December 6, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." — 1 Corinthians 15:48 · KJV

The head and members are of one nature, not like that monstrous image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. Its head was of fine gold, but the belly and thighs were of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet part iron and part clay. Christ's mystical body is no absurd combination of opposites; the members were mortal, and therefore Jesus died; the glorified Head is immortal, and therefore the body is immortal too, for so the record stands: "Because I live, ye shall live also." As is our loving Head, such is the body, and every member in particular — a chosen Head and chosen members, an accepted Head and accepted members, a living Head and living members. If the head is pure gold, all the parts of the body are pure gold too. Thus there is a double union of nature, as a basis for the closest communion. Pause here, devout reader, and see whether you can, without ecstatic amazement, contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus lifting your wretchedness into blessed union with His glory. You are so lowly that, remembering your mortality, you may say to corruption, "Thou art my father," and to the worm, "Thou art my sister"; and yet in Christ you are so honored that you can say to the Almighty, "Abba, Father," and to the incarnate God, "You are my brother and my husband." Surely, if relationship to ancient and noble families makes men think highly of themselves, we have grounds to glory above them all. Let the poorest and most despised believer lay hold of this privilege; let no senseless indolence make him neglect to trace his pedigree, and let him allow no foolish attachment to present vanities to fill his thoughts to the exclusion of this glorious, heavenly honor of union with Christ.