No 22

(The Effects of Nearness to Jesus)

“And will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21b)

The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of Himself to His people. Even if Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could testify the truth of it from their own experience. They have had manifestations of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, such as no reading or hearing could bring. In the biographies of many saints, you will find instances recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special manner, to speak to their souls and to unfold the wonders of His person. When Jesus manifests Himself to His people, it is heaven on earth. Some saints have been influenced by other saints; such as in the case of John Piper, author of the book Don’t Waste Your Life. Mr Piper was deeply influenced by the wirings of CS Lewis (1898 – 1963).

Special manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer’s heart. One effect will be humility. If a man says, “I have had such and such spiritual communications and I am a great man”, he has never had any communion with Jesus at all; for “God hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” (Psa 138:6). He does not need to come near the proud, and will never give them any visits of special communication. Another effect will be happiness; for in God’s presence there are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will also be an effect when we search out Jesus Christ ; those who have no holiness have never had this manifestation. Many people say great things but we must not believe anyone unless his or her deeds answer to what they say. God will not bestow His favours upon the wicked: for while He will never cast away a humble soul and neither will He respect an evil doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus – humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to all who search Him diligently.