The Eyes of God and the Eyes of Man

This article was written as part of a study in the Book of Hebrews, titled: Hebrews 4:13 – Part iii – The Eyes of Them Both Were Opened. We are posting this article in full in Genesis because of the subject matter. Scripture is one united work, or one unified message by the Spirit of God to mankind.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:7)

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)

The Eyes of Them Both Were Opened.

   Why spend so much time on ‘the eye’? The answer is simple: because the Lord refers to the ‘eye(s)’ approximately 610 times in Scripture. If the Lord is going to mention the eye or eyes that many times, should we not pay attention. When sin came into the garden it took up residence in the two beings who God had Created, both male and female. This was man in his lost condition; sin not only permeated man but put its ugly veil over the entire world. This would be the world of man in sin and alienated from God. Man’s mind now would be at enmity with God, and there would be nothing good for God found in sinful man. Only through divine revelation and intercession can God produce anything good in man; and that goodness has to come in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. We like to think of good works as the goodness of man, we picture man as a vessel; however, this vessel has been soiled and tainted beyond reconciliation without God’s intervention. Sin took on the form of distorted truth. The devil deceived the woman and tainted the truth so that she would believe. She swallowed the deception hook, line and sinker. Scripture tells us that it was the woman who was first tempted by Satan. The deception led to the complete overthrow of mankind.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve. (1 Timothy 2:13) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Timothy 2:14)

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:8) Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. (1 Corinthians 11:9)

God Sets His Proper Order in His Creation

   In His marvelous creation, God has set a certain order. In everything that He created He established its proper place, and proper position before Him as the very Creator of all things. In simple terms: in God’s creation, and His plan of redemption He has put all the round pegs in the round holes, and all the square pegs in the square holes. I realize that this is very simple reasoning; however, with divine thought, we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God through the word of God to see God’s plan of redemption in His proper and distinct order. Adam was put in a place of dominion, He was superior to the animals, and yes, He was superior to the woman (taken from his side before the fall) in position, rank, and authority. She was created from the man and for man; the man, however, was not created from the woman, he was created from the dust of the ground. Before the fall Adam could be called the federal head of creation. On planet Earth, Adam was the highest being in God’s order, and whenever God’s order is disrupted, it has an effect on the rest of the world.

Side Bar: to restore proper order to God’s creation, the Church or the bride of Christ was born out of the side of God’s dear Son (John 19:34). She is now awaiting her final true position in the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. The great mystery of the oneness of the relationship of Christ to His Church (His bride) first began in the divine revelation of the first man (the first husband), and the first woman (the first wife) before sin. God’s proper order in their relationship with each other in love, honor, and respect would be a guide for His mystical body to understand the proper place that Christ holds as the Head of His Church. (Colossians 1:18) This marriage relationship (that began in Genesis) is a seed planted of the spiritual concept of a righteous bridegroom and a precious bride.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (Ephesians 5:23)

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.(Ephesians 5:24)

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (Ephesians 5:28)

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (Ephesians 5:29)

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Ephesians 5:31)

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32)

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:8)

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)

From Harmony to Rebellion

   Sin has not only changed man, but it has changed the proper order from harmony to rebellion. Whenever any part of God’s creation is changed outside of God’s will, there are divine repercussions, and yes, for every cause there is an effect. We see the sun as representing the center of our existence. It gives us light, it gives us seasons, and it is, if you will, a watchman over our existence. The moon was created to be in subjection to the sun, in fact, the moon’s light is only a reflection of the one sun that contains all the celestial light for man on earth. Suppose the moon moved a thousand miles out of its orbit, or its orbit drastically altered; there would be solar, and earthly chaos. The earth would be in turmoil, and all things would change drastically. In both the physical and the spiritual order of things when Eve stepped out of her proper order, the world of mankind plunged into chaos. It was the woman who gave to her husband, it was not Satan who tempted Adam directly. Adam was lured by the one he loved, and he did eat, and sin came into the world. The woman was deceived, but Adam (with eyes opened) walked into spiritual death and blindness by his own will. If we use the phrase eyes of them . . . were opened, (Genesis 3:7) in the New Testament, we will relate this to finding Christ, and being born again; however, in the beginning of man’s story, their eyes were opened to sin, and darkness became their spiritual life. They were now sinners. This was out of God’s set order; and consequently, God’s redemptive plan began.

