THE DESIRE OF THE AGES
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10 KJV). In the land of the Chaldeans, along the Chebar river, Ezekiel the priest saw a vision of the four living creatures. The appearance of the faces of these creatures communicates the plan of the eternal Godhead. Looking at the four faces, you realise that the face of the Man is opposite to the face of the Eagle and the face of the Ox is also opposite to the face of the Lion. The living creatures in their ‘faces’ speak. The face of the man and eagle speaks of the God-man. God incarnated as man so that man can partake in God bringing into manifestation the God-man. Scripture states that: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4). The participation of Man in the divine nature of God produced the God-man; who is the new creation man. This is because the enmity that limited us from that participation was broken through Jesus (God incarnated as man). Ephesians 2:15 states that He (Jesus) “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace”. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). God’s desire of the ages is the God-man in maturity. When Jesus walked on earth as the God-man he exhibited that intrinsic nature. The face of the Ox and Lion speaks of the Servant-King. The one who becomes the greatest of all is the one who is ready to serve all. Jesus explained this principle to his disciples and said: And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:27-28). The word used as ‘servant’ in the above scripture is the word “dulos” which means bond-servant or bond-slave. The bond-servant does not serve out of compulsion. He serves beyond his year of allotted service simply because he has love for his master. The one who is able to ascend the heights and rule as king over nations is the bond-servant. When the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were written concerning Jesus, each writer saw Him differently. Matthew saw Jesus as a king and so the genealogy of Jesus was reckoned in Matthew in the manner of kings. Mark saw him as a servant, Luke saw him as a Man and John saw him as God. Again Concerning Jesus, who became a bond –servant, even unto death scripture declares: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6). The incarnated God as man walking as Jesus came to communicate this principle. Though evident the heavenly temple in God’s creation as the four-faced Cherubs, the host of heaven and earth could not understand it. When it was needful for a ‘dulos’ to open ‘The Book’ and break ‘The seals’ thereof in that age before, only one was found: The Lion of the tribe of Judah . Scripture declares: And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelations 5:3-8, 10). It was by this avenue that the new creation has legality as a King and a priest. The desire of the ages is that the servant-man will emerge as the God-King. The man must go through ‘The ascends’ to sit in the throne like Jesus. Understanding this gracious truth is key to a fulfilling ministry. Walk in this reality! Shalom!
