FULLNESS IN JESUS

by Isaac N. Vanmeter

Signs of the Times- June 1867.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - Having to write to you on business, I shall ask to communicate a few thoughts and words of encouragement to the Lord's children, through the "Signs of the Times," by your permission. It would add nothing to the interest of this article for me to allude to my weakness, or to apologize for the leanness of my views and conceptions of the gospel of Christ. It is not an uncommon thing to hear the children of God complaining of leanness and barrenness of soul; of many discouragements, doubts, fears, and temptations; indeed it appears to be a common complaint of the family to speak of and feel a littleness and unworthiness, and to be ready to distrust the goodness and mercy of their exalted Savior. I wish to direct the attention of all such as feel destitute, and are hungering for the spiritual food, to the immense fullness of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;" and 'In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Why should his children go in want, or complain of leanness, in view of such an inexhaustible store? When we contemplate Jesus Christ in his divine nature and Godhead as being the "brightness of God's glory and the express image of his person," as creating all things, and upholding all things, and exercising sovereign power over heaven and earth and all flesh, is there not solid ground on which to trust him for all we need, and a character presented of such ineffable glories and perfections as is worthy to be loved and admired? On him we may rely unshakenly for eternal redemption from the curse of the law and from sin and death, he having been put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit; and being now exalted at the right hand of God to make intercession for us. In his mediation he was made to be sin for us, and is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption: the way, the truth, and the life. It is no wonder that the children of God are all agreed in giving the glory and honor of their salvation to the Savior of sinners; having all been taught their sinfulness and helplessness, and all been brought to realize that Jesus has power to forgive sins; but that they should afterwards become distrustful of his mercy, power and goodness, shows how foolish and slow of heart they are to believe all that his sacred lips have spoken. We forget that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever; that he loves his people now as he did when on the cross he bore their sins in his own body; that he who loves his own which are in the world will love them unto the end. Jesus being "full of grace and truth," of his fullness all his children receive and grace for grace. These spiritual blessings are yours by gift, and in consequence of covenant relation they are conferred upon you at the time appointed of the Father; but, dear brethren and sisters, your heavenly Father has so ordered in his will that these blessings shall be asked for and sought by his children before he bestows them. He will be "inquired of by the house of Israel to do these things; or as Jesus says to his disciples, "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find." To encourage his timid and fearful children, and inspire them with confidence, Jesus inquires of his disciples whether a natural father would give his son a stone when he asked for bread. No, they knew that an affectionate father would not thus mock his son. And now listen to the heavenly accents of his lips: "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him." Matt. vii. 11. 0, what blessed encouragement to the needy children of God. If he loves with more than a natural father's love, and is more ready to grant the lawful requests of his children than an earthly father, may they not "come boldly unto the throne of Grace, that they may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." But, as if possible to leave his children no vestige of doubt respecting the everlasting and immutable nature of his love to his people, God, by his prophet, brings up the very strongest display of earthly love and compassion to contrast with his love. Listen, ye trembling and doubting saints, to the language of divine love. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?" Scarcely possible; it is contrary to the law of her nature. The affection of the mother for her offspring is one of the most universal and one of the most powerful ties of nature, and can not be broken without the most powerful influences; and yet God declares that "they may forget." The mother may be thrown off her guard and lose her presence of mind under some shock to her nature, and forget and leave her helpless child exposed to danger and to death; but, blessed be God! - he declares in divine compassion, 'Yet I will not forget thee." - Isa. xlix. 15. No, not while he remains God and changes not. Not while he fills heaven and earth and hell with his presence and power. Not while he is touched with the feeling of their infirmity, or is afflicted in all their afflictions. Not while they are his (Christ's) body, of his flesh and his bones, and as the apple of his eye, "for no man ever yet hated his own flesh." He did not forget Noah when the earth was deluged with destruction: nor Abraham when on Mount Moriah about to offer up his son; nor Moses when a helpless infant in the Nile; nor the Hebrews in the furnace; nor Daniel among ferocious lions; nor Paul and Silas when in the dungeon. No, "God is not unrighteous to forget" them nor their "work of labor and love," which are the fruits of his spirit.

"And though I have him oft forgot, His loving kindness changes not."

The children of God often go empty and hungry, not because there is not a "fullness" in Jesus, but because they do not go to him and ask him for it, or do not ask in accordance with his will. "Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." - James iv. 2, 3. While we live after the flesh, and sow to the flesh, and suffer our affections to be set on earthly things, we enjoy but little of the things of the spirit. We soon begin to realize a dearth and are pinched with famine of soul, darkness of mind, and fall into temptations. In Jesus Christ; the great Magazine of Israel, are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; "Therefore, if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God." In Jesus are found "unsearchable riches." He has gold tried in the fire to make one rich, raiment for the naked, even raiment of wrought gold and needlework, eye-salve for the blind, feet for the lame, balm for the wounded, wine for those of a heavy heart, and herbs for the weak. In this covenant store-house is bread whereof if a man eat he shall never die; and water for thirsty souls of such virtues that when once drank they never thirst more. Here is meat for the strong, and milk for the little ones, that they may grow and thrive. Here is rich fruit all the year round, and a kind of ever-green whose leaves will heal our maladies. Why should the children of so rich a kingdom feel so poor and starve with hunger when their Father's house abounds with bread? "Our Master has great riches," and tells his servants to try him and see if he will not "pour them out a blessing" to satisfy all their wants. - Mal. iii. 10. To the hungry every bitter thing is sweet, and none but the hungry, thirsty and needy, are called, and none others can appreciate the gospel feast; and none but the sick need the Physician. May grace, mercy and peace be with you all. Amen.

Please direct your comments to Mike Krall.

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