Will you please turn to Acts 26:19?
Acts 26:19:
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.
May we have a word of prayer.
Dear Lord, as we gather here this morning, it is the cry of our heart: nothing between, Lord, nothing between. Let us see the glory of Thy face. Let us hear Thy sweet voice. Give us a heart of obedience, that Thou mayest be glorified in and through us, O Lord.
Thou art our Lord. Thou art our all. Thou deservest all of us. Fill us, O Lord, with Thyself. Open our eyes that we may see Thee. Open our ears that we may hear Thee. Open our hearts that we may receive Thee, and enable us to walk following Thee. We ask in Thy precious name. Amen.
I believe that all who are here this morning know the theme of this time. It is the declaration of the Apostle Paul; it is his testimony: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” And it is the prayer of our hearts that every one of us here may be able to bear the same testimony: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”
But, as you will notice, this time the emphasis is more on this matter of not being disobedient to the heavenly vision than on the heavenly vision itself. But, of course, we know that if we do not see the heavenly vision, how can we be obedient to it?
So there is a prerequisite: we really need to see—not just to hear, but to see with our inner eyes—that heavenly vision. And with the revelation of that heavenly vision, we will be captured. As our brother said last night, we will be devastated, but at the same time be transformed.
So, dear brothers and sisters, first of all, we need to be sure in our hearts—not just in our minds, not just knowing the doctrine or the teaching—but really to see with our inner eyes and understand with our hearts what the heavenly vision is.
The heavenly vision, to put it simply, is related to the eternal purpose of God. God has a purpose. He conceived it in eternity past, and it is that purpose that controls all His doings throughout time, until in eternity to come His purpose is fully fulfilled.
So, dear brothers and sisters, you see the importance of that heavenly vision, because it is the eternal purpose of God. It is the heart of God. It is the desire of God. It is the counsel of God. It is the working of God. It tells us what God really desires, what He really is after.
It is none other than what the Apostle Paul saw on the road to Damascus. Dear brothers and sisters, we believe that this heavenly vision was given to the Apostle Paul not just for his own sake. It was given to him for our sake, because he was to proclaim it; he was to pass it on to us.
So every one of us needs to have that heavenly vision. It comes from revelation—from the light from above, from the voice from above. It pleased God to reveal His Son in us. That is what we need. We need the heavenly Father to reveal His Son not only to us, but in us.
Deep down in our hearts is the Son and all that the Son is. He is the Son of God, the Heir of all things, the Master of all, the Sovereign of all. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily, and we are complete in Him.
He has a body—not just that body which He took upon Himself at His incarnation, resurrection, and ascension. He took upon Himself another body: a corporate body, the church, the fullness of Him who filleth all in all.
So, brothers and sisters, this is the heavenly vision, the all-inclusive heavenly vision. This is the essence of the eternal purpose of God, and it is God’s will that each and every one of us will see this heavenly vision.
But, brothers and sisters, oftentimes we think that if we receive the revelation from above, and if we really see the heavenly vision in our hearts, then we have it; we are in possession of it.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Thank God for revealing His Son to us and in us, but that is just the beginning. It gives us the incentive, the desire, to see that this heavenly vision will become our vocation.
Put it another way: having the revelation alone does not mean that we possess it. You remember, in the Epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tried to pass on the heavenly vision that he saw to the Ephesian believers. But as he began to speak to them and to pass it on, he realized that it is really beyond any human speaking. It depends completely upon the Spirit of God.
So you remember how, in that letter, he stopped and prayed twice. The first prayer is recorded in Ephesians 1. There he prayed for the Ephesian believers that God would grant them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of God, and enlighten the eyes of their hearts that they might know.
You know the words. In order to really know, you need revelation. By the grace of God, He is the God who reveals Himself. It pleases Him to reveal His Son in us. So we need God to reveal His Son in us.
And by revelation, we know. We really know who our Lord Jesus is, what He is to us, and what is uppermost in His heart—even the church.
But, brothers and sisters, as the Apostle Paul went on sharing, you remember that in Ephesians 3 he again bowed his knees before the Lord and prayed a second prayer. Now, why is it that the first prayer is not sufficient?
The first prayer is for revelation, for seeing, for knowing the heavenly vision. But the Apostle Paul realized that even revelation does not mean possession. In order that the heavenly vision may be our possession—or, to put it another way, that we may be possessed by that heavenly vision—we must become part of that heavenly vision. We must be included in that eternal purpose of God.