Man’s Need to Hide, to Cover Himself and His Guilt

   Their eyes were opened to sin, they were now sinners, and these two were captured by the corruption of sin. From these two beings the entire world would be led into disobedience, violence and corruption throughout all human history. The things of God were now darkness to them. The first sin is self-explanatory. They looked upon each other and they were aware of their own nakedness. This was the sin of lust because of their nakedness; even in their perverted state of sin, they realized that they must cover themselves; therefore, they picked fig leaves and began to sew them together. This was to hide them in their nakedness. Before sin it would stand to reason that they had a glory given to them of God that covered them. If we examine the New Testament, we will find many verses that proclaim the Christian is covered or takes on the glories of Christ. It is in these glories that God the Father sees the child of God. For there was nothing good, and there is nothing good in man that would allow man to stand before God. It is only the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ that makes us presentable before God the Father. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear then we shall appear with Him in glory. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

A New Experience of Guilt and Fear

   In this garden of God, the two fallen creatures were now hiding themselves from the Almighty God. This was a new experience, and this experience was feeling guilt. They were aware of what they had done, even though they did not realize the historical ramifications of their sin; yet, in all this there was not one cry for God’s mercy. God had told them prior that the sentence for disobedience would be death. There was no whimper of repentance towards God. Their eyes had been opened to the knowledge of good and evil. Sin is not activated by good; sin is activated by evil, sin promotes itself, and man follows that path of evil and not good. It is the evil heart that has been contaminated by sin that hides itself from God. It is the evil heart that takes up fig leaves of religion; yet, denies the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. Adam, the first man, brought sin into the world, and death by sin; and Adam, the first man, was the first one to attempt to cover his sin with what he thought could be applied to righteousness. Adam brought sin into the world, and death by sin. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12) The descendants of Adam continue to hide themselves from God in their own justification for sin: either by denying sin altogether or attempting to cover themselves with their own ideology of fig leaves. The greater the throng of religionists, the greater is the absence of God among them. Religion becomes their tool to hide themselves from God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only Savior of man, there is no other way to approach God, but through the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

The Fig Leaves of Self Righteousness

    When the Lord Jesus was manifest in the flesh, sent of the Father, walked upon this earth, and fulfilled the complete will of God the Father, He came into a world of religion. The Jews had perverted God’s commandments, and God’s ordinances, and changed them to their own fig leaves, or doctrines of man. When the Lord Jesus cursed the fig tree, He was not cursing the law, nor was He cursing the ordinances of God, He was cursing the religion of man, the world’s system of religion that hides itself from Christ in God.

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. (Matthew 21:18)

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. (Matthew 21:19)

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! (Matthew 21:20)

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:(Mark 11:12)  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. (Mark 11:13)

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. (Mark 11:20) And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. (Mark 11:21) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:5)

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. (Luke 13:6)

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? (Luke 13:7)

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: (Luke 13:8)

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:9)

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. (Luke 13:10)

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15)

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Revelation 6:16)

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:17)

   The cursing of the fig tree is very important for us today. For this fig tree was a symbol of the Jewish religious and political system in the days of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus came to Israel desiring to see spiritual fruit for God, but there was none. Not only was there an absence of truth, but the tree was completely covered with only leaves. The Jews were attempting to hide themselves from God by covering themselves with the fig leaves of their own religion. Every time the Lord Jesus exposed them, there was hatred and enmity towards God’s Christ. The very words that He spoke brought hatred from their hearts. The cursing of the fig tree proceeded the Lord’s weeping over Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Luke 13:35)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:38)

For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:39)

The Three Weepings

   In the cursing of the fig tree, we have the finality of what would be the judgment over Jerusalem. The Lord’s latter statement was His lamentation over Jerusalem, for they, like Adam, would not repent of their sin.

   Three times the Lord wept. The first time was recorded in John 11:35, Jesus wept. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the entire Bible, and yet, it is one of the most profound and soul-searching verses in all of Scripture.

