GOD IS…

Exploring the Existence and Character of God

by

Norman R. Lindsay

LCSM Publications,

3401 W Willow Knolls Drive, Unit 201,

Peoria, IL 61614

Text ©Copyright 2014 Norman R. Lindsay. All rights reserved.

Citations not otherwise individually acknowledged were located at www.sermonillustrations.com, accessed January 11-February 14, 2014. This is a paid-subscription-based resource for ministers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All Scripture quotations are in the New King James Version, ©Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., unless otherwise indicated. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

KJV: King James Version, also known as the Authorized Version.

NAU: New American Standard Version, 1995 edition, ©Copyright 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NCV: New Century Version, Copyright© 2002 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Camden, New Jersey. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NIV: New International Version, ©Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NLT: New Living Translation, ©Copyright 1966 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NRS: New Revised Standard Version, ©Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

RSV: Revised Standard Version, ©Copyright 1952 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Camden, New Jersey. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WNT: The Weymouth New Testament, also known as The New Testament in Modern Speech or The Modern Speech New Testament, is a translation into "modern" English as used in the nineteenth century from the text of The Resultant Greek Testament by Richard Francis Weymouth, 1903. The Weymouth New Testament is in the public domain.

Emphasis in bold italics in Scripture quotations added by author

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1: GOD IS

Where God Ain’t

CHAPTER 2: GOD IS CREATOR

Where Were You?

CHAPTER 3: GOD IS ETERNAL

But for Grace

CHAPTER 4: GOD IS HERE

Peace from Above

CHAPTER 5: GOD IS UNCHANGING

CHAPTER 6: IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD

CHAPTER 7: GOD IS SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 8: GOD IS PERFECT

CHAPTER 9: GOD IS FOR US

CHAPTER 10: God is HOLY

CHAPTER 11: GOD IS MERCIFUL

CHAPTER 12: GOD IS LOVE

CHAPTER 13: GOD IS FATHER

CHAPTER 14: GOD IS OWNER

CHAPTER 15: GOD HAS A NAME

Cancer is so Limited

CHAPTER 16: GOD IS OUR SHEPHERD

The Mountaintop

CHAPTER 17: SINCE GOD IS, LET GOD…

Books Available from this Author

ENDNOTES

PREFACE

The purpose of this volume is to explore the existence and character of God. Although far from being exhaustive, this study offers numerous evidences for the existence of God.

However, I concede that acceptance of the reality of God’s existence does not rest on evidence alone. One must, as Blaise Pascal informs us, make a “leap of faith,” concerning this critically important subject.

Evidence alone is not enough. It requires faith. Furthermore, Scripture instructs us that God has given a measure of faith to each of us. Therefore, we are without excuse for making this choice to believe in the reality of God.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. ―Romans 12:3

Following the exploration into the existence of God, I provide a study of numerous aspects of God’s nature. Once more, the list of characteristics is far from complete. Instead, I have focused on what I consider the more important attributes of God’s character. A quick review of the Table of Contents will give a sense of the choice of God’s features that have been included.

As with all his writings, the intent of the author is to ignite in the reader a desire to learn more on the topic of a specific text.

CHAPTER 1: GOD IS

It is possible for a person to contend that a poem is nothing but black marks on white paper. And such an argument might be convincing before an audience that could not read. You can examine the print under a microscope or analyze the paper and ink but you will never find something behind this sort of analysis that you could call "a poem." Those who can read, however, will continue to insist that poems exist.[1] —Bruce Shelly

The fool has said in his heart, ["There is] no God." —Psalms 14:1

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" —Exodus 3:14

The Hebrew word from which we derive this translation uses the word Yahweh, which we generally pronounced Jehovah. I will cover the details behind this confusing substitution in Chapter 15.

When Susanna Wesley was on her deathbed, she gathered her children around her. As she neared the end and was about to be called home to Glory, she admonished them not to weep but rather to "sing a hymn of praise." Then, with her last breath, she reminded her gathered offspring that the greatest comfort we have in any circumstance is the fact that "God is with us"!

Is there really a god who is alive in the universe and touches our lives today? If so, is this god truly a person? Or, is this idea of a god simply the touch of the eternal which exists within each of us? If an individual, personal God exists, how do we know who God is and what to believe about His existence? Moreover, if there is truly a personal, living breathing God, then what is God like?

Before we can enter into a meaningful study of the character of God, we will need to examine and determine the fact and nature of the existence of God. Today, more than ever before in our lifetime, the nature of the existence of God is called into question. Therefore, let us examine some facts and presuppositions essential to an effective review of this subject.

There is one more observation we need to make before reviewing our arguments for the existence of God. Nowhere does Scripture set about to prove the existence of God—it simply accepts the fact of His existence. In Scripture, where God is compared to other gods, it is in obvious derision that one would even consider those others as gods in contrast to Jehovah's obvious existence. This book follows the same pattern. It makes a bold declaration: GOD IS. Pure and simple; God exists. He existed long before time was established as a measure of human existence. Furthermore, He will exist forever after time ceases once more to be.

1. THE NATURE OF GOD'S EXISTENCE IS …

A. NOT DEISM

God does not exist as an impersonal God who created the universe but is no longer involved with its operation. Some have described God as a cosmic Watchmaker who constructed our universe, wound it up, then simply went away and has nothing more to do with His creation. Those who follow this line of reasoning see no value in prayer. God cannot be bothered to hear, much less respond to, your cries for intervention in your day-to-day struggles. He has moved on to other planets and solar systems. You are wasting your breath and time in attempting to gain His attention.

B. NOT EVOLUTION

Our universe has evolved over millions of years from random adaptation of materials and living creatures responding to their changing environment. In other words, our universe exists as a voluntary creation of matter, apart from God.

Believing this theory would require a level of random occurrence almost beyond imagination. A contemporary comparison may be of help. Consider a cosmic junkyard, in which may be found all kinds of random parts. Over a period of millions of years, these parts voluntarily come together to form a fully functioning Boeing 747. This is the level of mathematical probability proponents of evolution would have us accept as the basis of our universe.

Where God Ain’t

He was just a little lad,

And on a Sabbath day

Was wandering home from Sunday school,

And was dawdling on his way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;

He found a caterpillar;

He found a fluffy milkweed pod

And blew out all the "filler".

A bird's nest in the tree overhead,

So wisely placed and high,

Was just another wonder

That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig-zag course

And hailed him from the lawn,

Asked him where he had been that day

And what was going on.

"Oh, I've been to Sunday school"

—he carefully turned the sod

And found a snail beneath it—

"I've learned a lot of God."

"M'm, a very fine way," the neighbor said,

"For a boy to spend his time.

If you'll tell me where God is,

I'll give you a brand new dime."

Quick as a flash his answer came,

Nor were his accents faint.

"I'll give you a dollar, Mister,

If you'll tell me where God ain't."

—Author Unknown

C. NOT POLYTHEISM

As the name implies, this theology believes there are many gods involved in the running of the universe. This would be consistent with Greek mythology and certain Eastern religions of today. For those who adhere to this theology, there is no room for one God, who alone created and maintains the universe.

There are numerous variations of this belief system. Most relegate the various gods to specific aspects of the universe. For example, there are gods over the cosmos, gods over human health, gods over productivity, and, in some systems, countless other gods. There is no room in this theology for a personal, loving Father God.

D. NOT DUALISM

The gnostic beliefs of the first century, and for a considerable time following this, saw the universe existing in an ongoing battle between the equally powerful forces of good and evil. To those who follow this theology, there is a constant struggle between God and matter, a continuing conflict between good and evil. They see a constant tension of equal forces attempting to rule the universe.

Naturally, in such a theological construct, there can be no predetermined winner. Since good and evil are equal, the gods of good and evil must, likewise, be of comparable strength. Therefore, we cannot possible be certain the God of Good will prevail in any conflict between the two.

E. NOT PANTHEISM

For pantheists, there is no existence of a god apart from creation. Each individual person and entity contribute toward the composite existence of god. This particular view stresses the imminence of God at expense of His transcendence. God is present in everything. However, He does not exist outside of creation itself.

If none of these definitions accurately states our understanding of the existence of God, we best keep looking. The following will give an overview of my understanding on the subject.

2. THERE IS ONE GOD

A. ONE ESSENCE

There is but one true God; all others are only cheap imitations—not really gods at all. By one, we mean consisting of the same substance; we are allowed to share in this attribute of God when the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! —Deuteronomy 6:4

One of the most enduring debates about the existence of God has to do with the oneness of His existence. From the first century after Christ forward, there has been disagreement as to the nature of God’s existence. One of the prevailing theologies of the early church was that God exists as one being, who reveals Himself to humanity in three distinct forms known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those who embrace this understanding of God see Him as being only one person. He simply reveals Himself with three different personalities.

Others have seen the existence of Jesus here on earth as less than God. Therefore, His identification with God cannot be on an equal level. In other words, Jesus is not fully God.

There was also a prevalent theology that believed Jesus was genuinely a manifestation of God. However, He was not really human. He only appeared to be human as he spent thirty-three years here on earth. Those adhering to this theology assert that the temptations and suffering of Christ were purely symbolic. Since He was God; He could not be tempted, nor could he suffer pain.

The most orthodox understanding of the existence of God is that God is a united trinity who exist in three inseparable persons: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Perhaps, the best illustration of this Holy Trinity, which comprises the One True God, can be found in Matthew’s Gospel, at the baptism of Jesus. In this passage, we see Jesus, the Son of God, in the water being baptized; the Father is speaking from heaven words of affirmation toward His Son; and the Holy Spirit alights upon Jesus in the form of a dove.

All three Persons emerge at the same time, in the same location. To me, this dispels the idea of God simply revealing Himself with three different personalities. Here, God is evident in all three Persons, in one setting.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." —Matthew 3:16-17

B. ONE PURPOSE

The Holy Trinity has a unity of purpose, personality, and of principles. There is no distinction of purpose. Yes, each has His portfolio, so to speak, in the overall administration of the universe. Nonetheless, there is complete unity in the overarching purposes set forth for God to accomplish.

Although there is a distinction of persons, there is no conflict in personality. The three persons of the Godhead fully embody the nature of God that makes Him distinct and unique.

Furthermore, the principles by which the Holy Trinity goes about the ongoing march toward eternity does not waver or vary from one Person to another between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

One of the initial things of which humans are aware, concerning the purpose of God, is creation itself. In the opening chapter of the Bible, we discover our first clue of the inseparable unity of the Godhead. This use of plural nouns to identify God occurs all the way to the New Testament—in the words of Jesus himself.

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." —Genesis 1:26

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here [am] I! Send me." —Isaiah 6:8

"that they all may be one, as You, Father, [are] in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. —John 17:21

3. GOD IS REVEALED TO MAN

A.    GOD IS: COSMOLOGICALLY

God reveals himself as we study the existence of the universe. This attribute of God speaks of the omnipresence of God. He is present everywhere, at all times. It is nearly impossible for the human mind to wrap itself around a concept that embraces the presence of the same person at numerous locations at the same time. When we expand this idea from existing in several places to an infinite number of settings, our mind rebels at the concept.