He realized that something more needed to be done, so he prayed a second prayer. The second prayer is not for revelation or for knowing. The second prayer is that we may be strengthened in the inner man by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, and that we may apprehend, with all the saints, the love of God and be filled with the love of God.
In other words, the second prayer is for apprehension, for possession, for being filled. So, brothers and sisters, this time our emphasis is more on this matter of having been given the heavenly vision: How can we apprehend it? How can we possess it? How can we be filled with it?
And that is why obedience is necessary. Revelation is always a calling. When God reveals Himself, there is a calling.
When Abraham saw the glory of the Lord, there was a calling to Abraham. God called Abraham to leave all that was of the old and to go to that which was altogether new.
Brothers and sisters, when we receive revelation from above and see what the heavenly vision is, naturally a calling comes upon us. And the calling is that we may respond to it, that we may possess it.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Why is it that not all who are called are chosen? It is because of this matter of obedience. So how important it is, brothers and sisters, that we are all learning to be obedient to the heavenly vision.
Because only by being obedient to it will that heavenly vision really become ours, and we become part of that heavenly vision. You eat it. So this is the emphasis of this time.
Because the emphasis is upon obedience to the heavenly vision, we use three different persons to illustrate and help us understand, in a practical way, how this heavenly vision may become our vocation in our own lives.
My responsibility is on the life of Christ. Now, when I first received that assignment, I was amazed. The reason why I was amazed is that I thought it was ironical, because Christ is the heavenly vision. So why should we use the life of Christ as an example of being obedient to the heavenly vision?
But as I meditated before the Lord, more and more I began to realize that we cannot find a more perfect example of obedience to the heavenly vision than the life of Christ.
Now, why is this so? He is the heavenly vision. He is the objective. He is the purpose of God. But, brothers and sisters, He is more than that. He is also the Author and Finisher of the heavenly vision.
He is the beginning of that heavenly vision, and He is the end of that heavenly vision. He is the One who brings the heavenly vision into view, makes it possible, and lays the foundation. And He is the One who completes it, finishes it, and brings it to pass until it is fulfilled.
So, brothers and sisters, there is no better example in practical living than the life of Christ: how He was not disobedient, how He was obedient to the uttermost—one hundred percent, fully obedient, absolutely obedient—to the heavenly vision that His Father had planned.
Now, in order to go into the life of Christ, you remember the Apostle John said that if he should write down everything that Christ did, even when He was on earth during those thirty-three and a half years, the world could not contain the writings. So who can exhaust the life of Christ, even in this area of not being disobedient to the heavenly vision?
We will try to share the life of Christ in three sessions:
By the grace of God, we look to Him to show us how, even from eternity past, through His life on earth, and into glory and eternity to come, He is always being obedient to the heavenly vision—that is, to the purpose of God.
Will you please turn with me to the Gospel according to John, chapter 1?
John 1:1-3:
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 through Him;
and without Him was not anything made that hath been made.
Ephesians 1:9-10:
Making known unto us the mystery of His will,
according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him
unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times,
to sum up all things in Christ,
the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth.
Finally, Colossians 1:15-19:
Who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation;
for in Him were all things created,
in the heavens and upon the earth,
things visible and things invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things have been created through Him, and unto Him.
And He is before all things,
and in 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 was the good pleasure of the Father
that in Him should all the fulness dwell.
The life of Christ is altogether different from our lives. Why? Because our life begins with birth. When we are born into this world, our life begins. But with our Lord Jesus, with Christ, this is altogether different. His life begins in eternity past.
We would never be able to understand Him if we knew Him only in that short period when He was on earth, when He took upon Himself the flesh of a man. The only way to really know Him is to go back to the very beginning.
So the Apostle John, in writing his Gospel, begins with this: “In the beginning was the Word.” Now, that beginning is the beginning of all beginnings.
Genesis 1:1 says:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
That is the beginning of creation. But John 1:1 says:
In the beginning was the Word.
That is way back beyond the beginning of creation—in other words, where there was absolutely nothing but God, Who is the beginning.
So here you find that in the beginning was the Word. The Word is the Logos: the speech, the utterance, the expression, the exact image of God.
But here you find, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” So here you find a mystery of the Godhead.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son. He is the voice. He is the utterance, the speech, the revelation of God. Yet He is with God, and He is God—one with God. And we know that it is also in the Spirit.