   Once again, I speak from experience: many years ago, both my wife and I were teaching Sunday School classes for children. Each student had a verse to memorize to be later presented to the entire assembly in a Sunday School program. There was one seven-year-old boy with a learning disorder; he was so physically hyper-active that he could barely concentrate. He was truly a handful. We did not want him to be left out, or neglected, but we knew any lengthy verse would most likely be beyond his attention capability; therefore, we selected John 11:35. As every student memorized their verses, we continually worked with Chester over, and over, and over. . . Jesus wept . . . Jesus wept . . . Jesus wept. The day arrived for all the students to present their verses from memory to the assembly. Everyone did well, and lastly it became Chester’s turn. Both my wife and I were mouthing the words Jesus wept . . .  Jesus wept. And then, a spiritual awakening when Chester loudly proclaimed, God cried! At that moment, a tear ran down my cheek for I had realized what I had missed, and now was revealed into my heart and soul, that God while contemplating the death of all men, especially His friend, Lazarus, wept not from judgment, but from the love that is centered in the Person of Jesus Christ, who is very God, for God is love.

   The second time that it is recorded that the Lord wept, it was over Jerusalem. Here He is portraying Himself as a hen gathering her chicks. The sad part is that Jerusalem did not respond.

   Once again, a personal experience: we had a white Araucana free ranging hen. She had six baby chicks. On this particular day, a storm quickly came on us, suddenly it became dark, and the rain came down violently that sight was very limited. In the distance I saw a small white shape, at first, I thought it was a milk container; however, in the fierce wind it never moved. I found that strange, and put on a parker, and went out into the storm. When I approached, I found the white Araucana hen with all six chicks under her wing perfectly dry. The storm came upon us so quickly that the hen was not able to get to safety. This is what the Lord was referring to, that He would do anything for them if they would just repent towards God, but they would not. They would rather be in the storm then safe under His wings.

   The third time that it is recorded that Christ wept was in the garden before His crucifixion. We begin the scene in John 17:1, and see the Holy Spirit’s summation in Hebrews, Chapter 5, verse 7.

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (John 17:1)

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. (Luke 22:40)

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:41)

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42)

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 22:43)

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44)

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. (Matthew 26:38)

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)

   These last tears in the garden were from the heavy burden that was before Him. To comfort Him, God the Father used the angelic host to minister to His beloved Son. The agony of Adam’s sin (in the garden of Eden) to the agony of the sin of the whole world was before Him in the garden of Gethsemane.

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. (Mark 14:32)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. (John 18:1)

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. (John 19:41)

The Garden of Tears, The Garden of Joy, and the Garden of Creation

   Everyone of Adam’s race past, present, and future laid upon His heart. And so, He bore that burden to Calvary’s cross, and proclaimed, it is finished. What began in a garden (Genesis 2:8) was finished in a garden (John 19:41). The first man was created in the garden of God; the second man was put to death in a garden of sin and through His death and resurrection a whole new race was created.

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:16)

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:17)

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)

The Description of the New Man, the New Creation

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5)

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:6)

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8)

For Every Man and Yet, Not for All Men

    God’s Christ went into death for every man. He was raised from the dead by the power of God for every man. How sad, that not all men avail themselves of the love of God which is in Chris Jesus our Lord. Like Adam, there is no repentance; like Jerusalem, there is no repentance, and even in the future in Revelation, Chapter 6, the men of the world will still not repent before an Almighty God. God has completely satisfied His claims against Adam, and Adam’s descendants. God the Father sent His Son to be the propitiation for the sin of the world; yet man still wants to sew fig leaves instead of availing Himself to the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the glories of the Man in heaven for us.

   In the Lord’s days upon this earth, He called out the Jewish religious leaders. At one point He proclaimed that they were of their father, the devil, and that they were deceiving the Jews through their teachings. At this point in time, the Jews took up stones to stone Him, but He passed through their midst. As Eve was deceived by the devil, so also, the nation of Israel succumbed to the same deceptive teachings. As a whole, the nation of Israel had no place in their hearts for God or His Christ. Yes, there was a remnant, but small it was. The majority of Israelites had their eyes blinded by the very religion that they professed. If we continue into the age of the Church, which is about to close (for the Lord’s coming must be in the immediate future), once again, man is sewing fig leaves. Their eyes are opened to the world and sin, and not to God’s Christ. The same message of repentance goes out to the professing church.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (Revelation 3:15)

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17)

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:22)