Nonetheless, this is exactly what Scripture teaches us about the existence of God. How God can be present to maintain the orbit of a star, with all its orbiting planets, millions of light years away and still be here to walk beside me every moment of each day? This assertion is beyond my ability to comprehend. However, I fully believe it to be true. I simply accept the reality that God created the entire universe and continues to maintain its operation, in its entirety, at all times.

The crowning event of God’s creation of the universe was His fashioning of humanity. It has often been noted, when observing Genesis chapter 2, after each category of creation, God declared it to be good. When He created humankind, God stated that it was VERY good. Understanding AND accepting the following statement will improve anyone's self-image.

In A.D. 399, Saint Augustine said, "People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars—and they pass by themselves without wondering."

I will praise You, for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And [that] my soul knows very well. —Psalms 139:14

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; 12Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. —Psalms 139:7-12

B. GOD IS: TELEOLOGICALLY

For every effect there is a cause; for every action there is a corresponding reaction. God is "the Final or First Cause"—the effect for which there is no cause; "the Unmoved Mover"—the action for which there is no corresponding action or cause. Moreover, don’t even attempt the “Can God create something so heavy He cannot lift it?” approach. That exemplifies circular reasoning at its worst. There is no logical answer to such a question. Do not allow yourself to fall into the trap of attempting to answer such a foolish question. This is exactly what your inquirer is anticipating.

On January 12, 1990, Paul Harvey News stated: The American Astronomical Society, meeting in Arlington, Virginia are intrigued by evidence of some kind of a "great attractor", an immense gravitational magnet, pulling powerfully at our milky way and at more than a hundred other galaxies. It is causing a dramatic distortion in all expansion of the universe. It is tugging at galaxies from across more than a hundred million light years of space, pulling them toward a lump of something, something very dense, for which the scientists have no name except "The Great Attractor." Until now, accepted theory has been that the universe is expanding. Now there is evidence it is falling inward toward "The Great Attractor." You and I know who "The Great Attractor" is.

Eugene Cernan, one of the astronauts who enjoyed the exciting adventure of walking on the moon, said with wonder, "Our world appears big and beautiful, all blue and white! You can see from the Antarctic to the North Pole. The earth looks so perfect. There are no strings to hold it up; there is no fulcrum upon which it rests." Contemplating the infinity of space and time, he said he felt as if he were seeing earth from God's perspective when it was created.

·  GOD IS THE UNCREATED CREATOR, THE FIRST CAUSE

A mother was approached by her young son, who asked, "Mommy, did God make Himself?" Realizing that such questions by children are very important and must be answered, she dropped what she was doing and sat down with her youngster for a little talk. Pointing to her wedding band, she said, "This is a 'love ring,' which your daddy gave me when we were married. Look at it closely and tell me where it begins and where it ends."

The youngster examined it carefully and then said, "There's no starting place and stopping place to a ring."

The mother replied, "That's the way it is with God. He had no beginning and has no end, yet He encircles our lives with His presence. He is too wonderful, too great, for our minds to understand. Nobody ever made God—He always was!" Somehow, the boy realized that for God to be God, He could not have been created. He had to be without beginning and without end.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. —John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; —1 John 1:1

·  HE IS THE ONLY UNCREATED BEING

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. —Colossians 1:16

·  HE IS TIMELESS IN HIS EXISTENCE

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. —Jude 1:25

"But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." —Daniel 12:4

C. GOD IS: ONTOLOGICALLY

This is the study of "to be;" examining the nature of existence, the genuineness of reality. It explores the reaches of the ancient philosopher, Rene` Descartes: "I think, therefore I am."[2] Ontology is an aspect of identifying the existence of God few are willing to pursue. It requires one to ignore the limits we are accustomed to placing on our efforts at reasoning. Descartes plumbed the depths of reasoning when he explored the nature of existence. His work helps us to accept and understand (at least to some degree) the simple, yet highly complicated, reality of existence. If I am able to reason about existence, I must exist. If I accept the fact that I exist, other aspects of reality become much more of a possibility, as well.

The familiar passage from Exodus 3 is God’s answer to Moses, when asked of His identity. What name should Moses give Pharaoh to identify God?

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" —Exodus 3:14

Notice the subtle but clear manner in which Jesus identified himself, when challenged by some of the religious leaders, with this same “I am” God.

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." —John 8:58

D. GOD IS: MORALLY

Each of us has a built-in concept of right and wrong, of good and evil. From whence did this conscience arrive? I know, our parents taught us the principles by which we determine right and wrong. However, who taught them? Once we take this argument to its ultimate origin, we recognize our ability to determine right and wrong must have come from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Then we have to ask, “Where did Adam and Eve learn right and wrong?” I suspect, by now, you have figured out the answer to that question. They ate of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil placed in the Garden by the Lord. Therefore, we know Adam and Eve received their understanding of generally accepted standards of goodness and rightness from God himself.

Even a cursory study of Scripture reveals God as a morally pure individual. He not only abhors evil; He is totally incapable of being evil. We sometimes chafe at what we consider naïve “God is Good all the time” statements. Nonetheless, it is true. God is incapable of being anything but morally good.

God is righteous and just. Therefore, He must bring justice to His world. Nonetheless, He is still good. Demanding justice does not make God evil any more than it makes a judge in our courts evil.

Once more, we encounter Moses in conversation with the Lord. This time, his desire is to see the glory of the Lord. Here is God’s response to Moses.

And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." —Exodus 33:18-19

Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God [endures] continually. —Psalms 52:1

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? —Romans 2:4

4. GOD IS REVEALED THROUGH JESUS

Jesus manifested the very nature and presence of God before all humanity. This was a monumental shift from the way God had revealed Himself before the coming of Jesus. Read slowly and meditate on the following verses. Perhaps you will discover just how much God the Father loves us, that He would allow Jesus to come be a part of our world—then die to cover the unpalatable stench of our sin to the nostrils of God.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, —Galatians 4:4

[God] has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of [His] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, —Hebrews 1:2-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light. [That was] the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,  [even] to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:1-14

8Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? —John 14:8-9

CONCLUSION:

In Scripture, God simply is presumed, not proven. In our own hearts, no matter how many “proofs” we have established regarding the existence of God, there remains the necessity of making our own decision regarding this critical truth.

What do we choose to believe regarding the existence of God? Blaise Pascal, the great French philosopher, mathematician, and theologian of a few centuries ago, coined the phrase, “leap of faith.” Regardless of the evidence we possess, concerning the existence of God, we must take this “leap of faith,” if we are to believe God really does exist.

In mathematics, there are theorems; and there are assumptions. Some truths in mathematics we prove by specific formulae. Other truths we simply accept as being true and build upon this assumption to discover further mathematical truths.

In the final analysis, it is not the proof of God’s existence that makes us a believer. We must make a decision. Do I choose to believe God exists?

We must each make that leap from theory and evidence to an assumption that God does, indeed, exist. No one else can make this choice for us. No amount of study or substantiation will suffice.

What will your decision be?

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." —Joshua 24:15

The fool has said in his heart, ["There is] no God." —Psalms 14:1

Will you choose to serve the gods of the past? Will you decide to follow the gods of this age? Or will you elect to yield your life to serving and following the Lord—the Creator of the universe?

CHAPTER 2: GOD IS CREATOR

"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." —Revelation 4:11

In the last chapter, we took the “leap of faith” and decided to accept the reality of God’s existence. We certainly do not ignore the evidences that support His actuality. They are helpful in bringing people to a point of considering whether they believe God exists or not. However, we have moved beyond evidence to acceptance. God exists—period. Let us now look at some of the characteristics of God’s reality. The first of these aspects we will explore is God as Creator.

The name for God most often used in reference to His creative activities is Elohim. I will cover this plural name for God and several others in Chapter 15. I would like to begin this chapter by focusing on the person of Jesus Christ as agent of creation. The following passage is speaking specifically of Jesus Christ. It leaves little room to doubt Christ as the agent of creation.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. —Colossians 1:15-18 NIV

First, in verse 15, Jesus shows in the flesh what God is in spirit. Jesus revealed, in human form, the nature of the invisible God.

The apostle Paul, in the above verses, informs us that Jesus Christ is the firstborn over all creation. As firstborn, He has been given the birthright. This means He is the chosen ruler among the heirs and receives an extra portion of the actual inheritance. The text makes very clear the certainty of Christ as above all of creation. Therefore, let us look at some of the ways in which Jesus is the firstborn—before all things.

1. CHRIST IS CREATOR

Christ is Firstborn as Creator of all things

A. By Him—He is the Designer of all things (Colossians1:16).

There is no God. All of the wonders around us are accidental. No almighty hand made a thousand billion stars. They made themselves. No power keeps them on their steady course. The earth spins itself to keep the oceans from falling off toward the sun. Infants teach themselves to cry when they are hungry or hurt. A small flower invented itself so that we could extract digitalis for sick hearts.

The earth gave itself day and night, tilted itself so that we get seasons. Without the magnetic poles man would be unable to navigate the trackless oceans of water and air, but they just grew there.

How about the sugar thermostat in the pancreas? It maintains a level of sugar in the blood sufficient for energy. Without it, all of us would fall into a coma and die.

Why does snow sit on mountaintops waiting for the warm spring sun to melt it at just the right time for the young crops in farms below to drink? A very lovely accident.

The human heart will beat for 70 or 80 years without faltering. How does it get sufficient rest between beats?  A kidney will filter poison from the blood, and leave good things alone. How does it know one from the other?

Who gave the human tongue flexibility to form words, and a brain to understand them, but denied it to all animals?

Who showed a womb how to take the love of two persons and keep splitting a tiny ovum until, in time, a baby would have the proper number of fingers, eyes and ears and hair in the right places, and come into the world when it is strong enough to sustain life?

There is no God? —Jim Bishop[3]

Jesus demonstrates His birthright as firstborn by being the One who designs all of creation. He is the Master Architect. No one else can do what He does in designing the universe.

B. For him—He is the Designation for all things (Colossians 1:16).

In addition, Christ not only rules over the design, He is to receive for Himself everything that He has designed.

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." 10He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." 13To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? —Hebrews 1:8-13 NIV

C. Through him—He is the Developer of all things (Colossians 1:16).

·  In Heaven

· In Earth

· Visible

· Invisible

· Spiritual beings, with their hierarchy

D. Firstborn as Sustainer of all things

As firstborn, Jesus demonstrates His birthright as Sustainer of the universe. Unlike the deistic view of God as the Cosmic Watchmaker who creates the watch, winds it, then leaves it to run down without His intervention, Jesus is very involved in the daily existence of the universe. In spite of the various cosmic laws that govern the manner in which the universe operates, He is consistently involved in its progress.

in him all things hold together. —Colossians 1:17 NIV

by him all things consist. —KJV, ASV

in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole. —WNT

E. Firstborn as Head over the Church (Colossians1:18)

What a great summary of the Christian life: "...Christ died to be our Savior and lives to be our Lord. Why do we forget this? It's so simple!" —Hank Hanegraaff[4]

Zig Ziglar: As the earth revolves around the sun, so should our lives also revolve around the Son [Jesus].[5]

Jesus Christ, as Firstborn Spiritual Son, is Head of the Church, as well as being Head of the universe. In other words, He is not only the Cosmic Head of the universe; He is Spiritual Head of the Church. He rules over the Church; and this spiritual body is His most valued inheritance.

