspired writings many are being taught heavenly wisdom, and we never get tired of their words. The Lord has the same loving desire towards us, that we too should understand and receive all wisdom form Him, and know Him more and more.
We shall see how the Lord revealed Himself to John the Baptist. He was a man full of Holy Ghost, and he spoke so powerfully that many went to hear him even in the wilderness. In these days speakers and preachers adopt so many methods to draw people to themselves. But John the Baptist was only a man living in the jungle, a voice in the wilderness; yet many people went to hear him. On a certain day our Lord Himself came among the crowd. John the Baptist saw Him, but did not know who He was. He said, "There standeth one among you whom ye know not" John 1:26, and again "I Knew Him not" John 1:33. It was only on the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the Lord Jesus Christ that John knew who was Jesus was. John said, " I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon Him" John 1:33 "I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God," John 1:34. We do know how many times our Lord went to John the Baptist before that day. John knew that Jesus was on the crowd, but could not say, definitely who He was, He had waited and longed to see the Messiah no doubt, but God told him plainly, " It is only when you see the Spirit, like a dove descending on Him, you will know who He is." Even though the Lord was in the crowd and John the Baptist was a prophet, yet he did not know who He was. He said, "I knew Him not." Now in the same manner it is possible for you to attend meetings, and even though the Lord Jesus Christ may be present, as He was then present in the crowd, yet you may not know Him.
Now what happened the day He was baptized? See Matt. 3:16. Before John the Baptist could recognize the Lord it was necessary according to God's Word, that the Lord should be baptized, because His baptism spoke of His death, burial and resurrection. He was to be recognized not by the miracles, which He performed, but by His baptism, and by the Holy Spirit coming upon Him.
John the Baptist having baptized the Lord prophesied what was to happen to Him afterwards. He saw the Lord coming to him the next day, and called Him by a new name: "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" He did not say, "Behold your Savior," or "Behold your Messiah." Even though they were eagerly waiting in those days for the Messiah to come. In the beginning he said, "I knew Him not." Though He was there in the crowd. Now he could say, "I know Him." And he called Him "the Lamb of God". Being a prophet he knew how the Jews were celebrating the Passover every year killing thousands of Lambs without knowing what they were doing. But that morning John had begun to see that Jesus Himself was 'the Lamb of God'. He saw now that the other lambs could not take away the sin of men but this lamb was able to take away the sin of the whole world.
You many do that you can; you may shed many tears, you may fast many days, and do any amount of charity and attend any number of meetings; but none of these things will give you the assurance of the forgiveness of sins. Look at the crowd who came to be baptized with great hopes these men had come to John the Baptist. They had heard that he was a man of God. Whether rich or poor they all began to tremble when he spoke. They were convicted and they began to confess their sins with tears. Yet if you had questioned them, "Now Mr. So-and-so, you have confessed your sins and shed many tears, can you tell me whether your sins are forgiven?" Then they would have said, "No, we still have a troubled and guilty conscience." It is a terrible thing to have a guilty conscience. You may silence your conscience for a short time saying to yourself, "It does not matter if I do this, why am I so frightened? I am not the only one doing it." But a day will surely come when your guilty conscience will trouble you. That guilty conscience will make you restless and you will feel like a fish out of water. A fish swims nicely in the water, but outside the water it squirms and jumps. It is the same with a man who has a guilty conscience. Such men will be every restless. The men who went to John the Baptist saw their sins and the coming wrath of God. But even though they confessed their sins, john the Baptist could not forgive them. He told them that the Messiah would come and He would bring forgiveness.
Now the Jew had a wrong conception of the messiah. They thought He would reign over all the nations, like King David. Perhaps even John the Baptist had a similar conception and they were all waiting for such a Messiah. Now God was revealing the Messiah to him in a new way. When John the Baptist saw the Holy Ghost descended upon the Lord Jesus, then he knew that Jesus was the Son of God. That was the first step. Then we read in John 1:29and 36 --- John proclaims, "Behold, the Lamb of God!' This was the second step. When you want glasses you go to an optician. He tests your eyes, and says, " Can you see the letters on the board?" "No." Then he tests you with another glass. "Now it is a little bit clearer." Once more he tests you with yet another glass and then you say, "Now it is very clear." In the same way John the Baptist's vision of the Lord Jesus Christ became clearer step-by- step.
On the first day John saw Him while baptizing Him, but he remained silent. The next day he saw Him coming towards him and declared, "Behold the Lamb of God! And the third day he saw the Lord as He passed by, and shouted. "Behold the Lamb of God!" In the same manner, spiritually you also will not see everything in one day; you will require many divine touches to see Him as He is.
Behold Him and Follow Him.
Previously John exclaimed to himself, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Now he was saying, "Andrew, you also see him. You will notice the advance in his experience. He wanted others also to see Him. Having heard John call Jesus the Lamb of God, the disciples desired to see Jesus. They pondered in their hearts, "The Lamb of God! Now let us follow Him, " and they left John and followed Jesus. The Lord turned, and saw them and said' "What seek ye?" The Lord knew that they wanted to see Him more clearly. When you follow Him, He Himself turns round and looks at you. He will ask you. "Child, what do you want?" You may perhaps ask Him for many things such as a job, or physical healing. But these disciples had no such requests. They said, Master, where dwellest thou?" Now those who have seen the Lord Jesus Christ have a strong longing, "Where is my lord? Where does He live?" Have you the desire to find out where He lives?
But many Christians are seeking the living Christ in the graveyard. "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" They want to see Him in buildings made by men. You can find Him only when you earnestly seek Him. Do you know where your Master lives? First, He wants to live in your heart. He is not looking for building made by men. How many people are begging for money, to construct a building in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to build a so-called "house of God." "Please give us some money," they say, "We want to build a house for God." Such people do not know the meaning of "the house of God." God lives in only two places. He lives in the High and Holy place; also in the humble, broken, and contrite heart (Isaiah 57:15).
Has the Lord Jesus come to live in your heart? Has he become your living Friend? He died for you to forgive your sins and to cleanse you and make your heart His dwelling-place. For that purpose He is seeking you today. If you repent of your sins and receive him, He will come and dwell in your heart.
Give your heart to him. Then keep your eyes upon Him. Follow Him and He will reveal Himself more and more to you.
Chapter Three: Look and be Radiant Looking unto
Jesus
In the year 1947 a ship came to Southampton carrying about 1,530 soldiers returning home from a battlefield. When the ship arrived many friends and relations had come to the harbor to receive their loved ones. A young girl also had come to meet her fiance who had been separated since the beginning of a war. War or no war no one could change their hearts and they remained faithful to each other. There she was going up and down the dock, looking this way and that, searching eagerly. But all the men were alike; they all wore the same kind of uniform. Would she be able to recognize her young man in such a large crowd? As the soldiers saw her walking to and fro on the dock they began to mock. One said to her, "Your young man has been left at Port said". Another said, " I saw him at Aden, I don't know where he is now." Yet another said, "I saw him at Cairo. Perhaps he is still there." She took no notice of what they said. Her young man had written to her and so she knew he must be there some where on the ship. Suddenly she heard her name called. "Oh!" She said joyfully, " That is my young man. There he is, there he is!" Nearly a thousand eyes had been trying to draw away her attention but all in vein. In the same way, once we know our Lord by experience no man or woman can draw our eyes from him.It is our longing that our eyes also may be fixed upon the Lord. There may be extreme persecution. There may be rebuke, ridicule or mockery for His Name's sake. We may be even hated by our own parents, friends, relations or neighbors. All this may happen to us sooner or later. Many believers have been drawn away be men, women, money and position. They have denied their Lord. But our Lord loves us, and He is saying to us again and again, "Look unto Me. Look unto Me all the ends of the world" (Isa 45:22). What a loving invitation! Our Lord is saying to all of us, "Whatever may be your difficulty, or trial or temptation, you look unto Me." That is the secret of victory.
