Recently I was given a copy of the centenary edition of the Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrases. It gives this definition of “to look up”: “To seek information in books; to visit an acquaintance; to pay a call. Things or persons are said to ‘look up’ when they are improving” (p. 683). I couldn’t have said it better!
Although this magazine (with a few name changes) has been sent into the homes of God’s people since 1927, I have had the privilege of editing it since January of 1991. Over those years we have had such an outflow of encouragement from our readers and contributors that it both humbles and provokes us (in the sense of Hebrews 10:24, of course!).
During this half-decade, we have, albeit unwittingly, pursued the Phrase Dictionary’s definition of Uplook: to introduce the saints to good books (especially the Book); to keep in touch; to introduce you to the Lord’s servants across the land for prayer, fellowship, and encouragement; and to keep us all, through looking up, desiring that Spirit-wrought improvement that comes through “beholding… the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).
And speaking of books, we know you have appreciated Jim McKendrick’s Look at Books column in each issue. Jim has informed us he is moving on to other areas of ministry and we respect his decision to do so. We want to thank Jim for his articles over the years (as well as his help in preparing the Modular Bible Lessons) and pray the Lord’s rich blessing on him in whatever fields the Master sends him to labor. We intend to have Books in Brief from other contributors.
Beginning in the next issue, Lord willing, Brian Gunning, an elder from the Brockview assembly in St. Catharines, Ontario, will begin a column on practical lessons for assembly life. He and his wife, Marlene, are the parents of four girls. Those of you who were able to attend the Rise Up and Build conference in Lexington, Kentucky, last month (our next issue of Uplook will be a special conference highlights edition) will remember Brian as our capable and refreshing chairman. We look forward to his ministry in the magazine.
It isn’t a difficult thing to be up-lookers if we keep the King and His kingdom in view. How much grief would have been averted, how much dishonor to the Lord’s Name avoided-yes, and senseless deaths, too had the Church paid attention to the One they profess to follow when He declared to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight” (Jn. 18:36).
The Church is not to be confused with the kingdom, as our authors writing on Matthew 13 point out, although it is included in it. Christ is never referred to as the King of the Church. Yet it is true that we have been “delivered … from the power of darkness, and … translated … into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1:13). The Church holds a special place in the kingdom at the present time The far-off ones have been made near; we to whom the kingdom was not initially offered are now the seed royal of heaven.
Some suggest the Sermon on the Mount is not for us today. But the King’s instructions to His subjects (Mt. 5-7), though having some dispensational aspects, ought to be exemplified in principle by those who are to be His co-regents (Rev. 20:4). If you want to know how subjects should live, you should be able to see it in the bride of the king. She has an added incentive to obey him. She loves him.
It is one of the divine motivations to faithfulness that “so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:11). That is, the kingdom which now holds sway in the hearts of the Lord’s own will soon encompass the world. It is a strange thing that to those who profess love for Him the question must be asked, “Why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?” Rather our prayer should be: “Thy kingdom come”! Because ultimately the King is the key to the kingdom.