·  Head over the Creation

to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. —Ephesians 1:10 NIV

and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. —Colossians 2:10 NIV

·  Head over the Church

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, —Ephesians 1:22 NIV

we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. —Ephesians 4:15 NIV

F. He is Firstborn of the Resurrection (Colossians1:18)

This is not to say Jesus was the first to be resurrected. Clearly, Scripture would deny that. There are several illustrations of those who were raised from the dead prior to Jesus. Some of those are from Jesus' own ministry. Nonetheless, Jesus has the birthright regarding the resurrection. He rules over it. Its resources belong to Him.

Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended" -- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) —Ephesians 4:8-10

Have you ever read any of Jesus’ sermons that He preached during a funeral? Neither have I. You see, Jesus had the habit of breaking up funerals rather than preaching at them. Death could not long exist where Jesus was. When the dead heard his voice, they sprang to life.

This thought brings much hope to us who have lost so many loved ones to death. The same authority Jesus exercised over death while here on earth will be exerted one last time at the shout of Our Lord and the Last Trumpet. We know when those who have gone before hear the voice of their Master; they will rise up—no matter where their body may be.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. —1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; —John 11:25 NIV

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. —Romans 8:11 NIV

As firstborn among the resurrected, Jesus not only rules over the resurrection, He owns it, as well. The same Holy Spirit who enabled Jesus to rise from the grave will lend life to our mortal bodies, also. Nothing or no one can stand in the way of the resurrection power of Jesus.

I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead. —Revelation 1:18 NCV

John R. W. Stott stated, “In the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ, the created order is both re-established and fulfilled.”[6]

As firstborn from the dead, Jesus rules over death. By His birthright, He owns death. It belongs to Him. The keys that bound those in the place of the dead have been wrested from the enemy and are securely in the hand of our Risen Lord. He owns death! He has the keys in His strong hand. Nothing can hold us back when the last trumpet sounds.

2. THE CREATOR CREATES CREATION

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  —Genesis 1:1

The following appeared in the Christian Herald: My 4-year-old niece, Bethany, attends a midweek club at church, where she recently learned about creation and what God did on each day. But one of her classmates, Kirk, raised the leader's eyebrows when he said, "On the seventh day God went to jail."

When asked to explain, Kirk replied, "You said that on the seventh day God got arrested."[7]

A Washington Post article by Eugene F. Mallove, an astronautical engineer, science writer, and Voice of America broadcaster, noted, "Some cosmologists are proposing that the universe has been perfectly 'designed' for life in a way that could not have happened 'by chance'. There is an infinity of ways that the universe could have been set up that would have been more 'simple' with fewer improbable coincidences.

Of course in almost any of these 'simpler' universes, the odds for the development of anything as complicated as life—no matter how you imagined it—would be nil. There are too many coincidences for life to have happened by chance,"[8]

Actually such odds may indeed be nil. The French mathematician, Lecompte de Nouy, examined the laws of probability for a single molecule of high dissymmetry to be formed by the action of chance. De Nouy found that, on an average, the time needed to form one such molecule of our terrestrial globe would be about 10 to the 243 power billions of years.

"But," continued de Nouy, ironically, "let us admit that no matter how small the chance it could happen, one molecule could be created by such astronomical odds of chance. However, one molecule is of no use. Hundreds of millions of identical ones are necessary. Thus we either admit the miracle or doubt the absolute truth of science."[9]

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. —Job 38:4

I have long loved the Book of Job. Some find its ongoing debate between Job and his “comforters” too much to endure. Others find their lack of compassion for Job himself to be too troubling.

Nonetheless, I love the book, particularly the last five chapters. In this section of Job, we encounter God responding to some of Job’s grievances—although we must be quick to remember God declared Job to be without blame or wrongdoing. God’s challenge to Job, designed to make Job stop and evaluate his place in all of creation, is particularly inspiring. Job chapters 38-42 describe numerous aspects of creation. They include accounts of the formation of the heavenly bodies and different aspects of the earth and its atmosphere. God details various animals—both wild and domestic, including the eagle; ostrich; hippopotamus, crocodile, horse, mountain goat, deer, and several creatures which may now be extinct. The following poem, of unknown origin, is a great effort at summarizing God’s challenge to Job.

Where Were You?

Where were you when time began,

When God declared, "Let us make man,"

When He created dark and light,

The land and sky by His great might?

Where were you when the crocodile

And hippopotami who roam the Nile

Were formed so clearly by My hand?

Were you there? Did you understand?

Where were you when the platypus

Or the ostrich or the migrant goose

Began their stay upon this earth?

Can you declare to Me their worth?

Try to match them if you will.

Give their mouth a shapely bill.

Make their feet and legs just so.

And don't forget their coat, you know!

Where were you when I made a plan

For every creature and every man?

Were you there in that manger bed,

Where Baby Jesus lay His head?

Where were you at Calvary

When My great Love was shown for thee?

Could you with your strength and will

Have thought to focus on that Hill?

Where were you when the work was done,

And I had given My own Son?

Where were you when I called to you

And said, "I will create you new."?

Where, oh, where were you?

—Author Unknown

3. THE CREATOR LOVES CREATION

God clearly enjoys what He has created. The first account of creation repeatedly indicates God’s enjoyment of what He had made. He took particular pleasure in humanity upon His completion of that particular project. Try remembering this the next time the enemy of your soul tries to tell you how little God cares for you.

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed [it was] very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. —Genesis 1:31

4. THE CREATOR SUSTAINS CREATION

A. INTRICATE ECOSYSTEMS, FOOD CHAIN, ETC.

I certainly do not presume to be an expert on matters of ecology or nature. However, it does not require a genius to see how intricately and delicately the various components of our world fit together. Beginning with the single-cell life forms which become food for sea creatures, the food chain is carefully set together so that each species has a ready supply of food—even as the particular species becomes prey for a larger animal.

It is beyond my ability to comprehend such an arrangement occurring simply at random and by evolution. To me, it is abundantly clear there was an intelligent design behind this carefully crafted system. The Bible not only identifies God as creator of each of these creatures; He also is shown to masterfully position other aspects of creation in place to provide for and protect the various species.

For example, God placed barriers for the oceans so that they do not flood the dry land. The tides serve their various purposes, including the shifting of food supplies for the sea creatures who depend upon it. Professional fishermen live by the tides.

Vegetation is essential to offset the environmental output from animals—and vice versa. There are countless other examples we could use to remind us how carefully nature is organized to sustain and maintain the various species of plants and animals. Moreover, if something is organized; there must have been Someone to organize it. Admittedly, to believe the delicate balance of nature is sustained purely by random evolution, without outside intervention, requires more faith than I possess.

B. GOD CREATED MAN TO PROVIDE BALANCE

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "See, I have given you every herb [that] yields seed which [is] on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. "Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for food"; and it was so. —Genesis 1:26-30

This initial account of creation clearly identifies mankind’s first stated responsibility is to manage our environment. I do not think it coincidental that God’s first mandate for humanity is for us to care about our surroundings. The specifics of God’s pattern for mankind were for them to multiply, to fill and subdue the earth, and to have dominion over other created beings.

Man was given plenty of food to eat but was instructed to care for his environment, so that this cycle would continue. Nor was this an unreasonable request. If we expect the next generation to have the same provisions we have received, we must leave them with a world that is able to sustain life—in all its various forms.

Be clear about the fact I am not a tree-hugging environmentalist. In other words, I believe it inappropriate to elevate our environment above humanity. Yes, we must care for our world; but not at the expense of humans.

Today, many would have us giving rights to animals which are not even possessed by humans. Let me give you a simple example. Try destroying the eggs of a spotted owl and see in which prison you find yourself. Destroy a preborn human and you are not even breaking the law. Something is terribly out of balance. I do not believe we should be carelessly destroying eggs of endangered species. However, neither do I believe we should allow human babies to be destroyed.

Humans were placed on earth, among other things, to maintain a balance to our environment, so that each generation can enjoy the pleasures of God’s provision in nature in relatively the same manner. In many ways, we have vacated this mandate. Where is the wisdom we inherited from our Creator?

C. GOD INTERVENES IN HIS CREATION

The earth [is] the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. —Psalms 24:1

And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy [is] the LORD of hosts; the whole earth [is] full of His glory!" —Isaiah 6:3

A 12-century chronicler named Henry of Huntington tells a fascinating tale of a Danish king named Canute. Canute ruled over Denmark, England, Norway and portions of Sweden from 1014-1035. King Canute tired of hearing his retainers flatter him with extravagant praises of his greatness, power and invincibility.

He ordered his throne to be set down on the seashore, where he commanded the waves not to come in and wet him. No matter how forcefully he ordered the tide not to come in, however, his order was not obeyed. Soon the waves lapped around his chair.

At this, the king responded by saying: 'Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.' This same historian tells us that King Canute never wore his crown again but hung it on a crucifix of Christ never to wear it again. [10]

This is but one of many accounts of rulers who have acknowledged that God is still the One who ultimately is in control of the universe. Yes, we have been give dominion over certain aspects of God’s creation. We are responsible to care for our world. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, God is in control. Indeed, He has not abdicated His role as Ruler of the Universe. He who has named every star is well able to sustain the countless worlds He has created and all the elements of this world in which we live (Psalm 147:4).

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8"Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; 9When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; 10When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; 11When I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!' —Job 38:4-11

5. THE CREATOR WILL SAVE CREATION

A. SALVATION TO CREATION AT LARGE

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. —Romans 8:21

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  —2 Peter 3:13

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. —Revelation 21:1-2

B. SALVATION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST; THE CHURCH

God has promised that He will completely renew this earth so that He does not have to destroy it. What God provides for the planet, He affords for the people on this planet. Not only shall the Lord save this earth from an inevitable destruction, He will likewise bring salvation to those who place their lives in His loving care. The following passages are but a few that remind us of the glorious salvation of the Lord regarding His Bride.

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." —Revelation 19:7

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them [and be] their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." —Revelation 21:3-4

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death [is] sin, and the strength of sin [is] the law. But thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. —1 Corinthians 15:54-58

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.  —1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

C. SALVATION TO INDIVIDUALS

The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9

A somewhat humorous, yet sobering, account is given regarding famed evangelist Billy Sunday. In preparation for a meeting in a large city, he wrote a letter to the mayor in which he asked for the name of individuals he knew who had a spiritual problem and needed help and prayer.

