by John W. Follette
The Lord’s objective is to conform us to the image of His Son. Our objective should be to glorify God.
“You are worthy; O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
“Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31
The glory of God should be the focal point toward which we are to move. “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). We are to dedicate our lives to the Lord, no matter what our vocation may be. If the will of God for my life is selling neckties, the fact that His will is being done glorifies Him.
“God has made us what we are, creating us in Christ Jesus for the good deeds which are prepared beforehand by God as our sphere of action.” Ephesians 2:10 Moffatt
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” Colossians 1:16
“Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:21
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4
The Lord did not form us because He needed us; rather, He made us for two reasons: to glorify Him, and to do His will.
He gives grace and strength for the execution of His will. If we will take time to find His will, it will glorify Him and we will grow in the things of God. We were formed with a moral and spiritual likeness to God. These are qualities not found in any lower creation.
To man He says, “Here is the world; have dominion – bring it into subjection so it can serve you, and it will provide all your needs.”
Many are so busy trying to help God, when, if we will become quiet, He is seeking to help us. He loves us and desires that we love Him. If we love the Lord perfectly and are conscious of His love filling us, we are doing all the things that are necessary.
There is a difference between a burden that we assume (religiosity), and a burden which He brings to us. His burden is light and there is a sweet consciousness of His undergirding while we are carrying it. This will lift a heavy weight off all those who bear an assumed burden.
The Lord is greatly pleased with those who have been spiritually awakened, so they can express their love for Him and then live with Him.
This reduces our lives to simplicity when the world seems to love complication.
When the presence of the Lord is manifested in a meeting, our spirit should know and respond. The response in Adam to God was instantaneous. The Lord could come and discuss with Adam the things that were on His heart, and then show him how to reclaim and possess the earth.
When the Lord came in the cool of the evening, Adam could respond when the Lord had not yet spoken. This is the subtle, mystical union that we are to have with the Lord – a fellowship that does not need words. When we enter our closet to wait on Him, there is a joy, a deep inner consciousness that no words can tell. My deepest prayers have never been with words; but a communion that is past words.
The Lord always moves toward two objectives concerning His creation – His glory and His pleasure. These are the two great objectives toward which life should be focused. We must become original in our relationship to the Lord, as we were not made for the objective that most have today.
“The heavens declare the glory of God.” They are doing the thing for which they were made. Even in inanimate creation, the first objective is to express the glory of God. Even though creation is presently under bondage, it still breaks through and there is glory. How can we glorify God? Wherever the will of God is executed, He is glorified.
He told Adam, “Have dominion and authority, and cause nature to respond, and all these secrets that are now hidden, will be divulged to you. They will come to you as you grow with Me and as I release them, as you are built to receive them. Only then can you possess, govern, and move with Me in My purposes.” Adam gave the Lord great joy and pleasure as creation functioned in the method and procedure that it should follow.
Then came the temptation. Testing and proving is always of God. The Lord never tempts us; rather, He tests and proves us unto strengthening. All spiritual growth is under a law of testing and proving. The Lord walked the earth to gain fellowship from His own creation – to receive and enjoy the mutual intercourse of spiritual life with Adam. Oh, the broken heart of God! We will know it if we ever fellowship with Jesus in all the fullness that is available to us.
Adam, in the beginning, had a sensitivity and access to God. The failure on Adam’s part did not finish the Lord’s walking. He has come to walk the earth again that He might bring to man the Word of Life and Truth, and begin an intercourse of spiritual understanding.
The thing that will please Him most is for us to have our heart in sweet fellowship with Him. This is something that no one can give, but us. He has millions of angels serving him; but few humans who will choose to sit in His presence and love Him.
May God again walk and talk, within us.