The Last Message

   As the Lord stood weeping over Jerusalem because there was no fruit for God; similarly, He beseeches the last church in Church history. The Lord addresses this church as the Amen, or ‘it is finished.’ This is the last message to the current ungodly system of religion; and yes, they too will not repent. In contrast to them, He declares Himself as the faithful and true witness of God. The religionist has corrupted the image of Christ to represent more of the world in Adam than the glorious Son of God who gave Himself for the sin of the world. He is the faithful and true witness of God from the creation to the present day; He has been witnessing to man of their need of salvation. He compares His witness with the lies and hypocrisy of worldly manmade religion. As we view the current fig tree there is no fruit for God. The eyes of the religionists are consumed by the things of the world, and not the things of Christ; nevertheless, the Lord, Himself, counsels them concerning their deadness towards God.

   What does death bring to man, or to an ungodly system? The corpse goes through a transition of body temperature from a normal body temperature to stone cold. The church of the Laodiceans were neither cold, nor were they hot; they were going through a transition period from a normal temperature of life to stone cold, and dead. This is the church age that we live in, yes, they boast of all they have, and of all that they are doing; yet the tragedy is that they are doing it for the world, and not for Christ. In Revelation 3:1 the church at Sardis had a name that they liveth, and yet they were dead. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. In modern Christianity, or what is called Christianity, we have a corpse that is cooling off, and is approaching the final stage of having no heat or temperature, in fact, a corpse that is stone cold. The Lord Jesus said emphatically that He would spew the Laodiceans out of His mouth; however, their reply was a disdain for the truth of God. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17) This attitude is not foreign to the ways of mankind, in fact, when the Lord was leaving the Temple, the eyes of His disciples were not on the hordes of lost sinners, but they were on the glories of Herod’s Temple, and the surrounding buildings. The Lord informed them that there would not be one stone left upon another, and thus, seventy short years later the stones of the Temple, and the surrounding buildings were razed to the ground, and not one stone laid upon another. His disciples saw the glory of the world, when in fact, their eyes should have been on the One who was the glory of not only the world, but also heaven above. The church, therefore, the great world of religion that professes Christ has their eyes on their great buildings, on the wealth of this world, for they are rich and increased with goods, and they declare of themselves that they have need of nothing.

   In the last kingdom of this world in the Book of the Revelation, it is the kingdom of the beast: the last earthly ruler of Adam’s race. Not only will they worship the things of the world, but they will worship the beast himself. When the Laodiceans declare who they are, their first declaration is that they have the riches of this world. In the book of James, we have a very subtle warning by the Spirit of God concerning an assembly or church that does not have Christ as their center. James compares two men and how they are both greeted in a church and assembly setting. The rich man is exalted and placed in a position of privilege, the poor man (in contrast) is instructed to sit in a place that indicates that he is considered to be lower in rank and position.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (James 2:1)

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (James 2:2)

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (James 2:3)

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? (James 2:4)

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5)

    We are warned by the Lord Jesus Himself (in the gospels) concerning the riches of this world. We see the contrasts between the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus. Lazarus was taken by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man lifts up his eyes from hell. Paul and the Apostle John also warns us against the riches of this world. There are treasures (not of this earth) reserved for God’s people in heaven. Through the riches of this world comes possessions, and we become controlled by these possessions.

   In the world of man there is a system of finance, most of the world populace is indebted and enslaved to this system. Many are so far in debt that they will never see a free day without that bondage; yet they boast of their possessions, and if truthful, they will see that they own absolutely nothing. They have been duped by Adam’s world of indebtedness. Sadly, this transfers over to the professing church. I am convinced there are some religionists that if they could borrow one hundred billion dollars for a great shrine to Adam (another humongous church building) they would sign on the dotted line. Indebtedness in our modern day is not something that a child of God should embrace; whenever possible be a free man for Christ: one must not have the troubles of this world upon one’s back. Because of the deception of the ministers of Satan, the last church is in its death throes. In all God’s dealings with man (whether it be before the flood, or with the kingdom of Israel, or with the church) the last view of those ages is the saddest view of all: for in each age, man failed. The failure is simply that he has need of nothing, and that includes God Himself. He has no need of God, he has no need of salvation, he has not need of the blood of Christ, he has no need of the Man in heaven (this glorious One who is at the right hand of the glory of God).

