The entire Bible reveals Christ, who is the centrality and universality of God’s divine economy. The consummation of this fact can be seen in the city of New Jerusalem as revealed in Revelation chapters 21 and 22. Verse 23 of chapter 21 tells us that “the city has no need of the sun or of the moon… for the glory of God illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” A few verses later in verse 1 of chapter 22, we find that there is a throne in the city and that this throne is “of God and of the Lamb”. From this picture we can see that Christ, as the Lamb, is both the centrality (on the throne) and the universality (as the lamp dispersing God as light) of the holy city. Moreover, this Christ is shining out through the city to become the universality of the new heavens and new earth. The city has “the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone” (v. 11), and even “the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it” (v. 24). This glorious Christ as the expression of God is the centrality and universality of the New Jerusalem and beyond.
In order for Christ to become the consummate centrality and universality of all things in the new heavens and the new earth, He must be the centrality and universality in the kingdom of God, which is manifested on the earth in the age of the millennium. For this to happen, Christ must be the centrality and universality of the church today so that the church may be built up and prepared as His bride for Him to return and bring in the kingdom. In order for Christ to be everything to the church in this way, He must be the centrality and universality in His individual believers, particularly those in His recovery. We each must take Christ as our centrality and as our universality if He is to accomplish God’s eternal purpose to have Him be these things in the New Jerusalem.
What does it mean for Christ to be the centrality and universality in us? The answer to this question far exceeds the scope of a brief post such as this. Nevertheless, an example may help begin to open the vast significance of this matter. When the Lord is leading us to move with Him, perhaps in an area of service or to another locality for His interest there, if we cooperate with Him by following Him, we take Him as our centrality. However, as we follow Him, in order for Him to be our centrality, we must take Him as our life, supply, and ability to carry out His work rather than serving by our own ability and effort. To follow the Lord to a new place, should He so lead, is to take Him as our centrality; to then serve by Him as our capacity is to take Him as our universality. The holy city has Christ in its center as the source of light and also shines Him out as her glorious expression. We too should center our life and living on Christ and manifest Him in everything we do. May God achieve this great endeavor in us!
“To follow the Lord to a new place, should He so lead, is to take Him as our centrality; to then serve by Him as our capacity is to take Him as our universality. The holy city has Christ in its center as the source of light and also shines Him out as her glorious expression. We too should center our life and living on Christ and manifest Him in everything we do. May God achieve this great endeavor in us!” amen.
Hymn 554 says in the third Chorus ” and He speaks to me and reveals to me all His riches for me today. And in every way I partake of Him my problems all pass away.”
Praise the Lord for this enlightenment.I appreciate that to look to the Lord at all times and to enjoy Him by experiencing Him as grace in all our situations is for Christ to become our centrality and our universality today. This way we hold Him the Head and receive His rich supply to express Him for the building up of the church as His Testimony in all the localities for His enjoyment and satisfaction. amen. May these matters all become our reality and realisation in all our experiences today. To enjoy Christ as our experience in every situation.amen.
I thank the Lord for this. The Lord indeed have shed some light on this matter. Christ being the centrality and the universality of God’s economy seemed to be so simple to understand but too profound to grasp. This economy is indeed too great, bigger than anything else. May the Lord would continualy cause us to participate into this great wheel as it is revealed in Ezekiel. May His economy be wrought into our being that is Christ may make His home into our hearts as the centrality of universality of God’s economy.
Lord Jesus, we thank You you have been revealed to us.