. . . . and
Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai,
as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
(Exodus
34:4)
Morning
is my favorite time of day. It heralds new beginnings in every undertaking. For
the Christian, there are many new beginnings. The morning of his walk with
Christ began at the moment of his salvation. The number eight in Holy Scripture
often symbolizes a new beginning and a new morning for mankind. God created the
world in six days and rested on the seventh. The next day (eighth) became the
first day of a new week. Eight souls were saved in the flood which signified
the beginning of the new world after the old had been destroyed by the Deluge.
The Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Old Testament. It is a garden of
grace in the midst of a time of judgment and famine. It typifies in Ruth and
Boaz the union existing between Christ and His Church – a new beginning for all
of faith. The musical scale is comprised of seven notes – the eighth begins a
new scale.
Morning
brings to a close a long night of darkness and the brilliance of a beautiful
and multi-colored sunrise. Light comes in the morning, and the contrast between
that light and the previous hours of darkness stand in stark contrast,
enhancing our appreciation of the light. It is a time of rejoicing. The rising
of the morning sun gilds the sky with remarkable beauty and art.
Morning
is also a time at which man and beasts begin their daily labors. Our Lord
proclaimed: I must work the works
of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4) His reference was to far more than a physical day, I believe. It
must also have referred to His coming betrayal, death, and burial.
Our
most important duty as Christians is to seek the Lord at first dawning of the
day, even while it is yet dark, as did Mary Magdalene. 1 The first day of
the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre,
and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she
runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus
loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre,
and we know not where they have laid him. (John 20:1-2) If we do not seek the Lord, we shall not find Him. Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you. (Matt 7:7) Our desperate need
to find Him vanquishes all fear and reluctance. Mary came early in the morning
“when it was yet dark.” She came seeking a dead body of her beloved
Lord. When that dead body could not be found, she wept blinding and bitter
tears. Those tears blinded her to the Gardener who came behind. This mysterious
Figure spoke to her, Woman, why weepest
thou? whom seekest thou? (John
20:15)
Looking at the presumed gardener (for He was truly THE Gardener of Souls), her
tear-filled eyes could only comprehend the vague outline of a man. But when
Jesus called her name, as He had also called forth Lazarus, her eyes were
opened to the identity of this Figure in the Garden: She turned herself, and
saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16)
When
we come to the Lord at first light, and seek Him with tears of repentance, He
shall reveal Himself to our eyes that were previously blinded by care and
worries.
There
is coming a morning to excel all other mornings for the Christian. It is the
morning of resurrection when the soul of the saint is united with its Father
and its God. Where does the soul go at death? . . . . man goeth to his long home,
and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed,
or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the
fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return
to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (Eccl 12:5-7)
Please consider the contrast in the fate of two men mentioned in
the Gospel of Saint Luke by our Lord Jesus Christ: 19 There was a certain
rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously
every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,
which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed
with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came
and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was
buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:19-23)
Question 1: What happened to the beggar, Lazarus, at
the moment of death?
Question 2: Where did Lazarus wake up?
Question 3: What happened to the rich man when HE
died?
Question 4: Where was the rich man when he awoke
immediately after death?
Of
course, you know the answers to these questions even if you have given little
thought to them. Let us examine them briefly: Lazarus, as is the case of all
saints who fall asleep in Christ, was given a most auspicious escort to the
Bosom of Abraham (Paradise). Lazarus awoke in his Father’s care but in such a
beautiful and perfect place that he could not see the rich man suffering across
the great abyss in Hell.
The
rich man had his name written in the earth, and so, he was buried. That is the
only honor afforded him. The body of Lazarus was aptly buried, too, but not his
soul! Both body and soul of the rich man were BURIED forever away from God in a
dark and distant land (Hell). The rich man, in fact, woke up in Hell. The
punishment of the wicked is instantaneous and never ceasing. But unlike Lazarus
in being unable to see a soul in Hell, the rich man could see that old beggar,
Lazarus, whom he accounted good-for-nothing in his life, resting soundly in the
Bosom of Abraham. It is a dreadful ordeal to awaken in the fires of Hell.
Now,
the rich man pleads with Abraham that he send Lazarus to him to alleviate his
thirst; but there is no intercourse between Heaven and Hell. When we arrive at
either destination – we have ARRIVED, period! So the rich man pleads that
Lazarus return to earth and witness to his five brothers so that they will be
able to avoid the same punishment as himself. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,
that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five
brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of
torment. Please remember how many
prophets pleaded with the nation of Israel in time past only to be beaten,
vanquished, and even murdered. None would listen. Remember, too, the years of
our Lord’s ministry when He preached Truth to all who would hear but, yet, was
rejected. Even after He arose from the Tomb, many still rejected Him. The big
preachers of the day did not desire to lose their lucrative livings to a mere
Messiah and Son of the Living God! 29 Abraham saith unto
him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay,
father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him,
If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:27-31) (And our Lord truly arose from the dead!)
The
coming Resurrection Morning of the Child of God comes immediately at the
closing of the eyes in that sleep to end all sleep. Our eyes will immediately
open in the Fair Havens of Heaven. Have you heard of that great mystery
referred to by the Apostle Paul? 51 Behold, I shew
you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin;
and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:51-57) The soul shall, at
the point of God’s own timing, be reunited with a glorified body that is no
longer subject to pain or sorrow. Its only resource is JOY!
These
are examples of quiet and peaceful morning sunrises, of deep and loving
thoughts of the Savior who joins you in the “Garden alone while the dew is
still on the roses.” We are always alone when we hear the voice of the Lord –
even if we are standing in a crowded thoroughfare. Our souls are refreshed by
the morning dews and damps of His Holy Spirit to teach us all things written of
Him in His Holy Word. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark
place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this
first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21) As did David, the King, we must seek Him early while He yet may
be found: O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul
thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where
no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen
thee in the sanctuary. (Psalm 63:1-2) That sanctuary is the sanctuary of our hearts,
the Temple of the Living God.
