Vision and Proof

"And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up into a high mountain apart; and he was transfigured before them ... And when they were come down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell no man the vision, until the Son of man be risen from the dead ... Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go thither and pray. And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be greatly distressed" (Matthew 17:1-2, 9; 26:36-37).

The Lord Jesus Christ is simultaneously God and man. As man, His life was perfect in the eyes of the Father. Not long before his crucifixion, it pleased God that three disciples saw the Lord in his glory, glory as of the only begotten Son of the Father. Surely that vision forever impacted the lives of those three disciples. It is natural that all who love him should also desire to receive such a vision.

However, let us not forget that the follower of Christ must not remain on the high mountain. Nearby is the valley and, even further away (...) is the dark shadow of the olive trees in Gethsemane. For all that, the transfiguration is a preparation; it is a divine process of training and is full of grace. The valley and Gethsemane are beyond the holy mountain. God never takes us to them, but by the way of the mountain. The mountain is always found (...) before the darkest darkness of the severest trial.

It is also true that revelation is granted according to capacity. There are people to whom God cannot reveal some of His methods of government. Peter, James and John were taken to the mount, but eight others did not see the glory of the transfiguration. Do not ask for the vision of the mount. He will take there those whom he wishes to take. The light of the transfiguration produces new responsibility. The men who saw that light were also taken to behold the agony of Gethsemane. Let us not ask for visions.

After the transfiguration, and the garden, and the cross, and the resurrection and the ascension are past, the Master will not bestow his rewards according to the number of visions, but according to faithfulness to the opportunities he creates. No vision? Then let there be no lack of faithfulness, and that may be the most heroic life. The man to whom God grants a vision should find it easy to be heroic after receiving it. For most apostles and disciples there is no vision. They patiently follow Him "until the day breaks and the shadows flee away" (Song 2:17). Do not ask for any vision, O my soul, lest it happen that with it also comes the trial that God had not planned for you. Receive what he grants and follow in his footsteps. (G. Campbell Morgan).

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