Three Great Steps
The first, out of death in to life, out of darkness into light, out of Adam into Christ, out of the old creation into the new, out of condemnation into the Father's bosom. Blessed, most blessed step!
The next. The man in a prison at Rome who has been one of the most faithful witnesses of our adorable Saviour; who has suffered all manner of insult from the world and from the church because of his faithful and loving witness, is about to take it. He is soon to be executed. He says, " I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better." That step carries him to the third heaven-into Paradise-where he will hear "unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." This is far better indeed. It is blessed advance.
The third, the final one; The Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout, with archangel voice, with trump of God, and the dead in Christ rise first. Then we which are alive and remain are caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. We shall be like Him then. The eternal purpose of God will be fulfilled. We shall see and enjoy forever the love and the glory of it. Blessed, thrice-blessed steps which lead to such an end!
The Master's Voice, or Man's ?
If we have not that faith which can walk alone with God, which can act alone for God, and independently of all men-saints as well as sinners-we shall fail as His witnesses in the day of testing.
If we have to wait to see what others are going to do, to decide as to our own steps, we are leaning on an arm of flesh ; our eye is no more on the Great Leader of His people, and our spiritual power is gone. God does not act on the crowds. He acts on the individual conscience ; He convicts it; He makes each one hear Him, obey Him. Whatever others may do, this is not the concern of the man who walks with God. He does not despise his brethren. He is not independent of them. He is not self-sufficient. He loves their fellowship and seeks their counsel when once in that path with them which God appoints by His word, but that path he must find for himself alone with God, and take it for himself alone with God, regardless of any and every other man. It is the individual conviction; this walk alone with God ; this obedience of faith which is the very power of Christian fellowship. It binds the heart to God, and God it is who binds the hearts of His people together. In that condition the soul drinks at the Fountain-head-the Source of all power. If we wait on man, look to man, move because he moves, wait for the crowd that we may hide ourselves in it, we are fallen ; we are neither cold nor hot ; it is no longer the voice of our Lord we hear ; it is but the voice of man. " O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee!" (Ps. 84:12)