   Adam and Eve hid themselves from God, and God went looking for them. It was God who asked the question, Where art thou? In His divine Being He knew, of course, the whole story; He knew where they were, but He wanted to hear it from man. God desired that man would acknowledge his unprecedented position in sin, in guilt, and in fear. God wanted Adam to say in his own heart, Where am I? and to recognize and admit to his lost condition that he was now separated from His God, and alienated from His Creator.

Spiritual Eyes and a Spiritual Gravity

   The Lord Jesus tells this last church not to buy of the world, but to buy of Him, the gold of righteousness tried in the fire that will make you rich in heavenly things. He wants the Church to attire herself in white raiment, pure and clean, conquering evil with the truth of God’s Christ, and only then will the shame that is upon us today in the nakedness of the church be clothed. And lastly, if we are to have eyes that see the heavenly things, we should anoint our eyes with the eye salve of God. In Ephesians 1:18, our eyes are to be opened. It is the eyes of our understanding. These eyes are not the natural eyes that are given to man, but the spiritual eyes that are in God’s Christ. The Spirit of God presents to us the things that are unseen. We have the Holy Spirit of God within us, and He alone gives the true meaning of Scripture, for God cannot lie. The Spirit of God is given to illuminate our understanding so that we can see beyond this earth into heavenly places. The natural eye cannot penetrate the heavenly, but the Spirit of God can open the heavenlies to us through the word of God. In Ephesians 1:18, the Spirit of God directs us by confirming in us the hope of God’s calling in Christ. If we join Ephesians Chapter 1 with Colossians 3:1-3 at this point we see that our calling, and our desires are to be in the heavenlies with Jesus Christ, that we are to dwell on the things of heaven and not dwell on the things of the earth. We are to find our treasure in the riches of His glory. We look forward to seeing Him as He is. There will come a day when the heavens will be parted, and Christ will call the remainder of the church into His presence. Our riches are not in ourselves, but what He is to us. The richness of the heart is only to them who love Him and love His appearing. It is so hard for man to break natural gravity, what Isaac Newton did not know was that there is a spiritual gravity as well, and a man without Christ is bound to the earth, and to the depth of the earth. A man with Christ ascends into the presence of Christ, the Spirit of God makes sure that we know the indwelling of God’s dear Son, and the riches of His grace. In addition to the riches of His grace we have a heavenly inheritance in the Lord Jesus. God has given Him a throng of saints redeemed by His blood because of His sacrificial death upon the cross of Calvary. We are part of the whole of His inheritance, for this inheritance is in the saints, and they are glorified by the light of Christ. Every soul bought with the blood of Christ is part of His inheritance.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)

   In both of these scripture references from the Book of Hebrews, we find an abundance of spiritual wealth for the Spirit led and the heavenly minded saint. Not only are we joint heirs with Jesus Christ, but by God’s dear Son we are taken into His bosom and find our eternal residence in the Person of Jesus Christ. These Scriptures confirm not only the power, but the glory of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 1:19, we have the conclusion of this great power when God raised our Savior from the dead. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. (Ephesians 1:19) God specifically tells us of His great power, and then He says that this power is to us-ward who believe, and not only is this power the divine power of God, but it is the power that puts hope within us by the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ by the great power of the Almighty.

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20)

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21)

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22)

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

   If this grand hope were a contract given by man, I would imagine the line would be endless, one would have to show up days before to get a spot in the line and to be a partaker of this wonderful contract; however, because of the enmity of man, and because of sin, and man’s alienation from God, man sets no value on his eternal destiny. He refuses to believe in the glorious grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, yes, man will show up for religion, but he will not show up to receive God’s greatest prize, and that is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man cannot conceive that he is totally in God’s hands, and under God’s control. The unseen fingers of God can be traced throughout the entire history of mankind. It is God who gives the spirit of wisdom in revelation. Without His Spirit man would not know God, only through the Spirit of Christ can we be brought to the knowledge of God. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17) Wisdom and revelation (by the Spirit of God) are passed on to man. It is the word of God that describes and reveals not only the mighty power of God, but the failure and depravity of man. Scripture is clear that the eyes of your understanding can be opened only by the revelation of Christ (as every believer knows, is our life). It is hard to tell the world, or make the world understand, that He has appeared to us in a spiritual image in our hearts; and with the spiritual eyes of our understanding, we behold the spirit of the glory of Christ. We have full confidence in God, for He is the head over all things: to the church and to the world; all (past, present, and future) are in the sovereign hands of God.