Look and be Radiant:
In Psalm 34:5 we read, "They looked unto Him and were lightened!" This means that they were radiant and shining. Before they came to Him, their faces were filled with fear and marks of sin and shame. Every sinful thought, word or deed brings and ugly and shameful mark upon your face. You may not see it in the beginning but afterwards it will appear. Here God says, "they looked unto Him and their faces were radiant." Who were these people? They were those who had once had shameful and ugly faces, where you could see nothing but the blackness of sin. But now, having seen Him, their faces shine. They became radiant. A new heavenly beauty came upon their faces.
From the same Psalm in verses 4.6.17 and 19 we can see the Psalmist went through many afflictions. But when he came to the Lord and saw him, he was delivered out of all his fears. All his troubles and afflictions disappeared. If I had time to listen to you and you had time to talk to me, then you would tell me all about your troubles. You would say to me. " Brother, I have so many troubles. Can you spare me five or six hours, I can tell you everything" and some perhaps may require weeks or even months, because their troubles are so many their burdens so great. But listen; do not tell me your troubles. Do not tell them to your neighbors or to preachers or to anyone else; they cannot help you, even if they would. This man of God David tried his friends and they failed him. He had a friend called Jonathan who loved him very much and he was the King's son. Even though he tried to help him he could not and David went to other Kings and they also failed him. In the end he says he sought the Lord; in other words he saw the Lord.
We read that all kinds of men came to David to the cave of Adhullam, because they were in trouble (I Samuel 22:2). You can imagine how all these me came to David and taking their turn, began to tell him their stories. They must have been long stories. One said, " I am troubled by my wife." Another said, "I am troubled by friends." Others said they were troubled by debts or by neighbors. But one morning when they woke up they saw David's face shining. Can you imagine that day? They said, " What has happened t you, brother David? Last night you were in terrible pain. Shedding tears with us. But now we see a change in your face. Brother David! How did you get such a glorious shining face?" He must have replied to them, " I have no more pain, no more trial, no more afflictions, they are all gone. See the Lord has helped me. He has delivered me from all my fears." Even though he was still living in the mountain cave and he was still in the same difficulties and still being pursued by Saul, he was saying by faith: 'I sought the Lord and He heard me. He delivered me from all my fears, afflictions, trials and troubles." That is how He will deliver you also.
There was a man, who went to a Maulvi (Muslim teacher) and said to him. "I want to have a shining face, please tell me how to get a shining face. " He said to him. "I will give you a prayer to memorize. Repeat it twenty times a day for twenty- one days. After three weeks you will have a shining face." The Maulvi only wanted money and so deceived this man. He instructed him to wash his face and hands and to repeat this prayer. The man asked, "It may be very cold weather; then how can I wash my face? He was told that if he could not wash himself with water he could take dust, or sand, and rub it on his face and hands. So from that day he did as he was told. Then on the twenty-second day, very early in the morning he woke up to pray. It was very cold and he could not wash with cold water. So he went outside to take some dust, to rub on his hands. It was dark and his fingers touched some black spot, which he daubed on his face and hands. Then he prayed. After that he went to see his wife and said, " My dear wife, now tell me, so you find glory on my face?" She woke up and saw that his whole face was black and she said, "If glory is black then there is plenty of it on your face." You find so many Christians pray regularly and attend many meetings and also take part in what they call communion service, but their faces are black with shameful spots. No doubt they are called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the marks of sin and shame can be seen on their faces.
But David is saying from true experience, in Psalm34: 5 "They looked unto Him and their faces were radiant." The men that had come to David with grumbling, murmuring, sorrowful faces now saw David's face shining even in the dark cave of Adhullam. They also learned to look unto the Lord, and their faces also began to shine. Divine glory and beauty were shining upon their faces, in spite of their poverty and sickness.
This beauty, which God gives, will not come by using soap or powder or cream or by wearing jewels of gold and silver. How foolish some people are! They think by using such things they can become beautiful. They think by worldly and shameful means they can become beautiful. In fact in this way they become uglier. It is only when our fears go away and we conquer our trials by faith then we can have faces shining with the glory of God.
But we have to learn by experience now to do this. Peter had said, " I will never deny thee." But when temptation came he denied the Lord three times, and the third time he began even to swear and curse, I never knew this man. I have never met him. I don't know him at all." No doubt that was a very difficult moment for Peter. We may not be able to imagine it. He was surrounded by wicked men who were the enemies of the Lord Jesus. So now he was filled with fear. Yet he had said before, "I will never deny thee." Most of us also say the same thing, and yet we deny Him. Some people will not even carry their Bibles with them. They say, "What will my neighbors think. What will my officer say?" Perhaps they might say, "Even this man had became very religious!" They are afraid, and when they do carry their Bibles, they hide them under their coats or somewhere else. They are ashamed of what people may say. Others feel too shy even to say a few words about our Lord. It is very easy for us to condemn Peter. But what about ourselves? Have we not miserably failed Him and denied Him so many times?
The Lord Jesus Christ loved Peter and He used a cock to show it. We do not know it came, but we know that the Lord did not command an angel but a cock, and used it to tell Peter that he had denied Him. And the cock obeyed the Lord Jesus Christ and said, "Cookaroo, Cookaroo." Then Peter remembered the Lord. The Lord can use even a cock if He wants to. He is not depending upon preachers. Sometimes preachers preach for hours and no one repents. But that morning a mere cock which obeyed the Lord made Peter repent. His heart became softened and he wept bitterly.
Peter looked to the Lord and obtained victory over temptation. Now the Lord is saying to you, "Look unto Me. Whatever your sins may be, look unto Me." Whatever your failures may be and however shameful and great your sins, He is saying the same words, "Look unto Me. Do not look at your preacher, or your friends, or even at angels. Look unto Me and be ye saved."
Whenever you look at Him, your tears of repentance will start to fall. There are some people who are ashamed to shed tears in God's house, but at home they shed tears. At home the wives ask their husbands for something and it they refuse, then tears come into their eyes. You can shed tears for many things in your house, but in the Lord's house you are ashamed to shed tears. Do not refuse to sorrow for your sins today.