How surprised the evangelist was when he received from the mayor a city directory.

Many years ago in St. Louis, a lawyer visited a Christian to transact some business. Before the two parted, his client said to him, "For a long time I have been wanting to ask you a question, that I have hitherto been afraid to ask, but I am going to ask it now."

"I never thought of you as afraid. What is your question?" asked the lawyer.

The man replied, "I want to ask you why you are not a Christian."

There was an awkward silence which followed, since this was an unexpected question, especially among men of his class. The lawyer thoughtfully answered his client. "Does not the Bible say something about drunkard having no place in Heaven? And I am a hard drinker.

"You have not answered my question," continued the believer.

"Well, truthfully, I do not recall ever having been shown just how to be a Christian."

Picking up a Bible, the client read some passages showing that all are under condemnation, but that Christ came to save the lost by dying on the cross for their sins. "Will you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?”

“I am going to think about it,” was the lawyer’s answer.

“No, you’re not,” answered his client. “You’ve been thinking about it all your life. Will you settle it now? Will you believe on Christ now, and be saved?”

The lawyer stood silent for a moment in deep thought. Then turning to his friend he said, “I will.”

As the two men knelt together in the presence of the Lord, the lawyer openly confessed his sins and received Jesus into his heart. He arose a saved man, a new creature in Christ.

That lawyer was C.I. Scofield, who later edited the well-known reference Bible which bears his name.[11]

Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [with Your] generous Spirit. —Psalms 51:10-12

CONCLUSION:

The same God who created every living creature, the same God who loves all His creation and sustains the entire universe is the same God who desires to bring new life to His creation—not just to the universe in general but to you individually.

If you have not experienced this new life, now the time to do so. God wants to create within you a clean heart just as He did David in the above Psalm. Let God give you a new heart today.

CHAPTER 3: GOD IS ETERNAL

"For I [am] the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. —Malachi 3:6

If it were possible to remove one drop of water from the ocean every million years and to continue this until the ocean were dry, it would be a period of time beyond our comprehension. Yet, great as that time period would be, it would be a nothing compared to eternity.[12] ―John F. Walvoord

A simple but profound mathematical concept is that when any number, however large, is compared to infinity, that number becomes like zero. The following quote is a good reminder of this principle.

What is infinite and eternal cannot be comprehended by finite and temporary creatures. If it could, it would not be infinite and eternal; for to know a thing is to know the extent and cause of it. It is repugnant to eternity to be known, because it has no limits, no causes; the most soaring understanding cannot have a proportionable understanding of it.[13] ―Stephen Charnock

1. GOD'S SON IS ETERNAL

A. GOD'S SON IS ETERNALLY ALIVE WITH GOD

There is no time past in which the Son of God were not alive. He has existed since before time began. Furthermore, since He exists beyond time, He will be alive and active eternally after time is no more.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." —Micah 5:2

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." —Revelation 1:8

B. GOD'S SON IS ETERNALLY CHRIST OF GOD

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6

Rev. W. Kingstone Greenland visited a vacant house with a friend who desired to purchase it. The friend was particularly struck by the beauty of one of the rooms which he wished to turn into his study; but he objected to a cupboard in the corner.

"I will have to remove it," he said to the architect.

"No, you won't," was the reply.

"But I can do what I like if I buy the house," said the man.

"You cannot do what you like with that cupboard," answered the architect.

"Why not?" he asked. "Is it protected by a clause in the deed?"

"No," said the architect, "it is not on the deed; it is on the plan. You cannot take away the cupboard without taking down the house, it is part of the main structure."[14]

Therefore, if we take away the deity of Christ, we destroy the whole structure of Christianity. That doctrine is built in. It is central. It is part of the structure. The following observation by Chuck Colson most effectively illustrates this reality.

The print medium often intentionally distorts what we write. Over the years since I became a Christian, I have always deliberately explained that I have "accepted Jesus Christ." These words are invariable translated into "Colson's professed religious experience." I discovered that one major U.S. daily, as a matter of policy, will not print the two words Jesus Christ together; when combined, the editor says, it represents an editorial judgment.[15]

It may well be considered an editorial judgment; nonetheless, I fully embrace Jesus as eternally the Christ, the Appointed and Anointed One, of God.

C. GOD'S SON IS ETERNALLY REVEALING GOD

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. —John 1:1-2

Christ is the very essence of the Word of God. The Greek word logos is translated as word in most passages. It conveys the intended idea or meaning of the speaker. Another way of stating this is that the use of logos helps us understand what the speaker is thinking. It has often been stated that words are such poor conveyances of one’s thoughts and intentions.

This is why God sent Jesus into this world. When Jesus came, we began to understand God more clearly. God’s purpose for us begins to make sense. The more we look at Jesus, the better we understand God.

Men had read Scripture for thousands of years without fully understanding God’s plan for humanity. When Jesus came, He revealed God’s plan in ways we could never have understood, with words alone.

Martin Luther once said, “Christ is the Master; the Scriptures are only the servant. The true way to test all the Books is to see whether they work the will of Christ or not. No Book which does not preach Christ can be apostolic, though Peter or Paul were its author. And no Book which does preach Christ can fail to be apostolic, although Judas, Ananias, Pilate, or Herod were its author.”[16]

D. GOD'S SON IS ETERNALLY CREATING WITH GOD

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. —Colossians 1:16-17

Furthermore, the most glorious thing Christ creates is a pure and clean heart, when He comes to live within us.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. —2 Corinthians 5:17

2. GOD'S ATTRIBUTES ARE ETERNAL

A. GOD'S LOVE IS ETERNAL

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. —John 3:16

The depth of God’s love is indescribably great; yet we too often fail to recognize it.

We have also had in the daily bounties of Divine Providence, abundant manifestations of the love of God. If our eyes were really opened, every loaf of bread would come to us as a token of our Father’s care—and every drop we drink would come as the gift of our Father’s bounty. Are we not clothed by His love? The breath that is in our nostrils—who gives it to us but our Creator? Who preserves us in health but our great Benefactor? Is it not a proof of love that you are not on a sickbed tonight? That you are not in the lunatic asylum? That you are not [on] the borders of the grave? Yes, and that you are not in Hell? We are a mass of mercies and a mass of sins—we seem to be made of mercy and ingratitude mixed together! But if the Lord will open our eyes, we will then perceive the boundless mercies of which we are the recipients and we shall begin to perceive His love! But this is not the first place where man ever sees God’s love. The Cross is the window through which the love of God is best seen, but, until that window is opened, all the bounties of God’s Providence fail to convince us of His love.[17]

A minister one day sat in the vestry of his church to meet anyone who might have spiritual difficulties. Only one came. "What is your difficulty?" asked the minister.

The man answered, "My difficulty is the ninth chapter of Romans, where it says, 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated,'"

"Yes," said the minister, "there is great difficulty in that verse; but which part of the verse is difficult for you?"

The latter part, of course," said the man. "I cannot understand why God should hate Esau."

The minister replied, "That verse has often been difficult, but my difficulty has always been with the first part of the verse. I never could understand how God could love that wily, deceitful, supplanting scoundrel Jacob."

I suspect many of us have raised the same question. Why should God hate Esau? I must confess; stopping to contemplate why God chose to love Jacob seldom occurred to me. God’s love is not based on our qualities. If it were, there would be no hope for me. However, God’s love is based entirely on His character—not mine. He loves me because He is love. I could never be good enough to deserve God’s love. Nonetheless, He is good enough to love me in spite of my self-centered ways. Because God loves me so much, I want to spend the rest of my life attempting to return that love.

B. GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ETERNAL

The LORD [is] righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. —Psalms 145:17

"You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, —Revelation 16:5

He is the God who is always just, always right. He has no ability to do wrong. God’s very nature requires that He do right. We will look more closely at these attributes of God’s character in another chapter.

C. GOD'S GRACE IS ETERNAL

“A QUICKENING that will last must come through the Word of God. A man stood up in one of our meetings and said he hoped for enough out of the series of meetings to last him all his life. I told him he might as well try to eat enough breakfast at one time to last him his lifetime. That is a mistake that people are making; they are running to religious meetings and they think the meetings are going to do the work. But if these don’t bring you into closer contact with the Word of God, the whole impression will be gone in three months.”[18] ―D.L. Moody

But for Grace

But for Grace, my soul had perished,

Withered as the desert sand;

Gone to shadows, and tormented,

But for Grace's perfect plan!

But for God's unceasing Mercy,

But for Calvary's sacrifice;

I had wandered, blind and thirsting,

Fell to Satan's grim device.

But the blessed blood of Jesus,

Shed upon that cruel tree;

Called me from the ling'ring shadows,

Saved my soul, and rescued me!

But for Grace, O Grace perfected,

But for love's undying flame;

I had never hoped in Jesus,

Ne'er had even known His name!

—Carlos C. Beam

When Corrie Ten Boom, of The Hiding Place fame, was a little girl in Holland, her first realization of death came after a visit to the home of a neighbor who had died. It impressed her that someday her parents would also die. Recognizing the depth of her anxiety, Corrie's father comforted her with words of wisdom.

“Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. "Corrie," he began gently, "when you and I go to Amsterdam—when do I give you your ticket?"

I sniffed a few times, considering this. "Why, just before we get on the train."

"Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need—just in time.”[19] ―Corrie ten Boom,

This is precisely the way God’s grace works in our lives. We cannot store up grace for tomorrow or next year. We can only receive grace the moment we need it―not a moment earlier; not a moment later. Furthermore, God’s grace is sufficient for any need we may ever encounter. There is nothing beyond the limits of God’s grace.

The apostle Paul struggled with a “thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment” him. Although God chose not to remove this “thorn,” He did promise His grace to Paul, in sufficient quantity to meet the situation. God treats you and me no different than He did the apostle Paul. God’s grace is sufficient.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ―2 Corinthians 12:9

3. GOD'S PROMISES ARE ETERNAL

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. —Matthew 24:35

Renown Bible scholar F.B. Meyer reminds us that God’s promises are too numerous to comprehend. At the same time, they are as dependable as the God who gave them.

These are but specimens. The vault of Scripture is inlaid with thousands such, that glisten in their measure as the stars which guide the wanderer across the deep. Well may the prophet sum up the heritage of the servants of the Lord by saying of the Holy City, "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children."…

Oftentimes I have gone to God in dire need, aggravated by nervous depression and heart-sickness, and said, "My faith is flickering out. Its hand seems paralyzed, its eye blinded, its old glad song silenced forever. But Thou art faithful, and I am reckoning on Thee!" The soul loves to go behind the promises of God to Himself who made them, as the wife needs not quote the pledges made by her husband in the marriage-service when she is sure of him, and feels the pressure of his hand.[20]

The more we come to know the person and character of God, the more we will be able to trust Him. As we grow in our walk with the Lord, one of the primary things we learn about Him is His faithfulness. When I take the time to contemplate God’s faithfulness, I have no reason to be fearful or anxious. It is not God’s greatness that matters—although there is none greater. It is not God’s compassion that assures me of His acting on my behalf—although His compassion is unequaled. Instead, it is His faithfulness. I can totally, absolutely trust God. He never fails in fulfilling His promises.

