His Delight Was With the Sons of Men

His Delight Was With the Sons of Men

All things in this world were made through Jesus, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:3), but His delight was in the sons of men. Man was the most excellent of all of God’s creatures; he was created in the image of God.

With enlightened eyes of the heart we understand that God’s plan is to lead man to full salvation and to partake of divine nature. God is Spirit; He is invisible to man, but He revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, who said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father . . . .” John 14:9. “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:18.

God greatly delights in bringing forth His own nature in man and thus revealing Himself to the world in that way.

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:12, 15-16.

God’s plan and delight is to share His nature—His very being—His love, and His power with man, to enrich him with heavenly treasures and to make him happy and glad forever.

On the other hand, man’s plan and delight are in the world and the things in the world, and his ultimate aim is to be rich in everything that is in the world; and with it come honor and power and all kinds of opportunities for worldly happiness.

While God delights in saving man’s immortal spirit, man, on the other hand, delights in corruptible and perishable things that will all pass away. People take pleasure in in this delight long after they are converted, and most of them never overcome it.

Therefore God labors to tear the believer away from the world and the things in the world and give him love for mankind instead. God gives faith, and our faith is the victory that has overcome the world. And if the Son makes us free, we are free indeed! The result is a man who is much happier in the fruits of the Spirit and in Christ’s virtues than in all the enjoyment that the world has to offer, a man who has been truly converted and has learned to assign the proper value to the things we have to deal with. He rejoices in heavenly things and despises the things that are of this earth.

Francis of Assisi met a lady who scolded him for dressing so frugally. He listened to her without saying anything. When she was finished, he bowed deeply to her, saying, “Thank you, noble lady, you teach me humility.” He had been truly converted to God so that he understood the true value of things in life. And instead of scolding her in return, he thanked her for her help, for he had received true help. He was redeemed from his “I” and nice clothing, but he loved his fellow men. He considered it pure joy when he was tempted, for it only gave him victory and triumph and let the lady taste the love of Christ. Let us learn from this, brethren!

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17.