The Lord is calling you whatever your fears; your troubles or afflictions may be, to look unto Him. First of all David came to the Lord with tears of repentance and sorrow; then there was joy upon his face. The Psalmist says, " they looked unto Him and their faces were radiant. Straightaway their faces became radiant. We can say these words with authority; "All your afflictions, troubles and trials can disappear provided you look at the One, who loved you and died for you." He is saying these words showing you His wounded hands and wounded feet, "Look unto me and see what I have done for you. How much I have suffered for you to forgive you, and to transform you, and to take away all your fears, afflictions and trials."
Look unto Him today, and you also will become radiant.
Chapter Four: Look and be like Him
We would see Jesus"Sir, we would see Jesus" (John 2:21). These words were spoken by certain Greeks, who had come to Jerusalem to worship Jehovah at the time of the Passover Feast. This feast was a foreshadow of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and it was ordained to help people to understand how the Messiah must die for their sins. They had kept this feast for centuries, but they never knew it's meaning, just like so- called Christians who observe Christmas and Easter, but do not know their spiritual meaning. These men who had heard about the Lord Jesus Christ, longed to see Him, and when they found the multitude around Him, they sent their request through Philip. "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Please help us so that we may see Him for a few minutes." Philip went to Andrew, and they both came to the Lord Jesus. The Lord gave a most unusual answer. He said, " Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone" (John 12:24).
Every word spoken by the Lord was full of grace and truth and of deep spiritual meaning. There have been many great teachers who spoke wonderful things but the words of the Lord Jesus are unique; they can never be forgotten. The words and saying of the Lord Jesus Christ have been written and explained in many books by great writers, but they have not yet exhausted their meaning.
Every word, which He spoke, was for a purpose. Why then did He utter those words, "Except a corn of wheat fall in to the ground and die it abideth alone?" These men had come from a very for country and were eager to see the Lord Jesus. Naturally both Philip and Andrew recommended their case to the Lord. By His reply it appears as if the Lord were ignoring them altogether. Why then did our Lord utter these words?
According to God's word in Ephesians 3:20, "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." For instance, a sinner may come trembling to the Lord Jesus Christ and say, "Lord forgives me, I am sorry for my sins." And the Lord says, "My child, I will not forgive your sins, I will give you My whole kingdom. Whatever you need, you ask and receive from My hands." Our difficulty is we do not know how to ask. Even the disciples of the Lord did not know, though they had been with Him for three years. The Lord said to them, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). They had been thinking that they had asked many things from Him. Once they had returned so happy, bubbling with joy saying to Him, "See what we have been bale to do in thy Name." Even then the Lord said, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name." In other words they had been asking only for those things, which could not make their joy full. So our Lord was saying, "Ask now, and learn to go on asking. We also need to learn the same lesson. We do not yet know hoe to ask God. When we do learn to ask, our Lord will give us more than we can ask or think or imagine.
"If I be lifted up... I will draw all men"
The Lord knew the hearts of the Greeks and with what desire they came to find fault, or like others who came for healing or to receive some favor. These only wanted to see Him. They thought just by seeing His face they would be happy and they could tell others that they had seen this wonderful man. So our Lord said, "Just by seeing Me in this way nothing will happen. That will not give you true joy. Learn to see me and over come". He wants us to see Him not only for a few minutes but always and be with Him forever. Only then can you know His true greatness and glory.
But how to see Him in such a way? Our Lord had just said, "The hour is come, that the son of Man should be glorified" (John 12:23). This he said referring to His death. Then He continued, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will drew all men unto Me." This He said, explaining what way He should die. When the Lord spoke these words to His disciples, the whole time His mind was upon His death and how He was going to be glorified by dying. He was saying to the people, "That is way I have come into the world that men may see the glory of the great God in Me. If you truly want to see Me, then for that very purpose I must die, like a corn of wheat. Then you will not only see Me, but you will become like Me."
Suppose you are like a filthy, dirty beggar and you go to see a king. Imagine you are in filthy, dirty garments, which have not been changed for twenty-five years; and you have had no bath for many years. I such a condition you go before the great king. You say, "Your majesty, I want to see your face for one minute." And the king says to you, "Come inside." First he calls for the barber and asks him to give you a nice haircut. He brings you a new garment and makes you to put it on. Then he brings you outside and says, "Go now as my prince." How would you feel at such a time? You came in as a dirty filthy beggar, to see the king for a few minutes, and you go out as a prince. With the very same desire our Lord was saying, "You only want to see Me for a few moments, but I want you to see Me and become like Me." But could that be possible? To show this He was saying, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone." Now, we know one tiny grain brings forth hundreds of other grains. In the same way the Lord was teaching, "I must die so that not only these Greeks, but the whole world may be able to see Me forever, and whoever sees Me may become like Me." Thus our Lord taught plainly and clearly that He was not drawing men by miracles, signs and wonders, or by other worldly means, but by His being Lifted upon the cross.
Some years ago many Indians thought that by putting on western clothes they would become Christians. They adopted western names like "George," "Henry," "Charles" and so on. They thought by having western names they would give jobs. But the time has come when preference is no longer given to these names. So George now becomes Munuswamy or Muthuswamy. Change of name, or change of garments cannot make you a Christian. The Lord said "I will change you and make you like Myself." When a grain of wheat dies, it brings forth the same kind of grain in the whole stalk. Christ died that we all might become like Him.
For many centuries men blindly worshiped a figure of the cross and burned incense before it. See what God says, "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. But unto them, which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God (1Cor. 1:18,24). Because of sin all men have become foolish before
God and extremely weak. We work so hard to earn money, and then waste is afterwards. We use our hands and feet to bring sin and shame. Our lives are a misery. But God has planned to restore us, and to make us all wise and strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. That wisdom and power can come only from the cross.
The Lord says, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me." But how foolish men are! They think they can draw others by their worldly wisdom. Works and money. That is why you see so much barrenness in Christian work in many parts of the world. But those who have received the cross and have come into the experience of the cross are completely transformed and they go on being transformed till they became like Christ.
