He Lives
Introduction
I live in a retirement place. Today, as I entered the laundry room, a lady was standing there and I said to her, "Lady, do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He died on the cross to pay your way into heaven and He is alive today?" She drew a deep breath, tears came to her eyes, and she said, "My grandfather and my great grandfather were preachers. We were brought up in an Episcopalian church, but I did not meet Christ until I was a grown woman. When it really dawned on me who He is and what He did for me, I believed on Him as my Savior. He came into my heart that day and saved me. He has been with me every moment since. I walk with Him, talk with Him, and He floods my heart with such joy I can scarcely speak." It was such a holy moment. It was so obvious that Jesus Christ was in her life. You could sense His presence. Glory flooded both our hearts, which was nothing less than His holy, divine presence.
The apostle Paul writes, "Christ lives in me," four of the greatest words any human being can truthfully say.
I. Christ
Christ - Who is He? In three of the greatest statements in the Bible, we learn that He is, indeed, the Son of God - God manifested in human flesh: John 1:1-3 & 14, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth."
Hebrews 1:1-4, "GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."
Colossians 1:15-19, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell."
II. Lives
Before we knew Him, we read what the apostle said about Him in I John 1:1-3, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
They experienced the presence of Christ. They touched Him physically after He arose from the dead. Today, we experience Him spiritually and every believer can say he has the witness of Christ's presence in himself. I John 5:10, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.”
Christ lives in every believer's heart, mind, and soul. His divine presence is felt and known so that we can tell others of the living, indwelling Christ.
III. In Me
Deity in me? Seemingly incredible! The divine living in the human? God in man? Deity in dust? Yes! When we believe, we can say, "Emmanuel (God with us)."
This is a startling statement. A missionary was talking to a Chinese man who is known to be a thinker and a man of wisdom. The missionary asked, "What is the greatest thought you have ever had?" Unhesitatingly, he replied, "The greatest thought that ever crossed my mind is that God comes down to live in human beings and walks and talks with us." He had believed on Christ and Christ lived in him.
IV. He Lives In ME!
The greatest joy of my life is that I can say it also. It becomes increasingly the most precious fact of my life.
Some friends are writing my biography and outlining the great revivals God has given us. When I look at this record, I can scarcely believe it. As I stand on a little hill with my telescope and see the tent pitched in Athens, Georgia, and see the multitudes flocking to the tent, the preaching of the Word, and, at the invitation, people flooding the altar to repent of sin and receive Christ, and I look at that little human being behind the pulpit, I say, "Who is he? Where did he get such power?" And, lo and behold, it is I. I am utterly overwhelmed that God not only wrought miracles of salvation in that meeting, but in churches, tent meetings, and citywide meetings up and down this land. To Him be all the praise and honor and glory. I did not do it. He did.
As we read the New Testament and see people with such power, joy, and blessings, we realize it is because each one could say, "Christ lives in me."
On my bookshelves I have books written by godly men over the years in different places. They move my heart profoundly because they could say, "Christ lives in me."
The thrust that has carried the message of the Gospel in all the world has come because little, weak human beings received Him and He became the Director of their lives. They could say, "Christ lives in me."
It was G. Campbell Morgan who said, "The greatest proof of Christianity is a Christian in whom Christ lives." He lights up the mind. There is no boredom where Jesus is. He makes life worthwhile. He glorifies our existence on earth. He strengthens us to overcome every trial and obstacle. He makes the anticipation of heaven so wonderful that we have "a desire to depart and to be with Christ, "knowing it is far better than any earthly existence.
This is ASTONISHING! Christ within me. Christ living on earth again. Paul knew it. Every Christian knows it. And, my friend, if you know it, I rejoice with you because you live constantly in the sweet consciousness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in your life.
Conclusion
When I was first saved, I attended a meeting in downtown Atlanta, to hear the elder daughter of William Booth of the Salvation Army. This woman went into the dives of Paris and led people to Christ who were outcasts of society. She dealt with drunkards, harlots, and dopers - people given up by men. At the close of her message, she sang this song:
"Down from His glory
Ever living story
My God and Savior came
And Jesus was His name.
Born in a manger
To His own a stranger
A man of sorrows, tears, and agony.
Oh how I love Him
How I adore Him
My breath, My sunshine
My all in all
The great Creator
Became my Savior
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him"
I was deeply moved. The profound presence of Christ flooded our hearts so much that there were shouts of joy all over the audience. This is that “joy unspeakable" which Peter says we believers have. It is that joy He gives that nothing can take away. Praise God, "Christ lives in me."
My friends, do you have Christ as your constant companion? If not, I want you to know you can have Him now, this minute. How? Invite Him to come in. Believe He is in your mind, heart, life, just because He said He would come in as soon as you invited Him. Don't look at your feelings. Look for faith, which is simply confidence that the Bible is His Word. He cannot lie. He is the Truth. Count on Him. Trust in His Word. And daily, when you get up in the morning, think, "Christ lives in me. "' He told me if I wanted Him and invited Him, He would come in. I did and He did I believe in His love."
God bless you.