The Trial and Reward of our Faith

    In the closing moments of church history there should be no despair for all the saints of God should rejoice in knowing that the moment of the translation of the Church is now at hand. We should be looking for His coming (moment by moment) that He will deliver us from this ungodly world with great glory.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelations 21:4)

   When we (who are of Christ) have been delivered from this present evil world, and surround the throne of God, and worship our glorious Savior the world will be left in darkness. God will begin the tribulation of man: 3 ½ years of world tribulation, and then 3 ½ years of great tribulation. Revelation 1:7 comes at the end of this tribulation for every eye will see Him, the Lord of glory, as He descends out of heaven to place His throne upon the earth. In Revelation 21:4, we have the last mention of ‘eyes,’ we see in this last mention the work of grace, the wiping away of all tears. All His own shall receive this wonderful compassion, and there shall be no more death, and no more sorrow. All will be forgotten, the grief of this earth will be behind us; the crying and the pain will be gone, for the former things are passed away. I write this for those in the future, for those who will be in this tribulation period. If someone reads these words of Revelation 1:7 you will have to endure the pain and suffering of the world because of the sin of man, and the rejection of God’s Christ. But even in this darkness, God will hold out a light for you, and that light will still be the light of Christ. At the end of this period of sorrow, He (the Lamb of God) will wipe away all your tears, He will feed you with the manna of His glory, and He will quench your thirst with rivers of living waters. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6) The living waters of life can only come from Jesus Christ. He has always been both the light and life of man. As Moses and the children of Israel wandered through the wilderness, Christ is that Rock that followed them, and provided that living water of life for the nation. In the end of the history of mankind, once again, we have Christ who is the Rock of life providing living water for the thirsty soul and giving them life in the wonder of His salvation. In the Church Age, the message from Christ is to anoint our eyes with eye salve that we may see. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18) And what do we see when the Spirit of God opens our eyes? We see the gold of God’s love and righteousness tried in the fire: the fires that Christ went into — the judgment of God against His Son being made sin for us; and we lay hold of that righteousness in the judgment that He bore for all His redeemed. And for those who are complacent: you should examine your faith. If you have not been tried in the fires of God (through Christ) you will not have the riches of God in Christ. As the Lord Jesus walked in this world, so we walk with Him in the same evil world. It is the trial of our faith: this trial examines us, proves us, and delivers us safe into His bosom. If we are to be found with heavenly riches those riches must be encompassed by God’s righteousness. Instead of the fig leaves of man’s religion, the Lord wants us to put on white raiment, and use the sanctifying power of the word of God to guide us through this life, that one day we will stand pure before God in Jesus Christ. When we are clothed in Christ there is no shame, there is no regret, and there is no concern for loss, or concern for gain. For we see not only His glory (in our hearts) but we have full assurance that one day we will be with Him in His glory.

Till There Was No Remedy

   In this last church of Laodicea, we see the anointing of the eyes with God’s eye salve. This is a cry from God: that we might see His wonderful love for us. I am reminded of Israel’s last days before their captivity, and the verses that the Holy Spirit gave to them.

And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: (2 Chronicles 36:15)

But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:16)

   In our place in the history of mankind (the Church age) we need to listen to the cries of the Spirit of God to anoint our eyes with eye salve that we might see. We need to put away the fig leaves of religion for the blood and the glory of Jesus Christ. Man did not, and could not, establish his own salvation. It was His work on the cross, and not our works, that endowed and gifted us with salvation. He has offered the wonder of salvation freely to all men.

Spiritual Math

   In the spiritual arithmetic of God’s grace: A+1=0 (Adam plus man = 0). Adam can only give you sin and emptiness. C+1=2 (Christ plus man is the fullness of His salvation, and a witness of His power and grace. Christ made one new man [Ephesians 2:18]) who I am in, the Man in heaven for us.

   In the witness of the Spirit of God He moves the heart of the believer to cry out, My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his. (Song of Songs 2:16)

Amen

---

© Copyright 2017, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the  King James Bible. (KJB)

---

---