So here you find that in the beginning Christ was the Word. He was God’s expression. He was God’s revelation. He was God’s speech. He manifested and expressed God. He was with God, and He was God. That is what He is.
Now, you remember that when God speaks to man, He has to use ways that man can understand. So, as we try to understand what was happening, we have to use some kind of human expression.
It seems as if, in the beginning, there was God the Supreme, the Father, and with Him was the Son—His image, His utterance, His expression.
And the Father and the Son were having fellowship with each other in the Spirit. Their fellowship was so sweet, so harmonious. They shared everything equally. They did not withhold anything from each other. It was as if they simply flowed back and forth in love.
It was fellowship in the Spirit. It was fellowship in love. It was fellowship in light. There was no darkness, no shadow, no shade, no turning. It was fellowship of righteousness—nothing hidden. It was a fellowship of love, full and complete.
We cannot imagine how sweet, wonderful, and glorious that fellowship was. The Father and the Son had fellowship with each other, sharing everything with each other without holding back anything, and it was all done in the Spirit.
Now, as this fellowship was going on, let us imagine that They talked to each other. The Father loved the Son so much that He wanted to express His love to His Son. And the way to express love is to give.
So He wanted to give to His Son. And what should He give? He wanted to give everything to His Son. He wanted to make His Son the Heir of all things.
But knowing that His Son is love, just as He is, He knew that love would not be satisfied merely by receiving. Love would not be satisfied merely with things. Love wants response.
So even though God had in His mind to create the heavens and the earth and all the things in them, He realized that even all these would not satisfy the love that was in His Son.
So He decided, even in eternity past, that He would give His Son a helpmeet, His like, who would really respond to His love and share not only in His glory but even in everything that His Son would go through.
So this was all going on in Their fellowship. God told His Son, “I love You. I want to express My love in the fullest way that I can. I want to create all things, and I want to create a creature that will be created in Our image, after Our likeness, so that he can be Your companion. He can understand You, respond to You, and be one with You.”
But God, being omniscient, knows everything—from the end to the beginning and from the beginning to the end. So, as He was thinking of creating all things, including man, He foresaw that there would be a problem. There would be rebellion. Sin would enter into this world.
And while the Father was thinking about these things—what should He do?—the Son volunteered. The Son said, “Father, if it pleases You to do this, if it is Your heart’s desire to give Me a helpmeet, now we realize there will be great difficulties. But, Father, go ahead. I am willing to offer Myself as a Lamb to solve all the problems and to make the impossible possible.”
So, brothers and sisters, even before the foundation of the world, in eternity past, there in that fellowship of the Father and the Son in the Spirit, the Son voluntarily, wholeheartedly, and without any reservation offered Himself to be the Lamb.
Now, will you please turn to 1 Peter 1:19-20?
But with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ:
Who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world,
but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake.
Here you find that our Lord Jesus, as the Lamb, was foreknown before the foundation of the world. In other words, He did not become a Lamb only when He came into this world. He became the Lamb even before the foundation of the world, foreknown by God.
Because, as you read these two verses, you find that the antecedent is not the blood but Christ. It is Christ, a Lamb without blemish and without spot, foreknown before the foundation of the world.
So where did the obedience of Christ to the heavenly vision begin? It began in eternity past.
Now, if you turn to Revelation 13:8:
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him,
every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world
in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
Here you find that the book of life is the book of life of the slain Lamb, and that was from the foundation of the world.
Now, in 1 Peter, it is before the foundation of the world: He was without blemish and without spot. And here in Revelation 13, He was considered as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. In other words, when the world began, He was considered already as the slain Lamb.
Someone who knows Greek says that the words translated “before” and “from” are the same Greek word. So it can be translated “before,” or it can be translated “from.” If that is the case, there does not seem to be any difference whether He was the Lamb before the foundation of the world or the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
But anyway, I think one thing is sure: the obedience of our Lord to the heavenly vision began in eternity past.
Now, why is this so important to us? If you turn to Ephesians 1:4:
Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love.
Brothers and sisters, when were we chosen? We were chosen in Christ before the world’s foundation. But how could we be chosen before the world’s foundation unless He was a Lamb before the foundation of the world?
So here you find that our being chosen can be traced way back to eternity past. Now, is that not something wonderful? Our being chosen is not just an accident.
Even though we did not know it, God knew it altogether. Even before the foundation of the world, we were already chosen in Christ, because He was there as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So that gives us assurance.
It is God’s will that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. This is God’s purpose for us, and this purpose cannot be changed.
