A Superabundance of Blessing

The following is the end of a chapter written by Martyn Lloyd-Jones in a book entitled Spiritual Blessing - Very Encouraging.

'For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known' (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Again, if you examine the lives of the saints, I think you will see that this is constantly found in all their records, and, I say again, thank God for this! They went on enjoying this life, and it went on deepening and increasing. Then when we come to look at them on their deathbeds, we find, as John Wesley put it, 'Our people die well.' Indeed, some of them had their greatest experiences of all on their deathbed. There they received in yet greater measure than they had received before.

The effect, then, is that our faith is increased. That is why John leaves the account of the miracle at Cana of Galilee with these words: 'This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.' Now they had already believed in him. That is the point - they were already disciples and they had already believed - but as the result of this they believed more than ever. And that is one of the great principles and rules in the whole of the Christian life - the more you receive, the more you desire. It encourages you, it gives you proof, and you know, and therefore you seek him more and more.

That is Paul's argument in Philippians. Here is a man who had experienced so much but he still tells us that his desire is, 'That I may know him' - Paul knows him, that is why he desires to know him, he wants more and more - 'and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings' (3:10). And Paul continues in verse 12, 'Not as though I had already attained...' By that he means: I have not got it all. I have not arrived at the end. I have not exhausted it. 'Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended' - I have not got there - 'but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind' - and I sometimes feel like telling many Christian people that: Forget what has happened to you. What is happening to you now is the question. And what are you expecting? 'Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus' (verses 12-14).

The effect of all this, then, should be to make us utter something like this:

O Lord, I cast my care on Thee; I triumph and adore;
Henceforth my great concern shall be
To love and please Thee more.
(John Ryland)

Or take another hymn:

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the Heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
(George Croly)

So there are the lessons of this first miracle performed by our Lord in Cana of Galilee. It is a picture which opens our eyes to the possibilities of the glorious fullness of the Christian life, this life which is life indeed, life more abundant. It is life developing and increasing until we find ourselves face to face with him, knowing no longer in part, but knowing even as we are already known, and filled and glorified and made like unto him. May God by his Spirit give us the understanding to realise that this is Christianity and all this is meant for us.