There is an example how a life was transformed by looking at the cross. A certain artist painted a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. The artist was a Jew, and had no faith in Christ. Some time after ha begun to paint a portrait of a young girl. Whenever the girl came to his studio, she would sea the painting and questions the artist. "Who is that on the cross?" This question embarrassed him, and he would reply, "Do not disturb me about that. I now want to draw your picture". As she had to go to him every day for the portrait, she would constantly ask him the question. Who is that on the cross?" In the end the artist had to tell her the story of the cross. He told it to her in just a few words: how Christ died, how He was buried and how He rose again. One day the artist received a message from the girl, "Please come and see me, I am dying." So he went. He saw the shining face of the girl on her deathbed, and she said to him, "Sir, I want to thank you with all my heart because you have showed me the way of salvation. I have been a great sinner. My time has come to die. But I know my Lord has forgive my sin." "How did He forgive your sins?" enquired the artist. Then she told him: "From the time I saw the picture in your studio and you told me its story, I became restless. I began to see my sins and than I realized that Christ died for my sins, and confessed my sins. Now I know He has forgiven me." She continued, "It is because of you I met my savior and that is why I want to thank you before I die." After she had said this, she peacefully passed away. Then the artist said to himself, "This painting of the cross has been in my studio for many years. I never knew its mystery. But now I know the power of the cross." He repented of his sins and cried, "O Lord, I thank thee for dying for my sins." Later he spent many years in painting a new portrait of the Lord Jesus on the cross. When he had finished, he wrote these words below. "All this have I done for thee, what hast thou done for Me?" The artist also died soon after. The painting found its way into a Berlin Art Museum. Many went to see the paintings in this Museum. One day a very wealthy count came to see the painting in order to buy a good painting for his palace. He went round looking at them all until he came to the painting of the cross and the words at the bottom drew his attention. "All this have I done for thee, what hast thou done for Me?" The count could not draw his eyes away from the picture and the words penetrate deep into his heart. The painting drew him nearer to the Lord. The picture was so living that he felt the presence of God. He felt as if the Lord Himself were standing by his side saying these words, "All this have I done for thee what hast thou done for me? I gave My hands to nailed for thee I gave My feet to be pierced for thee. I gave My back to be scourged for thee. I gave My face to be spat on for thee I gave My head to be crowned with thorns for thee, but what hast thou done for Me?" The count could not leave the place. He repeated within himself, 'For me, for me!' He saw his sins one by one, and cried, "He died for my sins." Tears began to roll down his cheeks; he went on weeping for hours in the same sport, until the watchman came and said, "Sir, I must go home, it is very late". The count bought that painting and took it to his home. Eventually he sold all he had used the money for the Gospel's sake. He said, "Lord, you have done so much for me, now I give you my all." Thus he became the founder of the Moravian Mission. It was from that time that the Gospel began to be taken in great power to many lands and millions have been drawn to the cross.
The Meaning of the Cross
This work of the cross in your life cannot be done easily. It can be done only by the Holy Spirit. It may happen in your life now or sometime later. But one thing is certain, once you will never be the same person again. There will be new power in your life. Christ died that you may die to your old nature. He rose again that you may rise with Him and become a new creation.
There is much to be said about the cross. Why did Christ die such a death? He did not die for Himself. He did for me; whether you know it or not, He died for you. Why then did He die for sinful men though He did no sin Himself. Why was He mocked by wicked men, and why did such a sinless person die? I wish to answer these questions by giving you seven points about the cross. Firstly, He died for my sins to free me from me from judgment and from the condemnation of sin. Secondly, He died that I may die to my wretched sinful nature. Thirdly, He died that I may die to the world and its deception. Fourthly, He died to put an end to old creation. When you cut the trunk of a tree the whole tree falls down. Similarly when God who is our Creator died, He died to put an end to the old creation. Fifthly, He died to become my living bread. Sixthly, He died to make us one entirely new like Himself. When these truths are clear to us, and by faith we look to the cross of the Lord Jesus, we receive new life.
Look and be Like Him
I have only one request, learn to look at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greeks said, "we would see Jesus," Our Lord was saying, "My dear friends, do you want to see Me? Then first of all be partakers of my death, like the grain of wheat dying in ground." No man can save himself. He can try many means He can fast. Weep, say long prayers or suffer hardship; yet he cannot save himself. It is by faith we become partakers in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, some may have the tobacco habit for many years. They may promise, "From tomorrow I will not smoke," but after one week they being to smoke secretly. They have become slaves to that habit. They struggle and get no relief. But when we understand the cross, every sin and vice vanishes away in a second. By the power and the working of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are given victory over sin.
As we continue to behold to behold the cross we become like our Lord Jesus. For example take those who are married. Before their marriage they were carried away by outward appearances. But after their marriage they are more concerned with inward virtues. They go on seeing some new virtue in each other. After many years they look like brother and sister, whereas before marriage there was a great difference between them. It is the some when the life of the Lord Jesus comes into you. As the work of the cross goes on, you become more and more like Him.
You may see miracles and dream dreams; but you will not see the Lord till you come to the cross and know by faith and revelation what He did for you. Then you can see Him always, you can see Him every day and everywhere; you can see His heavenly glory. O what a joy! When you learn to see the cross you will become more and more like Him. If you do not have that experience yet, come and have it now.
Chapter five: Look and be Victorious
I have over come the WorldThe Lord wanted us to have a clear glimpse of Himself and of His glory. Most of our troubles are due to this, that we do not see him or know him as He is. Whenever we feel discouraged, disappointed and defeated, we can find a sure remedy: turn towards the Lord Jesus Christ and receive a new vision of Him. Christian people throughout the world are conscious of the lack of holiness among themselves. We do not see life and power among God's people. Yet our Lord said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do" (John 14:12). Again He said, "Lo I am with you always, even unto the end unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20). We read in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." These verses in God's Word, which are known to almost every Christian, show that our God can never fail. But we have failed; therefore we do not receive His power.
Our Lord knew beforehand every attack the devil would make upon His people. That is why He has given us many words of warning. We know the devil may come as a roaring lion, or like a revenging wolf, or a flood, or an angel of light. We should not think that because the enemy is very strong we would be defeated. Our Lord says so plainly 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' (John 16:33). Only by him and through Him before we can experience the victorious Christian life.
Full Recovery
In the Book of Revelation we see how we have to come to the Lord Jesus Christ in order to become more than conquerors. The message of this book is a message of complete victory. This victory qualifies us to inherit all things of the new creation, and to recover every loss, which we have sustained. We do not like to lose anything nevertheless it often happens that we do lose something. We lose by negligence; by theft and by our own forgetfulness. When we were children we lost pens, pencils, books and many other things. We come our mothers every week with same old complaint, that we had lost these things. When we grew up, through negligence we lost our keys, chappals and glasses. Now also we forget our umbrellas and other articles in trains, and we have many things stolen, the dhobi ruins many our clothes. Some people seem to have holes in their hands, they let slip many vessels and break them. Thus we have a record of loss. Then imagine somebody comes to you one day and say, "Mr. A, come with me and see all the things you have ever lost." You follow him, and to your great surprise you find everything there that you have lost, and behold, they have all become new. Now would you not feel very, very happy? You would say, "Praise the Lord! All my lost things have been recovered."
You find the very same message in the Book of Revelation. It tells us how every loss, right from the day that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, may be recovered. Mankind has lost everything because of the curse of sin. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to restore to us all that we have lost. When I was a small boy, I saw a juggler. He took a watch from some one and put it into an empty vessel, and hit it with a hammer several times. He smashed the watch into small pieces. Then he put a cloth over the vessel, and lo! He drew out the watch again unbroken and complete. All who saw it wondered how he did it. The juggler had only charmed us. But spiritually our Lord will perform wonders. He will take our ruined lives, defiled with sin, and make them perfectly whole.
We shall be like Him
We live in the days of photography. Many people carry cameras and many other go on dreaming one day they too will have one. Many people, when they want a photo to be taken of themselves, buy or borrow a nice suit, a ring and a wristwatch, so that they appear handsome. When I had my first photo taken, I borrowed a wristwatch; and when proof came, the first thing I wanted to see was whether the watch was seen. It was there, and I was happy. Also the photographer took a brush and made my face fair. I was dark, but my photo showed that I was fair.
