"Jesus Only, Jesus Ever"

A phrase that Oswald Chambers had said once really hit me today while on a train coming back from the small nearby city of Hämeenlina: "Jesus Only, Jesus Ever." I was thinking, "What am I doing here? What's the most important thing in my life? Is it my work here on the mission field? Is it preaching? Is it soulwinning? Is it Bible College? Is it studying, prayer, church... What is it?" And then it hit me... Jesus... Jesus only... Jesus Christ is why I am here.  I didn't get here on my own. I got here by following him in faith. My life is not my own, but it's his. Have I forgotten Jesus? Has he gotten lost in the midst of the details of life? Maybe for a moment, but thank God the Holy Spirit will never fail to bring me back to the reality of the living Christ. Look again at him on his throne. Is there anything that can compare to his majesty? Is there anywhere else where you can find and experience the very FULLNESS of God that is in him? Who was it that shed his perfect, precious blood on the cross? Who else can plead my case before the throne of God in heaven? Who has the right? Who is qualified? ... Jesus... Jesus Only. It is he that died in my place. It is he that nailed all the documents and records of sin to that cross. It is he that chose to lay down his own life so that I, through death, could experience true life in him. That same life that can give sinners the assurance of eternal life, alcoholics victory over their addiction, drug addicts a clean and pure life, depressed people unspeakable joy and clarity of thought... Who else has this life? Who else can even come close in comparison? Who else would we preach? Who else would we give our lives to? Jesus Only. It's only him and forever him. Only his sacrifice was ONCE and for ALL. Only he has sat down at the right hand of the Father to give us a place of rest in him eternally. Only he has the power to be our advocate forever in the courtroom of God. Only the stains of his blood will forever be so fresh upon the Mercy Seat in the Temple of Heaven. Jesus Ever... He will never leave us and never forsake us... He has overcome the grave and the fear of death... He ... He is MY Savior, MY King, and MY friend. Will I fail him at times? Most definitely. But will he see it? Never. Will he love me at all times? Yes. Now? Yes. Forever? Forever. In HIM we live, move, and have our being. JESUS ONLY... JESUS EVER.