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1. A child may read the word “God” merely as a word, without thinking anything of the Truth behind it. But as his mind matures, he begins to think and understand something at least of the meaning of the word. Just so the beginner in the spiritual life, however learned he may be, may think of Christ, the Word incarnate, as a great man or even as a prophet, but he does not go further in his estimate of Him. But as he grows in spiritual experience and enjoys His presence, then he begins to realise the fact that Christ is God incarnate in whom “dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. ii. 9). “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John i. 4).
2. A man cannot give adequate expression to his personality through words, though sometimes he may even coin new words to express his ideas, nor through symbols and illustrations. The body also is unable to set forth all the qualities and powers of the soul which constitute personality. In other words, much in human personality lies hidden while man is in this world, only a part being revealed. A spiritual being can fully express itself only in a spiritual world, when all conditions, external as well as internal, meet his needs and help his progress.
If this is true of a human spirit, how impossible it is for the eternal Word to reveal His Godhead adequately through a body! He revealed Himself as much as it was possible and necessary for man’s salvation. But His real glory will be manifested in its fullness in heaven only.
3. The question may arise: How can we believe in Reality without seeing and knowing it fully? A full knowledge of Reality, I may point out here, is not necessary to make us believe in Reality. For instance, some organs of the body, on which our life depends so much, remain hidden from our eyes. No one has ever seen his own brain or heart, and yet no one ever denies that he has them. When we are thus unable to see our own brain and heart, on which our life depends largely, how much more difficult must it be to see the Creator of our brain and heart, on whom all our life depends!