It is human nature to desire to look better than we are; but God, in His Word, gives us a photograph that is a true picture of ourselves. The Bible says, "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises, and purifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:6). What a sad picture! Can you imagine such a man standing before you? You can see from head to foot he is nothing but bruises, wounds and putrefying soars. It would be a loathsome sight to see; nevertheless, that is how God sees you and me. Such is our spiritual condition before God. Sometimes a man may go to the doctor. Outwardly he looks very good. But the doctor finds he has a very horrible disease. When an operation is performed it is found that the disease is far advanced, and the doctor said he would live for one or two months at the most. His friends can hardly believe that it is true. They say, " How can it be so? He looked so well. How can he die in such a short time?" Well they cannot see inside the man, but the doctor can. Similarly God sees our inward corruption and our sinful nature. You may think you are beautiful, but God says that you are very ugly, because He sees in and the curse upon your face, Remember, this is true of every human being.
The doctor may say there is no hope for you, but our Lord does not say that. He tells us we have sinned, and also we can be transformed and changed completely. He will not say to you " I am very sorry I cannot change you, you are too bad." Many parents, when they see their children ruined by sin, have said this about them. They have done their best to change them but they are still rebellious. They rebuke and punish them and when they still remain the same they say, "You go away from home, you are not fit to be called my child." But the Lord Jesus will not say that to you. Although He sees our shameful and sinful condition; nevertheless He says, " My child, I will transform and make you like Myself." We shall be like Him" (I John 3:2). Are they not wonderful words? Even angels will admire us because we will not e like angels, but like Him, like the God of glory. When we see Him as Hi is, then we will be like Him. Oh, what a tender love! What infinite grace and power He displays to us!
A small girl asked her mother, "When we go to heaven will we be black or white?" The mother replied, " We will be neither black nor white. We shall be like the Lord Jesus Christ." That is quite true. For this purpose we must have a clear vision of the glory of our living Savior. John the apostle had such a vision when he turned round and saw the Lord. John says of the Lord, "His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength" (Rev 1:14-16). The Lord revealed Himself to John in this way so that we may understand what kind of people He wants us to be.
John the apostle was very discouraged when he saw the persecution and sufferings of the believers in those days; many were scattered, many were in prison, many lost their possessions, and many through fear lost their joy and peace. The devil thought, " I have got the victory," but he did not know how the Lord was working inwardly in the hearts of the believers through these experiences to transform then into His own likeness.
We preachers some times forget this inward work. We become very happy when we see a large crowd. But when there is only a small number to speak to we feel sad; we lose our joy. We look to numbers too much. That is how many missionaries and pastors have been deceived. They thought that by having large crowds and many converts they would please God. They sent glowing reports to England and America:" We have baptized so many converts, please send us more money. The people are very poor. They do not have clothes to wear, and only rice to eat, morning, mid-day and evening. They have no mutton or ghee, only in terms of crowds and numbers. Now imagine a mother having twenty-five children: the first child is blind, the second dumb, the third lame, the fourth deaf, and so on with the others also. How much Joy would these children bring to the mother? Another may have only two or three children, but they are very strong and healthy, with no defect. Which mother, do you think, would be the happy one? Those who care not numbers may say, " we have baptized so many," but how many of them are spiritually deaf, dumb and blind? Why do such missionaries and pastors do this? It is because they have not seen the Lord nor known His power. That is why you find much spiritual barrenness in Christian work in India today.
God was saying to John the apostle, "John, do not be discouraged when you look at the tribulation and the poverty of my people or at their sufferings and trials. But see the inward work I am doing in them through these very things." Just as gold is refined in the fire, so also the Lord is refining His people through their trials. It is this inward work which is of infinite value to the Lord.
He is Our Wisdom
In Rev. 1:14 we read, "His head and His hairs were white like wool." John saw a shining face with white hair. Some people do not like gray hair. They use the best oil to keep their hair black. They think that by coloring their hair they can become young and will be happy. Why did the Lord have white hair? See Dan 7:13. Daniel saw the 'Ancient of days.' That is, the one who is from the beginning, and who has the wisdom. This one, the Ancient of days, is offering to us his wisdom. By sin, we have become stupid and foolish. But the Lord Jesus Christ becomes our wisdom when we receive Him as our Savior. Then we understand things to come and things pertaining to the whole Kingdom of God.
Now our Lord Jesus said, " verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men 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' (Matt.13: 17). These are things, which the angels desire to look into (I Peter 1:12). These things: which were once hidden to worldly men and even to prophets and righteous men are now being revealed to the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the living Lord Jesus came into my heart He Himself becomes my wisdom. It is not my Bible knowledge, which is my wisdom, but the living presence of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, is my wisdom. I live for Him and I serve Him. The more I know Him; the more He becomes my wisdom. That is why John saw in his vision that His hairs were white like wool as white as snow.
When a baby is born into a family the neighbors come to see the little one. The first thing, which they ask will be, " is it like the father or the mother?" It will have some likeness of both the parents. As the child grows, this likeness will be more apparent. When we receive Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts we are born into His family. Therefore we should be like Him, otherwise you have no right to be called a Christian; you should be a child of the devil.
Please believe God's word, repent; and receive the Lord Jesus into your heart today; then you will become His child with the hope of seeing Him and becoming like Him. Eventually, we are all going to be like Him, when we see him at His second coming. Now upon the earth we can receive Him into our hearts. Can you say truthfully, joyfully and boldly, that the savior has come to live in your heart? If not receive Him now.
Chapter Six: Look and Learn
These three small words " Looking unto Jesus, " which we read in Heb. 12:2 contains a great secret. They tell us, that first of all we should see the Lord Jesus now, and then go on seeing Him not only upon this earth, but throughout eternity.You may have heard of the Niagara Falls in Canada. It is supposed to be one of the seven wonders of the world. Just as people go to see the Taj Mahal in Agra they go from many parts of the world to see the Niagara Falls. It is a very beautiful sight. The river Niagara Falls in two places, one on the American side and another on the Canadian side on the border. In 1928 five of us went to see these famous Falls. After we had spent about two hours looking at the Falls, my friends said to me, "Let us go, we have seen the Falls, it is enough." I said to them, " We have been hearing so much about the Niagara Falls from so many people, and now, having come here, why should not we see something more of them?" They replied "You have already seen them, it is only water falling; what more do you want to see?" They went away that very evening. They thought, perhaps, that if they stayed on longer they would have to spend more money in the hotel. But I stayed there for five more days and began to visit the Falls at sunrise, mid-day and at sunset. I began to see them in a new way. The more I saw this wonderful sight, the more I noticed how exceedingly beautiful it was. Nevertheless to appreciate the full beauty of the Niagara Falls one needs to see them in winter, and summer, and other seasons as well. If it takes so long to appreciate the beauty of the Niagara falls, which are only a very, tiny bit of God's creation, then it is evident that it will take eternity for us to appreciate the beauty of the Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is so glorious and beautiful.
