Editor's Letters

by T. Austin-Sparks

October 1926

Beloved of the Lord,

Have we "respect unto the recompense of the reward"? Do we discern its Divine nature? For this is the vision that strengthens faith. It was the secret of Moses' emboldening to essay and to effect that ministry to which he was called. In all his trials of faith and afflictions "he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible." He beheld "the Glory."

The glory of God appeared in the bush, and in the mount, and in the passing-by the cleft in the rock; at the entrance of the tent of the church, and between the cherubim over the mercy-seat. But these were the occasional and dispensational manifestations of God's grace. What sustained Moses day by day was the Invisible Glory he beheld by faith, and he had respect unto the nature of the reward.

So with us. Blessed are they that believe, yet have not seen. We rejoice upon the hope of the glory of God. But to us there has been no manifestation to our sense. We see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, by faith. We know Him to be the God of Glory and our Saviour. Yet now unseen and unrealised by sense. Still we behold Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, even that of God. "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily!"

This is faith. But there is hope also. We rejoice upon the hope of that glory. We wait with steadfast endurance throughout this so-called Christian age for it. What? To behold His glory - to see Him as He is? Yes. But far more: Depth of His loving-kindness! To share His glory: to be like Him! To be His brethren, in that day. To be confessed as such by Him before the assembled universe. When Christ Who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall we also be manifested with Him IN GLORY! This is the nature, the character, of the reward - His glory!

So we gladly share His shame, His despising, His forsakenness, His toil of love. As He bore the reproach of His Father Whom the world did not know, so we bear His reproach; for neither does the world know Him, though it talks much about Him.

What matters then present trial, sorrow, defaming, conflict? If we suffer with Him now, shall we not be also glorified together?

And so, rest of faith, assurance of God: He is faithful. And His Yoke of the Great Compassion of the Cross is easy and light, for the love of God poured forth in our hearts is our sustaining - while we behold and worship that Eternal Glory, and know that the crowning day is coming - very soon.

Yours in this swiftly-coming Hope,
T. Austin-Sparks,
T. Madoc-Jeffreys.