4. GOD'S PURPOSES ARE ETERNAL

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. —Psalms 33:11

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, —Ephesians 1:4

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. —Romans 8:28-30

What God determined at the beginning of time is still His declared purpose for His creation. He has not changed His mind about it. Scripture states that God does not change His mind as men do (1 Samuel 15:29). This same verse reminds us that neither can God lie. If God cannot lie nor change His mind, this makes His purposes unwavering, unquestionable. The writer of Hebrews reflects this same understanding of God.

So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence. —Hebrews 6:18 NLT

5. GOD'S FELLOWSHIP IS ETERNAL

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. —1 Corinthians 13:12

We are not eternal, but we are everlasting. Though we have a beginning of human life, we will continue to exist as long as God exists—forever![21] —John Walvoord

Walvoord gives us an insightful view of eternity—from the human perspective. No, we may not be eternal in nature. However, although we did have a beginning (unlike God), we will have no end. We will continue to exist in our Eternal Home for eons after all the clocks of time have run down. This is certainly something to which we should give careful thought.

Furthermore, since the duration of our heavenly reward is beyond our ability to measure, we should give considerable thought to the nature of that reward. We certainly do not want to experience a hereafter void of any loving relationships. We would not want to be in a place of pain and discomfort. We certainly would want to be with friends and family, in a peaceful atmosphere. Most importantly, we would want to be with the One who makes eternal life a reality. I can hardly wait. How about you?

Even so, come, Lord Jesus! —Revelation 22:20

6. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IS ETERNAL

A. FAITHFUL THROUGH SUFFERING

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls [to Him] in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. —1 Peter 4:19

by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust. —2 Peter 1:4

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. —Psalms 89:1

For most of us, identifying the faithfulness of God during times of suffering is quite difficult. This is particularly true if we find ourselves focusing on the pain. If our full attention is drawn to our own suffering, it is difficult to see anything or anyone else. When we learn to shift our focus from our pain to the One who is walking with us through our difficulties, we begin to see this simple truth. God has not left us during our most trying hour.

When Judy and I lost our 32-year-old daughter after a six-year battle with Leukemia, we were startled and relieved by the sudden reality that God was just as near to us, just as real to us as before she left us.

During the times she was struggling for her life, we felt many days of despair so deep it literally felt like falling into a bottomless pit. Nonetheless, even as we walked through those dark valleys, we never went a day without a card, a letter, or a phone call from someone reminding us of God’s great love for us.

Therefore, when she did finally make the journey from this life to the next, we expected the same dark pit and hopeless sorrow. It did not happen that way. God wrapped His loving arms around us and comforted us in the midst of a pain too deep to describe. The peace we experienced is beyond human comprehension. God is faithful in the mist of our suffering.

B. FAITHFUL IN SPITE OF OUR FAILURES

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. —2 Timothy 2:13

Is there any among us who has not failed at some point? If God’s faithfulness to His promises to us and love for us were dependent upon our faithfulness, we would all be in deep trouble. As the apostle Paul told the young pastor, Timothy, even if we are not faithful; God remains faithful. Why? Because He has made promises to us. In addition, as we stated earlier, since God can neither lie nor break His promises; we can rest assured He will remain faithful to us—in spite of our lack of faith—not because of our great faith. After all, loyally following God is an act of faith. Therefore, if I am unfaithful, as the word itself implies, it is because I have lost my faith in God regarding a particular matter.

I am so very thankful God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon me. The sooner we learn this simple but profound reality, the more joyful will be our journey.

C. FAITHFUL IN EACH SITUATION

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it]. —1 Corinthians 10:13

Paul teaches us that just as God’s faithfulness is not dependent on us; neither will God fail us in our times of difficulty. In other words, there is no situation we can face where the faithfulness of God should ever be in question. Certainly, no challenge we may face is beyond the scope of God’s power. No circumstance I may ever face will cause God to abandon me. Granted, I can request that God leave me alone. Even then, we would likely be surprised at just how close and how ready He is to rush to our assistance—if we only ask for His help.

Therefore, look for God in every situation. I have no doubt that if you are expecting Him, if you look closely enough, you will find Him.

D. FAITHFUL EVERY DAY

[Through] the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning; great [is] Your faithfulness."The LORD [is] my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" —Lamentations 3:22-24

Have you ever heard the unusual account of how the news of the battle of Waterloo reached England? The news of the battle first traveled by sailing ship to the southern coast. From there, word was rela1yed by signal flags to London. When the report arrived at Winchester, the flags on the cathedral began to spell it out: "Wellington defeated..."

However, before the message of the battle was completed with the flags, a heavy fog moved in. Gloom filled the hearts of the people as the fragmentary news spread throughout the surrounding countryside.

However, when the mists began to lift, it became evident that the signals of Winchester Cathedral had really spelled out this triumphant message: "Wellington defeated the enemy!"

Too often, we allow our perception of circumstances to be colored by what we see at the moment. We have a tendency to be so blind from our current difficulties that we forget God's faithfulness in the past. We prematurely draw conclusions—before the entire message has been conveyed to us. In other words, we lose faith in God to care for us tomorrow as well as He did yesterday and is caring for us today.

God is not shaken by the circumstances. He already knows how they will unfold. Remember, God already exists in our tomorrow. He is not bound by time. Therefore, He already knows—in intricate detail—how our tomorrows will play out. Yes, God is faithful.

7. OUR INHERITANCE IS ETERNAL LIFE.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. —John 10:10 NIV

A. Exactly what is eternal life?

Zoe, the Greek word for life; is where we get the English words zoo, zoology, and zoological. It simply means existence, especially in relationship with God. Zoe is distinct from bios, which has to do with our manner of life; our moral conduct, or our livelihood.

Another distinction we need to make has to do with psuche or psyche in English. While psuche deals with the seat or our personality, the individual nature of our existence, Zoe relates to the life, the vitality of a particular being. To clarify this distinction, we can reference Psalm 66:9. This verse states that God holds our psuche in zoe. In other words, God holds our individual personality in His being. In the above text from the Gospel of John, it states that Jesus came that they might have being. To solidify this pronouncement, we read, in the following verses; the Good Shepherd lays down his individual personality for the sheep.

Aion, English word eon, generally refers to an age or an extended period of time. On the other hand, aionios, the Greek word generally translated eternal in Scripture, makes reference to something eternal, forever, or everlasting. This word can also describe something without end, outside of time, thus, an endless age.

This contrast marks a clear distinction between an extended period of time and eternity. Eternity has no end. It cannot be measured, in human terms. Therefore, eternal life describes an existence, a being, with God for an endless age.

And eternity will not be a dull, meaningless way of life. Eternity will be with the One who redeemed us and with our friends and family who have also acknowledged Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. —Revelation 21:1-7 NIV

B. How do I attain eternal life?

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. —John 10:10 NIV

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:11-13 NIV

and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him —Hebrews 5:9 NIV

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." —John 4:14 NIV

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:14-16 NIV

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. —John 17:1-3 NIV

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. —Romans 10:9 NIV

One of the most frequent criticisms of Christianity is the simplicity of attaining eternal life. Critics argue that gaining our salvation from everlasting punishment cannot possibly be as easy as we claim. How can God offer us an eternal celebration in His presence without us having to do something to earn it?

What our detractors are overlooking is that eternal life is not free. A very dear price has already been paid for my salvation. Jesus gave His very life as payment for my sins. All He asks, in return, is that I acknowledge Him as Lord and repent of my sins. The rest is up to God. God exacts a fierce penalty for sin—death. Then He walks from behind the bench, takes off His robes, and offers His own life to clear my hopelessly unpaid account.

C. How secure is my claim to eternal life?

God’s gift of eternal life is to anyone who receives Christ as the Son of God—whose death and resurrection paved the way for our salvation.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —John 1:12 NIV

If a person lays claim to having received Christ as savior yet continues in his or her sinful life, we must question whether they have actually trusted Christ to cover their sins. After all, Jesus told us, if we love Him, we will follow His mandates to us.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. —Hebrews 10:26-27 NIV

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. —Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV

This troubling verse reminds us that placing our life in the hands of Jesus then asking for it back is a practical impossibility. It is no longer our life to request. It belongs to Christ. To forsake Christ then come back to Him expecting full forgiveness and restoration would be like crucifying Him all over again. However, the following verse is a reminder we are talking about human prospects versus Heavenly possibilities. It is in such hopeless situations where the love of God shines the brightest.

And looking upon them Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." —Matthew 19:26 NASB

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one." —John 10:28-30 NIV

This is a most reassuring passage, regarding this difficult question. We can take great comfort in recognizing that so long as we remain in the hand of God, we are safe. No one in all of heaven, earth, or below the earth can snatch us from the hand of God. We are completely safe there. This tells me there is only one possible way for me to lose my security in Christ. I would have to wrench myself willfully from His loving hand.

Anyone who has struggled with a rebellious teenage can understand how this is possible. We can offer the most patient, secure, loving relationship in the world to a child. However, if the child chooses to walk away from the relationship, there is nothing short of imprisonment we can do to stop him or her.

This is our relationship with God. He will not force us to remain in His love, if we choose to forsake Him. However, we best remember that once we have walked away there is no assurance we will ever come back. You see, the problem is not with God. He always waits with open arms for our return. However, He also reminds us that His Spirit will not always be there to woo us back (Genesis 6:3). Furthermore, He tells us that unless the Father draws us, we cannot come to Jesus (John 6:44).

The following verses offer reassurance of our continuing relationship with the Lord.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense―Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ―1 John 2:1 NIV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ―1 John 1:7-9 NIV

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ―Galatians 6:8 NIV

D. Some additional passages regarding eternal life

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ―John 6:40 NIV

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ―John 6:68 NIV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. ―Revelation 22:1-5 NIV

Yes, eternal life is something glorious for us to anticipate. Therefore, it is reassuring to know one of the characteristics of God is that He is eternal.

CONCLUSION:

Because God is eternal, every one of His characteristics is eternally present. In a rapidly changing and deteriorating world, it is reassuring to know One who is eternally the same.

· If I need love—God’s loving gift of His Son is eternal.

· If I need security—God’s power is eternal.

· If I need hope—God’s promises are eternal.

· If I need direction—God’s purposes are eternal.

· If I need companionship—God’s fellowship is eternal.

· If I need assurance—God’s faithfulness is eternal.

CHAPTER 4: GOD IS HERE

We often speak of the omnipotence, the omniscience, and the omnipresence of God. The Old Testament has a name for God, in Hebrew, Jehovah-Shammah. This name for God comes from the last verse of the Book of Ezekiel, where he is describing the New Jerusalem and the name of God associated with the New City. For more details on the names of God; look in Chapter 15.