When you fell downcast, discouraged and disappointed in your private life or in your ministry, you should pray. "Oh God. Give me a new glimpse of the glory of you Son." John the apostle had the privilege of seeing the Lord most closely. He served Him very faithfully. He could ask Him any question. In fact, he could even lay his head on the Lord's bosom. He saw the Lord transfigured; He saw Him rise again and ascend to heaven. But now in the Book of Revelation, John in his old age saw Him in an entirely new way. He knew it was the Lord, Jesus Christ. He had no need to ask, "Who are you? Because he heard a voice saying "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Rev 1:11). John turned around to see the one that spoke and straight away he fell at His feet and said, "O Lord, I never knew you are so beautiful and so great." We require many days to know more fully the meaning of the features of the Lord Jesus Christ, His hair, His feet, His hands, His eyes, His mouth and garments.
Why did our Lord appear to John that way? The answer is simple. Our Lord was telling john, "I want my people to become like me, "That is why the Lord's people had to go through extreme suffering at that time. Now, for example, if you want pure shining gold, the gold has to be melted, and refined in the fire. The goldsmith makes the fire exceedingly hot until the surface of the molten metal becomes like a mirror in which he can see his face. The reflection of the goldsmith's face in the molten metal is the test that the gold is perfectly pure. In the same manner, we have to be refined by the fire of suffering, till the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ can be fully seen in us.
I said a few words about the white hair of our Lord. Now I shall say a few words about the eyes. A story is told of Napoleon, Emperor of France. There was in his army a company of soldiers who were rebelling against him. So Napoleon pitched his tent and gave an order, "bring those rebellious soldiers into my tent one by one." The emperor sat in his tent, and according to command the soldiers were brought before him one by one. He did not say a word, but he just sat and looked at each of them, one by one; from head to foot, and sent them away. From that day none rebelled against him. Napoleon did not speak. He did not say," Look here, you have done something wrong". The soldiers could see from his eyes that he was very angry. So they feared him and said to themselves, "If we do not obey him, he will punish us."
A wealthy man in America had one good eye and one glass one. The glass eye was so beautifully made that nobody could tell which was the glass eye and which was the real one. One day he called a child and asked it, "My child which of my eyes is the real one and which is the glass one?" The child at once pointed out the glass eye correctly. The man said, "How do you know?" The child answered, "Because there is no love in it." The glass eye was only shining. But there was no love in it. In God's word I see the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are full of love: divine love, eternal love. In Jeremiah 31:3 we read," Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." The fire in the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ is not to terrify you but to pour His love into you. He wants that divine fire to come into you. God wants you to be holy. But how can we be holy? It is by looking into the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ and by seeing Him face to face. In the beginning it is not pleasant, because the fire will burn away every dross of sin in you. But as you continue to look into His eyes; divine love will be poured into you.
Secondly, we read of the same eyes in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. To shew Himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." God's love is so great that His eyes are running to and fro throughout the whole earth, working on our behalf. His loving eyes run to and fro, like a mother watching over her child. Even though she is at work in the kitchen she keeps her eyes on the child, lest the child falls into danger. If we keep our hearts perfect towards Him by doing His will then we know the Lord's eyes move on our behalf to give us many friends, brothers and sisters, and to show us many favors.
Again we read, "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye" (Zech. 2:3). The eye is a very delicate organ. You can touch any part of the body but if you touch the eyes, they will say to you, "Don't touch me," So God is saying, "If anybody touches you, I will say, Don't touch him, don't touch him; he is My child, he belongs to Me." We are so precious to Him, that He will not allow any man or power to harm us.
The psalmist says, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry" (Ps. 34:15). The Lord keeps His eye upon us to save us. Furthermore in Ps. 32:8, we read, "I will instruct thee and teach thee with mine eye." You can say many things with the eyes. I went to a home one day, and my host said to me "Please have a cup of tea." I said, "Thank you". His wife went into the kitchen. We waited for a while, and then she came out and looked at her husband from behind the door and made some signs with her eyes. She indicated that there was no milk in the house, and she wanted her husband to send me away. Thus you see many things can be said with the eyes. The Lord says, "I will guide you with Mine eyes. I will tell you where to go and when to go."
This is the message we receive from the eyes of the Lord, as we continue looking unto Him.
Chapter seven: Look and be Saved, As He Seeking You
There are very small verses in the Gospels which sum up the whole life- purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ. One is Luke. 19:10. "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that was lost." And the other is John 10:10, last part, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." From these two short verses we can sum up the whole life-purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although we may not know it, the Word of the Lord goes throughout the world. When ever you may go you find hunger and thirst for the Word of God. If you seek to know God, you will find Him, as you see in Jeremiah 29:13, 'And ye shall seek me, and find Me when we shall search for me with all your heart.' Once we have found Him He will make every provision to give us abundant life. Though they may say they are born again. In the first word war many soldiers were wounded amongst them there were about eighty-five very sad cases. They had lost both their legs, both their arms and both their eyes. They were almost like dead men; they had to be carried in baskets and they had to be fed with a tube or a spoon. Spiritually this is the condition of many believers today. Even though they say they are born-again, yet for many years they remain spiritually deaf and dumb. There are many believers in this sickly condition, and they have no strength to work for God. The fact remains that the Lord says, "I have come to give them life and to give it more abundantly."Now the word 'abundantly' is a word with a big meaning, and the phrase 'more abundantly' means an overflowing fullness.
If you study the last words of the Lord, before His final journey to Jerusalem, you will see that He was revealing all these principles and truths: hoe He Himself was going about to seek and to save that which was lost. Sometimes the lost themselves do not know how the loving Savior and good Shepherd is seeking them. He uses many means to save them. Sometimes He burdens friends and even strangers to pray for them. He changes all their plans. Until they come to His plan.
For a number of years, I had an ambition to be a doctor. So I took Science and also obtained very good marks in it. I was sure of getting a seat in the Medical Collage. But in the year 1925 my father came to Lahore, Punjab, where I was studying, to buy some machines for his factory. He took me with him to the machinery agents. All the time I was watching my father who was dealing with them. Then my father returned to his hometown telling me to make enquiries from time to time, of the agents as to when we could get the machines. I used to go every week to make enquiries. I would say, "What about my father's order?" And they would say. "So for nothing has happened." One day I discovered that the agents were deceiving my father and that their ways were crooked. So I sent a wire to my father telling him that he was being deceived by the agents, and that he would run a very big loss. Then a thought came to me, "My father is being deceived by crooked agents. Why not I become an engineer and help him?" So I decided to study engineering and help my father in his factory at Sargoda. This meant I had to go to England for my engineering course.
In England I lived in a place called Denmark Hill. On Sunday I would go for tennis, come back in the club drinking and doing other useless things. One Sunday night, on returning from the club to the boarding house, I quietly opened the front door and entered in. I heard some music in the drawing room. My landlady Mrs. Camp was playing a very nice hymn on the piano. However, I had no interest in it. I liked only dance music. And when my landlady knew that I had come into the house, she said to me, "Mister, come in to this room and hear my music." Just to please her I went in. She said, "Do you like this music?" Out of courtesy I replied, "Yes, Madam." So every Sunday she would keep the drawing-room door open while she was playing hymns on the piano. She would never say a word to me about salvation or about the Bible. She was a very, very kind lady, and I think she must have been burdened to pray for me, because I used to waste my time in dancing and drinking. On Sundays she would give me a nice pudding to make me come into her drawing room to hear her music. Whenever she requested me to come inside, I would say in my heart. "If I don't go she won't give me the pudding." So for that reason I used to go every Sunday. Now I know how the Lord used her to draw me to Himself, even though at that time I was an atheist, a freethinker and a hater of the Bible. But God is so gracious and merciful, He continued to seek me.
