‘My Own Vineyard’

‘My Own Vineyard’

Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved?

My own vineyard is before me….

Song of Solomon 8: 3 & 12a

The text we have been considering for the past days has given us a good picture of the rise and progress of grace in the people of God. Out of the wilderness of the world, Christ has brought us. As He has brought us upward, He has transformed us into people who are completely different from what we were. We rejoice in all these mighty works of saving and sanctifying Grace. Having said that, the end is not yet. Our additional text for today gives indication of where we are going. The Bride says, ‘My own vineyard is before me.’ This harmonizes very sweetly with the words of Christ on the night before He went to the cross. ‘In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’ All that goes on in our spiritual experience in this life is but a means to an end. Christ is bringing us, by degrees, to the place where we are ready to be with Him forever. This is a glorious prospect for us. Of ourselves, we cannot effect the spiritual progress necessary to conform us into the image and likeness of Christ; but, as we ‘lean upon our beloved,’ we walk, arm in arm with Him, ever upwards towards the Heavenly City. The end result of our spiritual journey is to be with Christ, and to be like Christ. He Alone can effect this change. We will dwell, for all eternity, with ‘Our Beloved’ in the ‘garden’ which He has prepared for us, and He deserves all the glory for it.

Our Gracious Master and Our God,
we rejoice that You have prepared a home for us.
We praise You that You have brought us up
from the wilderness and will uphold us every step of the way.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning