This Is a Life!

This Is a Life!

In Ways of the Lord #134 we sing, “There is a life by man uncompre­hended.” This is “that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.” 1 John 1:1-3. “Lay hold on eternal life” was the exhorta­tion the apostle Paul gave to his co-worker, Timothy. It is a life! We can apprehend this life; we can lay hold of it and live it!

Yes, let it resound in our ears: This is a life! Let it sound clearly and plainly when the tribulations become intense: This is a life! May we sing inwardly in the hour of temptation: This is a life! We have meetings, conferences, various activities, and “fun” times on various occasions, but first and fore­most and last: This is a life! This is a life by man uncomprehended!

For example, when tribulations work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, then this is a “life by man uncomprehended.” When we are exhorted in lowliness of mind to esteem others better than our­selves, when we can give preference to one another with brotherly love, then this is a life by man uncomprehended. And just think of the apostle Paul’s strong testimony when he says that he would very gladly spend and be spent for the souls who, though the more abundantly he loved them the less he was loved by them. 2 Cor. 12:15. This is truly a life that people do not know. We could continue with examples of this life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. And when we think of the church and the various ministries in the church, what is it if it isn’t a life, a God-fearing life. The ministries vary, but the Lord is the same. The life is the same. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:1 that the one who desires the ministry of a bishop desires a good work. This ministry, just as all the other ministries in the church, both open and hidden, is a life, a good work. This is the life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. Let us be particularly on guard against connecting the more open ministries with anything but life. This is not a question of rank and honor, but of life—a life to the glory of the Father.

Life is the light of men. This life was manifested in Jesus Christ. It be­came flesh. John writes that they saw it with their eyes and could literally touch and handle it. And just think, it is also written in 2 Corinthians 4 that this life can now be revealed in our body, in our mortal flesh—it can shine from us! This is a life, dear friends, a life that can be touched and handled!

It is wise to examine ourselves by asking ourselves this question concerning this life which is “by man uncomprehended”: To what extent have we comprehended this life?

Everything that pertains to life and godliness has been given to us through the knowledge of Christ, through the knowledge of Him who has revealed this life to us, through the knowledge of the death He died so this life could be manifested. For it is the way of death that leads to life. It is a death to everything that is called sin and self-life. Therefore we could just as well sing, “There is a death by man uncom­prehended.” On this point it is also fitting to examine ourselves by posing this question: “Have we learned to know this death?” Those who know this death, which is a death to all the desires and demands of the flesh, can exclaim: “This is a life!” For behind this death is the life that was with the Father—the life that was revealed to us. Jesus said when He spoke about the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies: “But if it dies, it pro­duces much fruit.” John 12:24.

Everything that pertains to life and godliness has been given to us through this knowledge of Jesus, the knowledge of this death and this life. And so it is incumbent on us not to be inactive and unfruitful in this knowledge concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, because in order to live this life that is “by man uncomprehended,” a complete surrender and devotion is required from us.