One day I went to my collage in London and saw on notice board a very big question mark, and below it were these words; "Why don't you spend your summer in Canada this year?" I made enquiry. They told me that a part of about twenty-five graduates would be going to Canada. The plan was to work on the farms for six weeks, earn some money, and then go visiting other places. I gave name for the party, and they registered it. They wrote to me after a while saying, "We would not advise you to go to Canada, because the Canadians may not give you the same kindly treatment as you have received I England." The reason was, that in those days in western Canada, they were not friendly towards Indians. I replied, "I will go on my own. I know how to travel." They wrote another letter to me, "If you are bent upon going, then don't blame us if they hurt your feelings or refuse your accommodation." I said to myself "Now I am going to show those white people I am not inferior to them. Whatever they do I will do. If they smoke, I will smoke; if they drink, I will drink, if they dance, I will dance, if they talk, I will talk. Because of that later that they wrote me, I will prove to them that I am in way inferior." My point in telling you all this is show how God uses all these simple things to draw us to Himself.
In the year 1928 we left Liverpool. On board the ship I saw a notice that a Christian service would be held in the dining room at 10 O'clock Sunday morning. Until that day I had, never been to any Christian service. I knew nothing about the Bible, nor did I have any interest init, nor in Christianity. It was the challenge of that letter which I had received that made me go to the service. I had no desire to go. I said in my heart, "I have gone with them to so many drinking houses, dancing places and houses of shame. Why should I not go here also, and see how the Christians worship? There is no harm in seeing." I went in and sat at the back. The meeting began and when they stood up, I also stood up; when they sat down, I also sat down. When a man began to preach, then I went to sleep.
I had no interest in the service. I said to myself, "How can these people serve the Lord? They only know about cars and airplanes, but we Indians know about God. We have many ancient books on religion." With that thought I took no interest in the sermon, and went to sleep. At the close of the meeting they all knelt down and began to pray. I said, "I am not going to follow them in this. They are not my people. I will not kneel." So I kept on sitting and looking around. Then a thought came to me. "This is not proper. I must kneel down or go out. I have gone to many Hindu temples, and removed my shoes and shown respect. If I could show respect to Hindu temples and Mohammedan mosques, why not here also?" So I broke my national and religious pride and knelt down. The very second I knelt down; my body was trembling as if some divine power was falling upon me. I began to say, "Lord Jesus! I know and I believe that thou art the living Christ." Now these words 'Living Christ' came again to me. I was three months in Canada and people were extremely kind to me. This gave me a desire to go back to Canada again.
In 1929 I went again to Canada, this time for my engineering training. I was staying at the Y.M.C.A. in an upstairs room. Mr. Hansen, a young Bank Manager was also living there. He had a very nice, shining face. I said to him, "Mr. Hansen, can you tell me your happiest experience in life? I had put that question to my professors, friends and students and they had given me many answers. Mr. Hansen replied, " My happiest experience in life was when I found Christ." I asked, "What do you mean?" again he replied, When I found Christ. "Then he continued, "Don't think all who are called Christians are real Christians. It is only by experience we become true Christians," At that time I could not understand what he meant. I knew one thing: he was very happy and he always had a happy, shining face. I saw that he was so different from other people. I went to him again and said "Mr. Hansen, will you lend me your Bible?" He said to me, "Why are you asking for a Bible? I have hard that you Indians do not like the Bible." I told him, "It is quit true, I also did not like the Bible. I was given a Bible in 1919 and I tore every page of it into pieces. But since last year I have been convinced that Jesus is the living Christ. I want to know more about Him." Mr. Hansen gave me his own pocket New Testament.
I began to read the New Testament, and I continued to read it till three O'clock in the morning. I read Matthew's Gospel and I said my self, "I have read in my B.A, well-known books by well-known writers, but I have never read such a book as this. Judging by the language and style, it is so very different from other books. I had to acknowledge that this was not, an ordinary book. It was the book of God. With great reverence I read every verse, and on the third day I came to John's Gospel, Chapter 3 verse 3, "Verily, verily I say unto thee." Suddenly even though I saw no one, I became conscious of a divine presence in the room. I heard these words, 'I say unto thee,' again and again, I was saying in my hart at that time, "It is a good book but it is meant for Europeans and Americans. We Indians have other books." But the voice said, "Don't say that! I say unto thee! This belongs to you." Then I said "Lord, if this book belongs to me, than I am a great sinner, because without knowing any thing about it, I tore the Bible into pieces." Then and there I fell down upon my knees, and I saw my sin come before me. I could see on my body the marks of sin. I felt black filthy; I could smell a bed smell. The voice came again and said, "These spots you are seeing, and this smell you are smelling, is because of sin." I could see all sins, even though in the past I had been able to hide them cleverly from my teachers, friends, parents, and neighbors. Now they were all uncovered. So I replied, "Yes Lord, I am a great sinner. I confess my sins. I am very for them." I felt very unhappy. I had money, but no peace; I had education, but my life was a defeat. So I said, "Lord, is there any hope for a man like me?" then again a voice came, "This is my body which is broken for you. And this is My blood of the New Testament which is shed for the remission of your sins." I replied, "Lord, these words are beyond my understanding, but without understanding them I believe." And again, the Voice came. 'My son, thy sins are forgiven thee."
At that time I did not know anything about salvation, the new birth of justification. I knew one thing: the Lord Jesus had died for my sins, and He had forgiven all my sins. Immediately I lost every desire for tobacco, drinking, cinema and evil companions. All was gone. I found I had a great hunger for the word of God. I began to spend the whole day with the Bible. I read my bible through with in three weeks. I read it the second time, and the third time.
One day I read Hebrew 13.8. Then I prayed, "Lord Jesus I believe these words, thou art the same yesterday today and forever." At that time, I was having very bad nose and throat trouble. I suffered for twelve years. I tried many medicines and many doctors. Nothing healed me, and so I prayed, "Lord, thou art the same, I believe it. Will you kindly touch my nose and my throat?" having prayed, I laid down and slept. When I arose in the morning I was completely healed. This happened thirty-two years ago.
During the same period, one Sunday morning after the service, I met a good Christian by name Flinn. He was working in the railway police. He was a big strong man, and when we shook hands the bones of my hands were almost crushed. He said to me, "Brother, why don't you go to Indian and preach the Gospel?" I said, "Mr.Flinn, I have spent five years studying engineering and I am a man who can not talk properly. I stutter and stammer. When I see a small company of people my knees begin to shake. I cannot sing a single note of music. How can such a foolish man like me be a preacher?" He smiled and went away. Every time I prayed, I could feel his hand in my hand and hear his words, why don't you go, why don't you go?" I would say, "Lord, I will give you all I have. I don't want any thing for myself. I don't want a house, a car, building or property or anything else. I will give you all my money for thy service; but please, don't make me a preacher." The Lord said to me, "I don't want your money, I want you." I said again and again, "Lord I will give you my money, I will get many preachers to preach. They will do a good job. Please, Lord don't make me a preacher." For two years the Lord continued to speak to me, "Why don't you go, why don't you go?" I went on struggling and fighting with the Lord.
After two years the Lord spoke to me in a small meeting for young people. A man got up in the meeting and said to me, "Mister, can you tell us about work in India?" So I stood up and began to find fault with Christian work in India. When I returned to my room, I could not pray that night. The Lord said to me, "What right have you to find fault with my servants, when you have been disobeying me for two years? You have no right to find fault." Like a sword these words came to me. I said, "Lord how can a man like me be a preacher? In every way I am disqualified to be a preacher. But if you want me, I am ready, Lord, I make no choice. You can send me to any country you like. It may be Africa, china, or any part of the world, Lord I make no choice. You can sent me to any place, I will go." The Lord said, "I accept you for My service on three conditions. Do not tell or hint about your material or financial needs to any man, no even to your most intimate friends or relatives. You should make no claims on your property in Punjab. You should depend upon Me for every need of yours. Secondly, do not join any society. Thirdly do not make your own plans. Let me lead you day by day. I said, "Lord I agree." It was settled. That was in the month of April 1932.
I did not know where to go and how to begin my work; but one thing I knew; the Lord would help me day by day. I came to Bombay in 1933. My father and mother came to me. I had written to my father giving him my testimony. So my father said to me, "My son, only your mother and I know that you are a Christian, we have not told any one else. We have no objection. You are a young man and you can do what you like. But we have one request. When you come your hometown don't say that you are a Christian. You can read your Bible and pray and go anywhere for meetings. Nobody will stop you. But our request is don't say that you are a Christian. If you do, our Sikh community will murmur against us." My parents were very, very orthodox Sikhs. I replied, "If the Lord Jesus had not sought and saved my life, then I would have come back as a sinner, a gambler and doing shameful things. My earning would have been wasted. Now the Lord has changed me and give me a new life." I continued, "Suppose I don't breathe for a few moments. How long can I live? It will not be very long. The Lord Jesus Christ is my life and how can I live denying Him?" My father said to me, "In that case you cannot come home." Even though I was back in India after seven years, I could not go home. My father left me and went away. Whatever money I had, I gave it to my father to show my respect to him.
I went to a public Chatram in Bombay, where I was given a room free for a week, in which I slept and kept my things. Every day I used to go into the streets of Bombay to witness and distribute tracts. If any one were interested he would take me to a hotel and give me a cup of coffee or tea. That was my whole day's food, and it used to be so nice and tasty.
When my father was returning to Punjab, on the train he had a dream. In the dream he saw an old man saying to him, "Don't worry about your son." He has found true peace, so don't trouble him." From Bombay I went to Karachi and my father came there to see me. He said, " Please come back home. Now I know what you have found." Then he tool me home.
One day we had a public meeting. Hindus, Mohammedans and Sikhs came; many of them with stones and lathis (Large bamboo poles). When I gave a testimony, one very fat man amongst them got up from the back. He was a doctor. He said, "Mister, we want to ask you one question. You have been talking about love, and you have been saying, 'God is love.' Your father loves you and sent you abroad for your education. He sent you large sums of money regularly to educate you. Now, was it not your duty to get your father's permission before you took baptism? Do you call the love? Look at your father; he is broken hearted. "My father was sitting in the front. He got up said, 'why do you take my name? I never said I was broken hearted. Who told you? My son has found something, which I have not. He has found true peace. Is there anyone here, Hindu, Mohammedan or Sikh who has found true peace? If you have, then you have a right to question my son," No one answered: but one by one they got up and walked away. I continued there for ten days, preaching the Gospel.
Sometime later, God himself spoke to my father. My father had a big law suite in the High Court in Lahore. One Sunday morning he passed by an old house in Macleou Road. And he quietly went inside the building to take rest. Then suddenly he saw a light shining before him and he heard these words, "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." My father said, "Lord Jesus! You have saved my son, save me also." That is how God met him and changed his life.
For three years my father was not baptized. He said to me, "there is no need to be baptized. I read my bible everyday. I testified very boldly. I am not ashamed." All this was quite true. He would read his Bible very, very loudly at three O'clock every morning. He would wake my mother up so that she could also listen. So he said "Baptism is only a formality". I kept quite. I only prayed. One night I had a dream. I saw in my dream a wide river. I was on one side, and my father was on the other. Then I saw my father swimming towards me. He was breathing hard, and I reached down and pulled him out of the water. Then I woke up. I prayed, and the Lord showed me the meaning of the dream. The Lord revealed to me that my father's departure from the world would be very soon. He has to cross the River Jordan, but he was not ready to go. The Lord said, "Go to your father." So I went to him and asked him " He smiled and told me that the Lord wanted him to go to Madras and testify in baptism. So he came to Madras in the month of December 1945, and he was baptized on Christmas day. Also he gave his testimony and spoke for three hours. He came out of the water with a shining face and said to me afterwards, "why did you not tell me that it is such a wonderful thing to testify in baptism?"
After this my father returned to Punjab. I have five brothers. He went to each one of them and said, 'I am your father and you are my sons. I have educated you and got you all married, and done everything for you. But I failed in one thing; I failed to show you the way of salvation. Please forgive me, for I never knew. Now I have come to tell you that this is the only way; if you want to come into God's kingdom, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be born-again."
In the month of July 1946 he passed away as God had shown me before. Before he passed away he called my younger sister to hem and said to her, My child, you won't see me after three days." She wept. He said, "Don't weep for me, weep for yourself. My time upon this earth is finished. I am ready to go. I can see the angels coming to take me. My child don't weep for me. Before I go, I want to make peace with everybody. Will you please call all my brothers and relations?" So they all came, one by one. He said to them, "If I have wronged you, please forgive me."
But one of my uncles would not come. There was a family grievance for many, many years. It was all because of a brass vessel, which was my grandfather's property, a very big brass vessel which was used for big feasts. When my grandfather died, the property was divided and my father said, "I want that vessel." My uncle said, "No, I want it." So, my father took it by force. Because of this, my uncle would not talk with him for more than thirty-five years. My uncle said. " You took away my brass vessel from me. So I will not come." My father again said to my sister, " Please call my elder brother." Again he said, "I will not come". And a third time also he refused, but the fourth time he came, my father went and said, "Please forgive me. I have grieved you and wounded your heart. My time has come, and I want to make peace. Please forgive me. My uncle forgave him and then they both wept. And with true peace my father passed away.
How lovingly the Lord seeks and saves people. Unknown to me, He was using every means to seek me and save me. He knew that I was a blasphemer, No one could be a greater sinned than me: one who tore the Bible, who blasphemed. God and His people. No one has sinned like me. As He sought me, He is now seeking you. He might have burdened many to pray for you and you may not know it. Now the time has come. He is knocking at the door of your heart. He wants to forgive. These words come to you from Him, "My son, my daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." Will you not accept Him? No one can love you more than He. If He has forgiven a man like me, a blasphemer, who deserved nothing but hell fire, He will surely forgive you. I humbly request you, not to delay in receiving Him. Look unto Him and be saved.
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