"The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD is there.'" ―Ezekiel 48:35 NAU

In the New Testament, Jesus said, as He prepared to leave his disciples:

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you ―John 14:18 NAU [see also Hebrews 13:5]

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." ―Matthew 28:20

God is always, everywhere present. This is one of the most mind-boggling, yet comforting, of all His characteristics. The term the New Testament uses to identify the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence is parakletos, which has been variously translated Counselor, Advocate, Comforter, Patron, or Counsel for Defense.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ―1 John 2:1 NAU

God is present, no matter the circumstance, every moment of every day of our life. I trust this reality brings as much peace and encouragement to your heart as it does mine.

1. GOD SHOWS HIS PRESENCE THROUGH HIS PERSON

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, —Romans 8:15-16

God makes Himself known to us through a personal relationship. This relationship is confirmed by the witness of the Spirit of God Himself. We need never doubt or question that God dwells within our hearts. God personally affirms this relationship in a very subjective manner. It is a personal transaction between us and the Creator of the Universe. What more could we ask by way of confirming God’s promise of a personal relationship with us?

2. GOD SHOWS HIS PRESENCE THROUGH HIS PEOPLE

Therefore comfort one another with these words.  —1 Thessalonians 4:18

In those occasional times when we feel abandoned by God and alone, we have one another to bring the assurance of God’s love and care for us. Never sell short the difference a friendly hug or encouraging word can make in the life of a person who is struggling in his or her relationship with God.

All of us have those times when we simply feel as if God has forgotten about us. Therefore, since we are painfully aware of the agony and despair this loneliness can bring, we should, all the more, reach out to make God’s presence real to one another.

3. GOD SHOWS HIS PRESENCE THROUGH HIS PROMISES

This [is] my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. —Psalms 119:50

We often reflect on the eternal existence of God and the fact that God cannot break His promises, He cannot lie. We can then take great comfort in the assurance God will make Himself know to us as He fulfills His promises to us.

4. GOD SHOWS HIS PRESENCE THROUGH HIS PURPOSES

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. —Romans 8:28 NAU

"For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, —Acts 13:36 NAU

As we experience the purposes of God being fulfilled without fail, without wavering, we gain more assurance of God’s continuing presence. Furthermore, as Luke states in the Acts passage above, often God uses flawed people, like David, to make His presence known to us.

5. GOD IS PRESENT TO FORGIVE

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:7-9

Hallucinations, epilepsy, and now lightning. This is the latest among numerous theories to explain the extraordinary event leading to the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Dr. John D. Bullock delivered a paper on his theory at a convention of Ophthalmologists. Dr. Bullock's main theory contends a bolt of lightning struck the corner of Paul's eyes causing scar tissue to obstruct his vision.

It is my personal opinion that Paul’s experience was not an hallucination. It was not epilepsy. It was not lightning. God can, and does, use all of these things to bring about His purposes. However, sometimes, there are situations where the Lord steps outside the standard laws of nature and inexplicably acts to bring about His purpose in an individual’s life.

God Himself is present to bring conviction and forgiveness for our sins, when we are willing to call upon Him to do so. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit is essential to our relationship with the Lord. Thankfully, God is faithful to make us aware of our need to call upon Him for forgiveness. Furthermore, God is faithful to forgive us when we do call upon Him.

6. GOD IS PRESENT TO INTERCEDE FOR OUR SHORT-COMINGS

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. —1 John 2:1

Not only does God allow His Holy Spirit to make us aware of our shortcomings; He is also available and ready to intercede before the Throne of God on our behalf. If anyone ever needed a lawyer to plead his case, it is I. Thankfully, God’s eternal Spirit has promised to represent me before the Throne of the Almighty. I do not have to face God along—fearfully attempting to plead my own hopeless case. The Holy Spirit is there to advocate on my behalf.

7. GOD IS INTERCEDING FOR OUR NEEDS

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are], [yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:14-16

Our Great High Priest is always on duty before the Holy of Holies, bringing our needs before the Presence of the Almighty. Whatever my weakness, my struggle, my challenge, I can rest assured My High Priest is intervening for the grace and mercy I so desperately need.

Peace from Above

Whenever I am troubled

and lost in deep despair,

I bundle all my troubles up

and go to God in prayer,

I tell Him I am heartsick

and lost and lonely too,

That I am deeply burdened

and don't know what to do.

But I know He stilled the tempest

and calmed the angry sea,

And I humbly ask if in His love

He'll do the same for me.

Then I just keep quiet

and think on thoughts of peace,

And as I abide in stillness

my restless murmurings cease.

—Helen Steiner Rice

8. GOD IS PRESENT TO GUIDE

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. —John 16:13

When complimented on her homemade bread, the cook at a popular Christian conference center told Dr. Harry Ironside, "Just consider what goes into the making of these biscuits. The flour itself doesn't taste good, neither does the baking powder, nor the shortening, nor the other ingredients. However, when I mix them all together and put them in the oven, they come out just right." Much of life seems tasteless, even bad, but God is able to combine these ingredients of our life in such a way that a banquet results.[22]

Certainly, not every ingredient in our life experience is a pleasant-tasting one. However, when we place them altogether and allow God’s hand to gently (and sometimes not so gently) stir and mix them, they become a recipe that is both attractive and delicious to those who encounter us along the way.

Therefore, if we want our spiritual recipe to turn out well, we must allow God’s hand free reign to guide us throughout the entire process. I have had a few disasters in my efforts at cooking. However, God’s recipes are never a flop.

9. GOD IS PRESENT TO PROTECT US THROUGH TEMPTATION

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it]. —1 Corinthians 10:13

For me, it is most reassuring to know that God is present to shield me, during times of intense temptation. All of us have experienced occasions in which we simply felt ourselves sliding down the slippery slope of temptation. No matter how hard we tried, we could not seem to stop ourselves. In fact, it often seems as if the harder we fight the temptation, the more difficult it is to remove ourselves from the situation

This is the very reason we must call upon the Lord and allow Him to protect and shield us through our temptations. We simply cannot overcome the appeal of sin by our own power and will. A strong willpower is not enough to fight off temptation. We need the strong arm of the Lord. Thankfully, God’s power is available to us as we call out to Him.

10. GOD IS PRESENT TO PROTECT US THROUGH TROUBLE

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many [are] they who rise up against me. Many [are] they who say of me, ["There is] no help for him in God." Selah But You, O LORD, [are] a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set [themselves] against me all around. —Psalms 3:1-6

Not every difficult situation in which we find ourselves is of our own doing. Sometimes, we simply find ourselves in the midst of a storm that threatens to destroy us—and everything around us. It is in times like these, we most appreciate the unwavering presence of the Lord to see us through the storm.

We can read of God’s supernatural intervention in the life of the apostle Paul in numerous passages throughout the Book of Acts. I particularly like to reflect on chapter 16 and the powerful way God protected Paul and Silas in a Philippian jail cell in the midst of an earthquake. Moreover, they were able to lead the jailer and his family into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, because of this experience.

Additionally, we read of numerous ways in which God showed Himself to Paul and those who sailed with him, as recorded in Acts chapter 27. Although the ship’s captain and crew ignored Paul’s warning of pending danger and destruction, God intervened and saved the lives of all those aboard the floundering ship.

Later, Paul was miraculously saved from death after being bitten by a venomous viper. Think of it. This is just one running account of a single individual who experienced the protecting hand of God.

I suspect you would be shocked if you knew all the times God intervened to save you or your loved ones from disaster. God is eternally present to protect you and those you love.

11. GOD IS PRESENT TO GIVE US HOPE

You [are] my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah —Psalms 32:7

Elena Bonner, wife of Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, says that as he wrote his memoirs she typed, edited, and nursed the work, doing everything she could to make sure it survived seizure by the government.

One day, Sakkarov met Elena at the train station and with trembling lips told her that his memoirs had been stolen. She says he looked like a man who had just learned of the death of a close friend. Nonetheless, after a few days, Sakharov returned to his work. According to his wife, each time he re-wrote his memoirs there was something new—something better.

Something new, something better. That is a perfect description of what happens when we come to Christ in faith and allow Him to begin rewriting the story of our lives. The rewrite is always better!

One of the primary benefits of the perpetual presence of the Lord in our lives is hope. His presence brings us hope.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. —Colossians 1:27

12. GOD IS PRESENT TO GIVE US CONSOLATION

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, "[even] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. —John 14:16-18

Once, during Queen Victoria's reign, she heard that the wife of a common laborer had lost her baby. Having experienced deep sorrow herself, she felt moved to express her sympathy. Hence, she called on the bereaved woman one day and spent some time with her. After she left, the neighbors asked what the queen had said. "Nothing," replied the grieving mother. "She simply put her hands on mine, and we silently wept together." —Source Unknown.

Comfort seldom is the result of exquisite or even well-chosen words from one who is resourceful. Instead, comfort comes as a dear friend wraps his or her arms about the shoulders of the grieving person. In fact, the one who is floundering in despair, during those dark days of grief, seldom remembers the words that were spoken. They do not need our words. They need our comfort.

This is what God offers us in the midst of our grief. He wraps His loving arms around us and allows His peace and comfort to flood our being.

The last thing a person needs in the midst of debilitating grief is judgment from a well-meaning friend. God does not bring His Presence to those who mourn so that we may judge one another. Instead, Paul says:

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. —Romans 14:4 NAU

Rather, God anoints the head of the one who is grieving. He lends His Presence to us:

to comfort all who mourn, —Isaiah 61:2

"Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your God. —Isaiah 40:1

Blessed [are] those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. —Matthew 5:4

Furthermore, God never intends for our time of grieving to be wasted. He has plans to use our grief to bring comfort to others. How can this be? When we remember the manner in which God brought comfort to us during our time of sorrow, we are ready and eager to share this encouragement and comfort with those who are yet in the midst of their grief.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. —2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NAU

Our family has had our share of challenges over the years. We have sometimes felt as if our emotions were riding a rollercoaster. One thing we have learned through all our struggles is that God is every bit as real and present during and after a traumatic experience as He was before. That reality has held us steady numerous times over the years.

13. GOD IS PRESENT TO GIVE US COURAGE

But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.  —1 Thessalonians 2:2

Nothing can bring courage to our hearts like the sense of God’s presence. His touch reassures us that He will stay with us no matter how difficult our battle may prove to be. When young David faced the giant Goliath, he did not approach Goliath with fear and trembling. His boldness was not based on his own ability. Yes, he had faced a hungry lion and a bear, while tending his father’s sheep. However, even then, his courage came not from his own ability but through the sure knowledge that God would take his humble efforts and bring the victory essential for the situation.

Just as surely as God protected David’s flock from the ravenous bear and lion, God would protect Israel from the giant Goliath and the army of the Philistines. Furthermore, God will protect you and your loved ones from the destruction of the giants you face, as well.

14. GOD IS PRESENT TO GIVE US FRIENDSHIP

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. —Proverbs 18:24

An English publication offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of entries received were the following:

· "One who multiplies joys, divides grief:"

· "One who understands our silence;"

· "A volume of sympathy bound in cloth;" and

· "A watch which beats true for all time and never runs down."

