10. The Lowest Place

My Heart's Desire
Maynard Force

The Lowest Place

Go and sit down in the lowest place. Luke 14.10.

Jesus teaches us to take the lowest place. Such a command can never be carried out in our own strength, for our very nature craves the ''chief seats.'' In this respect we are no different from the Pharisees and lawyers to whom Jesus first spoke these words.

To "sit down in the lowest place'' means to be where you are not noticed. It really is "down." It is located far below the range of the natural man. It was here the Gospel writers sat, or they never could have written the Gospels without once using the pro- nouns I, me, or my. In fact, God uses only those who are in this humble place. Here they have free access to the grace of God, for He "giveth grace to the humble'' (James 4.6).

"The lowest place'' is despised by most people. There are no crowded conditions here. The natural man rebels at the thought of it, for he thrives on praise and honor. It would kill him to have to humble himself to this extent. In fact, only those who "put to death the deeds of the body'' (Romans 8.13), begin to live in this lowly place, for "the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them'' (1 Corinthians 2.14). The apostle Paul, speaking of those in this lowly place, said, "We are fools for Christ's sake'' (1 Corinthians 4.10). It was to this group also that Jesus referred when He said, "Whosoever would be first among you shall 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).

Only when we are in "the lowest place'' can we be a blessing to others. The priests who carried the ark when the Israelites were crossing the Jordan stood "in the midst of the Jordan . . . until all the nation were passed clean over'' (Joshua 3.17). There in that "lowest place'' they could see a host of people march past them to higher ground. Their hearts must have been filled with joy for each one that passed on to safety. They not only endured standing in "the lowest place," but rejoiced in it, for there they could be next to the ark - the ark which was a type of Christ. It was only while they remained there that they could be a blessing to their fellow men. This is true of all whom God uses. Therefore, "Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly'' (Romans 12.16).

Only those who are in "the lowest place'' are invited "to go up higher.'' The summons comes to one after another to enter into eternal rest. We that are left miss them and sorrow for a time. But, praise God, we "sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope'' (1 Thessalonians 4.13). The time may soon come when we, too, "shall be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord'' (1Thess. 4.17). It will be a blessed day indeed when the summons comes "to go up higher.'' That is the day we are awaiting. We, too, can say with the apostle Paul, that it will be "far better to depart and be with Christ'' (Philippians 1.23). Then ''in the ages to come, he (God) might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus'' (Ephesians 2.7). Truly, "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted'' (Luke 14.11).

"Go and sit down in the lowest place." Jesus Himself did this and we are asked to follow Him. "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God . . . emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross'' (Philippians 2.5-8) . Truly then the way up is first down-down in humility before God, and up to the "Father's house'' with its "many mansions'' (John 14.2).