That is our security. That is our confidence: knowing that once He has chosen us, He will complete it. And we were chosen before the foundation of the world in Christ.
I do not know how you feel, brothers and sisters, but to me, I feel that I cannot contain myself. That is the glory of God—what He has purposed in our lives.
And then, of course, because the Son, in obedience to the heavenly vision, offered Himself as the Lamb, God was able to go ahead with His plan. Then you find, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
When God created heaven and earth and all the things within them, everything was perfect. God never creates anything unfinished.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament showeth His handiwork.
When God created all things, He created all things in His Son. That is to say, the Son is the Architect. Out of the character and nature of the Son, He created the heavens and the earth. So everything in the heavens and the earth is an expression of Himself.
Just like an architect: if an architect is very artistic, the building he designs will be artistic. If the architect is very practical, his design will be different, because every design is an expression out of himself.
So, in Colossians 1, all things were created in Him. Out of His design and out of His nature, everything expresses Him in a small way.
There was glory. There was harmony. When God laid the foundation of the earth, the morning stars sang for joy. And the morning stars refer to the angels, because in the first creation God created the angels.
Everything surrounded the throne of God and brought glory to the Son. We do not know how long this continued, but one thing we do know is that in Genesis 1:2, the earth became waste and void.
In other words, there was a catastrophe that came into this creation. This earth that we know of came under judgment. Water surrounded it. It entered into darkness. Everything was ruined, empty, and without purpose.
Now, why? Genesis does not tell us why. But as you read the Word of God, you will find that when you come to Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19, God begins to let out to us, as it were, how it happened.
Because in the very beginning, when He created heaven and earth, the highest creation was angels. And among the angels, probably the first created and the highest angel created was Lucifer, the brilliant star.
He was an anointed cherub, so close to God. He was gifted. He was given great power, authority, and rulership. In the beginning, he served God well.
But somehow pride entered into his heart. As you read Isaiah 14, you find the five “I wills.” Brothers and sisters, you know that “I” is always the root of all evil.
Instead of God, instead of Christ, it became “I.” This angel became conscious of his beauty, conscious of his talents, conscious of his power. And he began to aspire for himself a higher and higher position.
He was to be equal with God. In other words, he was to be equal with God’s beloved Son. He wanted to take the place of God’s Son, and there is no sin greater than that.
Because of this, he was thrown out of the heavenly place. And, brothers and sisters, most likely our earth, our planet—perhaps our solar system—was under his authority before. And when he failed, all that was under his authority fell into judgment.
Did God give up? No. Once God has purposed—and remember, He purposed it for His Son—He would never change it.
We do not know how long He continued on, but then we find in Genesis 1:2 that the Spirit of God brooded over the deep. The Spirit of God used warmth, as it were, over the ruin. And in six days God restored it to be habitable.
Now, why? You know, God’s reaction is never negative. God’s reaction is always positive. God’s reaction is always progressive.
Instead of giving up and saying, “Now it is finished,” God said, “No. My plan is this: I will create a creature a little lower than the angels, and yet that little creature will overcome My enemy and will bring all things under My feet.”
Brothers and sisters, is that not a glorious plan? Here you find, on another sixth day, how He created man in His own image, after His likeness. God gave dominion to man, and God gave man responsibility: “Subdue all things. Bring all things back to My feet. This is your responsibility.”
But unfortunately, again we find that man sinned. But did God give up? No. Again, you find that His reaction was progressive—more advanced, better, higher.
Because, in the fullness of time, He sent His Son into this world to be a man. And in that Man, God secured everything that He had planned in eternity past.
So, dear brothers and sisters, this is the general plan we find in the Word of God. But I hope one thing will really be registered in our hearts: our Lord Jesus is not only the heavenly vision; He is also the One who makes that vision possible, who makes that vision real in each one of us.
The impossible has become possible, and it is all because of the obedience of Christ to the heavenly vision. So may the Lord encourage us. Let us pray.
Dear heavenly Father, we are amazed at Thy wisdom, Thy knowledge, Thy ways, and Thy love. How we praise and thank Thee that what Thou hast purposed for Thy beloved Son cannot fail. It shall be done.
And we do praise and thank Thee that it is Thy Son who is Thy instrument, Thy vessel, for bringing all things into being. O Lord, we want to give Thee praise and glory.
May what Thou hast purposed in Christ for us be such a power winning us that it will enable us ever to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. We ask in Thy precious name. Amen.