· However, the entry which won the prize said, "A friend—the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out." –Source Unknown

Doesn’t that winning phrase describe Jesus completely? He is the One True Friend who will be with us in our darkest hour, through every struggle, in the fiercest storm. He will never leave us. His loving arms will securely enfold us, until the storm has passed. Then we will embrace for joy.

CONCLUSION:

GOD IS PRESENT!

·   HIS PRESENCE IS HERE;

·   HIS PROMISES ARE HERE;

·   HIS PURPOSES ARE HERE.

HE IS ALWAYS HERE!

·   HE IS HERE TO FORGIVE YOU;

·   TO INTERCEDE FOR YOU;

·   TO GUIDE YOU;

·   TO PROTECT YOU;

·   TO COMFORT YOU.

YES, GOD IS PRESENT! LET HIM BE ALL HE DESIRES TO BE FOR YOU AND IN YOU TODAY!

CHAPTER 5: GOD IS UNCHANGING

The Unchanging God in a Changing World

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. —Isaiah 40:8

Cultures change. Societies change. Organizations change. Churches change. People change. Change is essential to survival. Therefore, we must learn to adapt to a changing world.

At the same time, Scripture warns us to be careful of people who are always changing.

“My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change” —Proverbs 24:21-22 NAU

I believe God is exhorting us to be careful of change, to be sure we are responding to the right changes for the right reasons.

Listen to a secular thinker, Peggy Noonan, one of the brightest journalistic minds around. She writes this in an article entitled "You'd Cry Too If It Happened To You." It came in Forbes magazine, September 14, 1992, in which 11 men and women were asked to answer the question "Why are we so unhappy?" They all agreed we were unhappy because we had lost our moral and spiritual center.

Listen to what Peggy Noonan says: "[Poet W. H.] Auden called his era 'the age of anxiety.' I think what was at the heart of the dread in those days [just a few years into modern times] was that we could tell we were beginning to lose God—banishing him from the scene and from our own consciousness, losing the assumption that he was part of the daily drama or its maker. It is a terrible thing when people lose God. Life is difficult, and people are afraid, and to be without God is to lose man's greatest source of consolation and coherence..."[23]

You probably heard the story of two young boys who were very mischievous, constantly getting in trouble. They were just becoming more than their mother could handle. Therefore, she decided to take them to her pastor to see if there was something he could say to them that would help them turn their lives around.

The minister brought the older of the two boys into his office while the younger waited outside. The minister eventually began to focus his discussion on spiritual issues. He asked the young man in his office, “Where is Jesus?” hoping the boy would acknowledge that Jesus was living in his heart. After several attempts at bringing the lad to this spiritual understanding, the minister became frustrated and released the young man with the challenge for the boy to find an answer to the question, “Where is Jesus?”

The boy wasted no time getting out of the pastor’s office. On his way out, he grabbed his younger brother by the arm, dragging him out of the lobby. “They have lost God, and they are trying to pin it on us,” he exclaimed, as they rushed out of the building.

Yes, in a changing world, it would be very easy for us to misplace Jesus. However, God is not who is lost; it is we. In the midst of a rapidly changing world, we have lost our way. Nonetheless, change is not universally present. There are those roaming the deserts of Africa and Asia who are essentially living the same nomadic existence, moving their herds and tents from one grazing area to another, as their ancestors were doing at the time of Abraham, some four thousand years ago.

Yet, even in the darkest jungles of Africa and Asia, visitors tell us; it is not uncommon to see a grass hut shadowed by a satellite dish. Those who do not enjoy modern transportation or indoor plumbing may well be watching the latest television shows via satellite.

It is reassuring to know that in the midst of an ever-changing world, there is a God who does not change?

1. GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

The Hebrew word El Olam, translated The Everlasting God, emphasizes the unchanging, inexhaustible nature of God. You can find further information on the names of God in Chapter 15. The remainder of this chapter will be devoted to God’s unchanging nature.

As well might a gnat seek to drink in the ocean, as a finite creature to comprehend the Eternal God.[24] —C.H. Spurgeon

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. — Isaiah 55:8-9

A. GOD’S WAYS DO NOT CHANGE

Even if everything around us does change, God remains unchanged. He is totally unmoved by the things which bring change to our world.

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. —Psalms 102:25-26 NIV

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” —Hebrews 13:8 NAU

Samuel told King Saul, after Saul’s failure to obey Samuel’s directive from the Lord:

"Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind" —1 Samuel 15:29 NAU

God will remain true to His purposes in our lives, regardless of the circumstances. Samuel told King Saul that God is not like humans, who are easily distracted from their purpose by changing circumstances. No doubt, King Saul started out with the intention of following Samuel’s directive. However, the situation quickly changed from what Saul had expected. Therefore, he altered his plan. God is not at all like this. He will fulfill His purpose, no matter how much the circumstances may change.

"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. —Malachi 3:6 NIV

The doctrines and principles that were true two thousand years ago are still true today. As for me, I want to be certain, in a world identified by change; that I do not allow myself to become drawn into trying to change things that should not, perhaps even cannot, change.

Facing change is like the analogy Jesus used regarding the wineskin. If we place new wine into an old wineskin, we lose both the wine and the wineskin. In the same manner, if we attempt to place new practices and principles into old wineskins of belief systems, something will have to give—and it will not be God!

B. GOD’S WORDS DO NOT CHANGE

Thomas Merton stated, “People don't want to hear any more words. In our mechanical age, all words have become alike.... To say ‘God is Love’ is like saying, ‘Eat Wheaties.’”[25]

Aurelius Augustine: “Always beware of the man who abounds in eloquent nonsense.”[26]

I certainly would stop short of equating “God is Love” to eating Wheaties. Nonetheless, there are a vast number of foolish and meaningless words flooding our pages, smartphones, and computer screens. However, we can rest assured that none of these foolish words came from God. His words never change; because His words are a part of who He is. Furthermore, He, as a Person, never changes. Therefore, His words never change.

·  MEN’S WORDS FADE; GOD’S WORDS ARE FOREVER

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. —Isaiah 40:8

“The world does not need sermons; it needs a message. You can go to seminary and learn how to preach sermons, but you will have to go to God to get messages.” —Oswald J. Smith[27]

“When you read God's Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ‘It is talking to me, and about me.’” —Soren Kierkegaard[28]

Words of men and of women will have little lasting value, if they are not words that originated from the mind and mouth of our Lord. Yes, we have observed some rather profound speeches throughout the years of our history. However, all these great orations will become nothing more than smoke, in the light of eternity. The only way I can hope to give any lasting value to the things I say is to be sure my words come from the mind of God.

·  CREATION WILL PASS AWAY; GODS WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY

This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God. —Sir Isaac Newton[29]

Someday, this world in which we currently live will be destroyed by fire. All of the things we admire and value will melt away from the fervent heat. Nothing on the entire surface of this lovely planet will escape the consuming flames.

At the same time all of this destruction will be occurring, God will still be sitting on his throne, directing the unfolding events of the universe. Everything around Him will be changing; but He will not change. Nor will His words change. The words of God are as durable and eternal as is the Lord himself.

On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space.

Those sophisticated men, trained in science and technology, did not utter Einstein's name. They did not even go to the poets, the lyricists, or the dramatists. Only one thing could capture the awe-inspiring thrill of this magnificent observation.

Billions heard the voice from outer space as the astronaut read it: "In the beginning God"—the only concept worthy enough to describe that unspeakable awe, unutterable in any other way. "In the beginning God created"—the invasive, the inescapable sense of the infinite and the eternal. —Ravi Zacharias[30]

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” —Matthew 24:35

C. GOD’S WORKS DO NOT CHANGE

By works, I am referring to God’s ongoing efforts of directing the affairs of humanity and the universe. I am not suggesting here that nothing will ever change regarding the works of the Lord. Instead, I am asserting that the nature of God’s workings remains the same and always will. Of course, He will perform new and different things as the universe progresses toward God’s appointed end of time. At the same time, God will continue to direct the affairs of the universe with the same purpose He has always done.

·  GOD’S WORKS ARE SPIRITUAL, UNSEEN

“[God] is up to something so big, so unimaginably good that your mind cannot contain it.... What we see God doing is never as good as what we don't see.” —Ben Patterson[31]

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. —2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

God, who is eternal, infinite, supremely mighty, does great and unfathomable things in heaven and in earth, and there is no understanding his wonderful works. If the works of God could easily be grasped by human understanding they could not be called wonderful or too great for words. —Thomas a Kempis[32]

God’s most significant work generally occurs behind the scenes, unseen by human eyes—at least for the moment. Eventually, most of what God does behind the scenes is seen, or at least known, by humanity. That is, time reveals the works of God, by those who are looking for them. If we are unconcerned about God’s caring labors on our behalf, we are likely to miss God’s efforts altogether. However, if we are looking for God’s hand at work on our behalf, without doubt, we will behold the results of His loving care and mighty power.

2. THINGS NOW VISIBLE WILL VANISH; GOD REMAINS FOREVER

He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." —Hebrews 1:10-12 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. —James 1:17 (NIV)

The author of Hebrews tells us the day will come when all the creations of the universe will be rolled up like a discarded garment to make way for the New Heaven and the New Earth, which God promised would follow.

It is difficult for us to fathom the reality of the entire universe experiencing radical change. Peter tells us all the elements of this earth will melt with an unprecedented heat. Can you imagine a wave of heat covering the earth so intense it literally will melt mountains? Neither can I. Nonetheless, it will occur. God has promised it to be so.

However, as is the nature of God, He will not leave creation in a state of destruction. He will create a New Heaven and a New Earth. He further reminds us that in this new creation, righteousness will prevail. The purpose of the total destruction of earth is to remove all traces of the corruption humanity has brought upon this planet. In its place will be an earth that will only allow righteousness to prevail in every aspect of its existence. I find that my mind cannot grasp such a vast transformation of this world. Nonetheless, I truly long for the day of its occurrence.

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. —2 Peter 3:7-13

3. THE BENEFITS OF A GOD WHO DOES NOT CHANGE

A. GOD’S LOVE IS EVERLASTING

The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. —Jeremiah 31:3 NAU

It is important for us to remember that no matter what occurs, God’s love toward us does not change. No more could God stop loving us than we could stop loving our children. No matter how we treat Him, the Lord will always love us. We can be assured He will discipline us. Furthermore, He will allow difficulties into our lives to draw us back to Himself. However, He will never stop loving us.

B. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS EVERLASTING

Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. —Psalm 112:3 NAU

The very nature of God is righteous. He can no more be anything other than righteous than a zebra can remove its stripes or a leopard its spots. We can be secure in the knowledge God will always deal with us from a character of righteousness. Furthermore, He offers His righteousness to us—through the sacrifice made by His Son Jesus.

