We Saw His Glory

“But the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” Heb. 4:2.

Faith causes the Word to melt together with us. Then we become one with the Word; the Word has become flesh, and the glory becomes visible. John 1:14. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 8:31.

All of Israel received the same message in Egypt, and they went out. However, difficulties arose immediately, and instead of continuing to believe the message, they used their human reasoning and concluded that it would have been better to remain in Egypt. The Word they had heard did not profit them. They did not obtain the promise. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who remained in the Word. They believed, and by faith they held on to the Word so that it melted together with them. They became one with the Word and obtained the promise.

Many people become enthusiastic when they hear the Word, but they encounter difficulties as soon as they are called upon to put it into action. They use their human reasoning instead of standing firm in faith; consequently, they do not abide in the Word. They do not melt together with it and therefore do not obtain the glory.

We read that God sent His Son and condemned sin in the flesh. Rom. 8:3. Jesus was a sacrifice and learned obedience by the things He suffered. Heb. 5:8. He had come to do the Father’s will and He remained in the Father’s will regardless of how intense the sufferings were. His flesh did not want to be obedient to God’s law either, but through obedience sin was condemned in the flesh. The Word became flesh, and the Father’s glory was manifested by His body.

How glorious it is to hear these words of Jesus: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you . . . .” Luke 6:27. What glory there would be if everyone remained in this Word! However, it doesn’t take long before the sufferings come. The person who abides in this Word will immediately meet protests from sin in the flesh. Those who use their human reasoning will never obtain the glory; but those who believe and abide in the Word and suffer as sin in the flesh is being condemned, they melt together with the Word, and the Word becomes flesh. Then the Word which was so glorious to listen to becomes visible. 1 Pet. 4:1; 2 Cor. 4:10-11. All those who walk on this way and follow Jesus become one flesh with Him. Eph. 5:31-32. They become partakers of divine nature. This is the bride. 2 Pet. 1:4. They have fellowship with one another and become one as the Father and the Son are one. In this way we experience development and growth.

Those who hear the Word but do not abide in it deceive themselves. We see thousands of so-called believers doing that. They experience neither growth nor development. They do not experience an increasing glory among themselves. They do not become one; instead they argue and are envious. All the wonderful things they speak about and listen to do not profit them. They do not want to suffer in order to abide in the Word and enter into its glory. 1 Pet. 1:11, 5:10.