The Lower Parts of the Earth

Jesus descended to the lower parts of the earth. From there He ascended, far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. Eph. 4:8-10.

We could ask, “Does the earth also have higher parts?” If it has lower parts, it surely must also have higher parts. Satan wants to go up—high up. We can safely say that most people have never descended to the lower parts of the earth. Even if they have been there financially, in their own minds they have still been very exalted. To keep our body and our mind in lowliness is something else altogether. It is up to God to exalt us; it is up to us to follow Jesus down to the lower parts. Down there is where He conquered principalities and powers. Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, far away from the palaces of Herod. The Prince of God and Savior of mankind was born in a lowly and insignificant place. Later He said of Himself, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” So when Jesus says, “You follow Me,” He means down to the lower parts of the earth. A person’s greatness is not determined by his ability to climb up to the heights—because that is what all ungodly people do—but rather by his ability to go down.

Do we, in the church, need to follow Jesus to the lower parts? Yes! Everyone wants to stand at the pulpit; it beckons and entices even the most carnal people. However, to serve God on the back row, in the wood shed or by cleaning the meeting hall is less appealing. If we are faithful in what is least, we will be placed over more. This is a golden rule for all work in the kingdom of God. People are naturally drawn to a person who has something to give, whether he is in the front or the back of the meeting hall. Jesus was in the lower parts of the earth in the days of His flesh, and now the Spirit seeks to find His followers down there. That is why He leads them into all truth. You will never find the Spirit of wisdom and revelation up in the higher parts of the earth.

D. L. Moody began his work for the kingdom of God by renting a pew in a church. He then went out into the streets and the pubs and found young men whom he pulled in to sit in his pew. Soon he had to rent four pews, which he also filled. We know that later he rented a hall, and early on Sunday mornings, he himself got it ready for the morning meeting—rolling out beer barrels, sweeping the floor and dusting so that everything would be ready when the meeting began.

General Booth also went down to the lower parts, to the dregs of the people in London; but we can see how God blessed him. Many people can briefly stoop down to the lower parts, but they come up again just as quickly, like a person who jumps into ice-cold water. God needs people who are prepared to live and die in the lower parts, and who are so accustomed to being there that on the day of resurrection they will ask in amazement, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”

Jesus Christ and the apostles are the foundation we are building on. The foundation is always the lowest point, but it bears the whole building. Let us therefore compete in showing honor to one another, which simply means we go under one another. Here we find true unity and true brotherly love. In this Spirit there are neither beasts that tear apart nor prey that is torn apart, because everyone breathes the love of Christ.

We need churches like this today.