I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
Christ is not a second
personality or power, to come along to reinforce us, to vivify us,
to strengthen us, for us to use in life and in service, and that He
should make us something. That is not the thought, and that is not the
angle of Scripture at all. And yet, how almost universally, perhaps largely
unconsciously, that is what is happening. Christians are wanting to be made
something, even as Christians; and Christian workers and the Lord's servants
are, though perhaps unwittingly, wanting to be made something as workers; and
they want Christ to reinforce them, come behind them, and make
them something as His servants and in His service. That whole system of
things is diametrically opposed to the truth. The truth is that Christ shall be
All, and that we decrease that He may increase; that He should be the primary
Personality, and that the impact and registration of any life and any service
should not be: "What a good man he was!" or "What a good woman she is!" or "What
a fine worker!" but: "What a presence of Christ! What a testimony to Christ!
What an expression of Christ! What a sense of Christ! What a reality of Christ!"
Are our hearts set upon God
having that which is wholly of Himself? That means "I" crucified! No longer I,
but Christ! And that means that Christ in us is the basis of our conformity to
His image, until we partake with Him of His own nature – pure gold. It is
something to face seriously before Him. It brings to us a challenge, but surely
it also brings to us a glorious possibility! What Christ is can be made good in
us!