December 10

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. - Revelation 3:21.

IN what a glorious manner does the “Captain of our salvation,” who was “made perfect through sufferings that he might bring many sons unto glory,” discharge the office he has assumed. Another commander must depend very much on report, he cannot see in the engagement all the combatants, but only a few of them; but as to our Captain, his eye is everywhere, and though much of the Spiritual warfare is carried on in secret, and many a battle is fought and won in the house without the knowledge of any individual even there but the Christian himself, yet nothing ever escapes the eye of our Commander, and he will be sure not to forget it; he will remember it all for good.

Now if the Duke of Wellington some years ago had taken a soldier and introduced him to the king, in the presence of all the peers of the realm, saying, I bear testimony to the good behaviour of this man in the camp and in the field, to his prowess and skill in the day of battle, and I implore of your majesty some token of the royal favour, can we imagine that he would be refused? Well, our Saviour says, “He that confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father and his holy angels. Here, says he, is one who was often “faint, yet pursuing;” here is one who had only a “little strength,” but he did not deny my name; here is one who was not ashamed of my cross, but went forth without the camp, bearing my reproach, and saying, “I should be magnified in his body, whether it be by life or by death.”

And what is the reward he will bestow upon him? Is it money? Is it an estate? Is it an office? Speaking to his faithful disciples, when many had gone away, he said, “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.” “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” A throne is incommunicable; a sovereign may dispose of part of his riches, or his power, or his glory, and even his authority, but the throne is solely his own. He may admit counsellors into his cabinet, and nobles to his table, and favourites to his friendship, but he will suffer none to sit with him on his throne.

And therefore when Pharaoh appointed Joseph viceroy over all Egypt, and said to him every man should bow, “Only,” said he, “in the throne will I be greater than thou.” But this is the language of the Captain of the host of the Lord: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”