His Presence in The Midst

About the time of our Lord's departure from this earth He sent His servants out into a wider field of service. Hitherto, at His instructions, they had confined their labours to the Jews, in Judea. Now, the Lord commissions them to go out into the whole world, seeking disciples; and for their comfort and assurance, says: "Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28. 20).

Thousands of His followers since those days have lived and laboured and faced the ordeal of death, in the assurance of this promise. In densely populated cities, or thinly inhabited country places, thousands who have loved His Name have believed. Although unseen, that great vital Presence has been with them; not only in the great congregations, but also the twos and threes and solitary ones, have had their portion in His watch-care and oversight. It is not possible fully to explain the method or the philosophy of that 'presence'. Even among men there are so many subtle factors associated with 'presence' and 'personality' that even advanced psychology students find themselves unable to account for all the phenomena which different men and women exhibit. There are men and women who repel their fellows on the instant. Others are as magnets, and draw friends from everywhere. In the lesser range of things with which the ordinary man is familiar there is some mystery to what we call 'presence'. We speak of a person being present in a room and of things that transpire in that room as taking place in his presence. In what way is he present beyond the few square feet of space occupied by his body? That his presence extends beyond that small circle, marked by the outlines of his physical frame, all know and realise, but how it does so is not so easily explained. A lecturer is as much present to men in the hindmost seats as to those who sit close before him! It may be a blending of personality and presence, but there it is; some subtle force emanates from that body located within the tiny space, and radiates itself throughout the room! There are dictatorial men in our world to-day who, though occupying but a few square feet, make the whole world tremble and fear. Why? Because out from them goes an aggressive spirit; and because of its peculiar nature, backed by reserves of military power, the whole earth becomes their audience-chamber. Their slightest words and their tiniest acts are spread about the world over. Now, let us try to imagine these men exalted into a majesty and glory like that of Jesus. Imagine their few square feet expanded out to corresponding proportions! Increase the scale of their influence by as much as the heavenly is greater than the earthly! That may then serve as some slight assistance in conceiving how the blessed Lord can have been present with all His people, and yet have occupied a definite place in the heavenly realms. The whole wide world is not as great to Him as a small room is to us. If, then, it is possible for a mere man to make his presence fill some audience-room, or for a dictator to send thrills and fears throughout this earth, then surely the glorified omnipotent Saviour can fill His Church, entire and individual, with the sense of His saving presence, even from His celestial location at His Father's right hand. This whole world is to Him but as an ante-room. The whole wide universal creation, including every dimension, known and unknown, is his audience chamber. "Whither shall I go from .thy Spirit," the Psalmist asks;, "or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, `Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.' Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." (Psa. 139. 7-12).

All through her dark days, when faggot and sword encompassed her, the Church of Jesus was never left untended or alone; and though the flame of her love burned low and the glow of her light was feeble, yet, not once in all the years since she set out to follow Him, has He left His charge uncared-for. In her periods of joy, in her seasons of sorrow, He has been at His post ‑"walking in the midst of the candlesticks."

Her eyes may have been under earthly limitations but His were not. His eyes of flame could pierce the barriers imposed by mundane things and through her walls He made His presence felt ‑ "a living blessed reality". Still is He walking among the candlesticks, trimming our lights, feeding the oil, diffusing the fragrance of His Presence and the charm of His Personality through our lattice-window.