C. GOD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. —Psalm 136:1

If only we could fathom the depths of God’s mercy. We deserve the eternal wrath and punishment of a righteous God. Instead, we receive eternal life, to enjoy with the One who forgives all our trespasses. Furthermore, God never gives up on us. We may give up on Him. Nonetheless, His mercy endures forever.

D. GOD’S ARMS ARE EVERLASTING

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. —Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV

Think of it. The God who eternally exists is the One who has committed to being a Protector to us. In addition, lest we find this covenant from the Lord less than sufficient; keep in mind His immeasurable strength. God is far more powerful than His closest rival.

We tend to think of the Lord and Satan as two equal (or at least comparable) foes in combat with one another. Instead, we should recognize that the Lord is the One who created Satan. God still controls what Satan does—although Satan strongly objects and resists God’s plan. Nonetheless, Satan does not stand a chance when he chooses to do battle with the Lord.

E. GOD’S REPUTATION IS EVERLASTING

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations. —Psalms 135:13 NIV

In the Book of Joshua, we read of an occasion in which Joshua is expressing deep concern over particular actions the Lord had planned. Israel had foolishly ignored God’s directives to them regarding the spoils of Ai. Joshua was concerned that if the Lord does not immediately reverse the balance of the battle, God’s reputation would be jeopardized. Therefore, Joshua challenged the Lord to reconsider—for the sake of His reputation.

God, of course, would have none of it. In fact, He told Joshua to stop his whining and get about the process of identifying and purging the evil which had crept into their midst. God was far more concerned about their impurity and vulnerability than He was the reputation of His name. God is more than able to protect His own reputation. It is best for us to center our focus on purging the impurities from our midst.

F. GOD’S KINGDOM IS EVERLASTING

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. —Daniel 4:34

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. —Psalm 145:13

The Kingdom of God will continue to flourish far beyond the reaches of time. When time has finally ceased, as a measure of existence for the sake of humanity, the Kingdom of our Lord will just be reaching its stride. Nothing, or no one, will ever stop the forward movement of the Kingdom of God. It will thrive throughout the fathomless ages of eternity.

Furthermore, God’s Kingdom links to His authority. God will reign over the entire universe throughout eternity. There are no other gods, and there never will be. Any who would lay claim to the title of god is an imposter. The usurpers will soon find themselves with nowhere to turn. God will assert and maintain His dominion over all kingdoms and all authority forever.

G. GOD’S CALENDAR IS EVERLASTING

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. —2 Peter 3:8 NIV

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." —Revelation 1:8 NIV

We complicate and misrepresent God’s plan and purpose when we attempt to shrink God to fit within our timetables. We forget that God exists beyond the measure of time. As Peter reminds us, God considers a day in the same relative aspect as a thousand years—compared to eternity. Granted, Scripture records symbolic representations of time ratios we should not ignore, such as those found in Daniel’s prophetic vision of the 70 weeks. At the same time, we must not forget that God looks at many aspects of His creation through eyes of eternity. Therefore, the measure of time we use to view those same features is vastly skewed, compared to God’s view of them.

The point of this reflection is to remind ourselves, when we are attempting to know the mind of God, to view things from an eternal, timeless perspective. Difficult as this may be to attempt, this is the way God view things. Yes, He condescends to describing things for us in terms of days and years. However, His own view is an eternal one.

God existed long before time began as a measure for humanity. Some would say that the establishment of time is part of what Genesis chapter one describes. For our benefit, God placed the measures of light and darkness, day and night into orbit. Nonetheless, God will continue to exist when those things He created are nothing more than a vague memory.

H. OUR PRAISE TO HIM IS EVERLASTING

His praise endures forever. —Psalm 111:10

8The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" 9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11"You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." —Revelation 4:8-11

11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" 13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" —Revelation 5:11-13

These word pictures, of the scene around the Throne of God, remind us of the description of God and His heavenly worshippers found in Isaiah chapter six. Just as John describes the angels and other celestial beings offering eternal worship to the Lord, Isaiah envisioned seraphim, “flaming ones,” lifting praise unto the Lord.

Isaiah’s description reminds us is that those who would worship our Lord must do so from a stance of purity. To be impure in the presence of the Almighty would mean to be consumed. Impurity cannot exist in the presence of the Lord. This is one reason humans are not allowed to see the face of God.

The seraphim were already pure, as their fiery name implies. However, Isaiah found himself a soiled human pitcher in the midst of a congregation of filthy vessels. The pure, worshipping seraphim provided a stark contrast. Isaiah longed to remain in the presence of the Lord with the seraphim but was vividly aware of his inability to do so due to his own impurity.

God, as He always does, provided the solution. He had one of his flaming ones take a burning ember from the altar and touch Isaiah’s lips with the red-hot coal. He immediately was purged of his impurity.

CONCLUSION:

I love Isaiah’s response to this act of cleansing. After God purified him, Isaiah was more than eager for the Lord to use him to spread the good news of God’s grace and mercy.

When the flames from God’s altar purify our human vessel, we desire nothing more than to tell others of God’s cleansing power. Is that your response to the purging provision of Calvary? I trust it is.

CHAPTER 6: IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU." 15And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. ―Hebrews 6:13-20 NAU

This passage tells us several things which God cannot do. In this chapter, we will look briefly at each of these divine impossibilities and learn why each of these particular characteristic of God is important to us.

1. GOD CANNOT FIND ANYONE GREATER (Hebrews 6:13-16)

El Shaddai, God Almighty, is a name for God that speaks of His mighty power. The picture we derive from this name is of a Mighty Warrior standing on a mountain, giving correction and chastening to His subjects. More names for God are discussed in Chapter 15.

In ancient times, when one wanted to swear to the truth of something, he would swear by the highest name he knew. When God wanted to swear to Abraham, since He could find no one greater than Himself, He swore by Himself.

A. God is Greater than we are

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. ―1 John 4:4 NAU

Since God created us, He knows our deepest thoughts and intentions. Furthermore, not only is God greater than we are; He is greater than Satan, the one who is working in those who do not follow Christ.

for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. ―1 John 3:20 NAU

B. God the Father is Greater than Jesus the Son

One of the distinctions and beauties of the Holy Trinity is the manner in which each defers to the other. We read that the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself. He only speaks of the Father and the Son. Furthermore, Jesus did nothing without the permission of or direction from the Father.

"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. ―John 10:29

"You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ―John 14:28 NAU

C. God is Greater than our Fathers

"The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. ―Matthew 12:41 NAU

"The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. ―Matthew 12:42 NAU

"You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?" ―John 4:12 NAU

Ancient Israel, as with most nations, held their ancestors in high regard. When Jesus began to make known His origin and true identity, the people were greatly offended. He was telling them He is greater than Abraham, Solomon, and Jonah, their revered forefathers.

Jesus did not make it a habit to brag about His identity. However, neither would He hide or disguise the truth of His deity.

D. God is Greater than all other gods

"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people." ―Exodus 18:11 NAU

"The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. ―2 Chronicles 2:5 NAU

"Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. ―2 Chronicles 32:7 NAU

During the years of wandering in the wilderness and the monarchy that followed, Israel frequently found themselves in fear of the surrounding nations. Often, those nations would taunt Israel over the perceived weakness of the Lord in comparison to their gods. Although various prophets and early authors reminded Israel of the foolishness of fearing those idols made of wood and stone, they continued to be traumatized by those false gods.

The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. 14He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. 15Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. 16He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire." 17And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" ―Isaiah 44:13-17

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. ―Psalm 86:8

For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods. ―Psalm 95:3

The foolishness of false gods, according to Isaiah, is completely laughable. The craftsman takes a piece of wood, carefully measures, marks, and carves it—then calls it his god. With the remainder of the same piece of wood, he builds a fire to warm his hands and cook his food. How utterly ridiculous! The presumption of crafting an image then declaring it a god.

Before we become too smug in our ridicule of those who create their own gods, let us examine our own heart. Have we, indeed, created God in our own image? I believe, at far too great a level, we in the twenty-first century have created God into exactly the kind of deity we desire. I assure you; God is not about to be molded into the kind of God any of us think we need. He alone is God. He will not change for anyone.

2. GOD CANNOT CHANGE

We have already spoken to this characteristic of God. Therefore, we will only highlight the unchangeable nature of our Lord, in this section.

A. God cannot change His Purpose

"Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." ―1 Samuel 15:29 NAU

For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation, Yet I will not execute a complete destruction. 28"For this the earth shall mourn And the heavens above be dark, Because I have spoken, I have purposed, And I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it." ―Jeremiah 4:27-28 NAU

"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. ―Malachi 3:6 NAU

God’s purposes were established before the beginning of time. Nothing, or no one, will ever cause God to change His purpose for creation.

B. God cannot change His Plan

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." ―Psalm 110:4 NAU

C. God cannot change His Presence

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but know that he was safe.  So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her. The neighbor said she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.  As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally the friend said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?  Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is."

The little girl said, "Well, who is she?"

"That's just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy replied, "and her daughter Marcy."

"Shirley Goodnest?" asked the little girl, "Who is she and why is she following us?"

"Well," Timmy  explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And the Psalm says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life'"

God will make certain that “Shirley Goodnest and Marcy” will be with you today, as well. God can no more forsake us than a mother can leave her child. He has promised to remain with us no matter how dark or difficult the pathway may become.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. ―Psalm 46:1-7 NAU

3. GOD CANNOT LIE

"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? ―Numbers 23:19 NAU

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. ―Romans 1:25 NAU

in the hope of eternal life, which God,  who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, ―Titus 1:2 NAU

A. GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD

"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. ―1 Kings 8:56 NAU

Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. ―Joshua 21:45 NAU

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ―Hebrews 11:13 NAU

·  Seeds Planted

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. ―1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NAU

In 1975, while I was a new Bible College student, God planted a seed in my heart that someday I would be pouring my life into young ministers. Over the last 40 years, I have watched this happen in numerous ways. In every church I have pastored, there have been young men and women God privileged me to mentor in developing the ministry to which He was calling them.

Today, many of those I have mentored are scattered around the globe as presbyters, pastors, and missionaries. They will accomplish far more for the Kingdom of God than I ever will.

·  Even Through Dark Valleys

When she was 26 years old, our oldest daughter discovered she had leukemia. We fought alongside her to the very point of her death only to see her recover and live for six more years. Even our doctor, who made no claim to a belief in God, acknowledged that on the night he predicted she would not live through the night, she received a miracle.

One of the most amazing things we discovered during this time of deep darkness, God never leaves us—even at our darkest hour. We sensed God’s presence just as clearly the moment after she died (six years later) as we had during those times of victory and celebration. Of course, our hearts were broken. Nonetheless, we were not alone. God was right there with us, offering a shoulder upon which we could weep.

“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”—Matthew 28:20

·  Resurrected Dreams

About thirty years ago, a development in our family sent me into an emotional tailspin. I fully believed my public ministry was finished. No self-respecting ministry would accept such a tainted person into their organization. I figured, with the right connections and lots of prayer, I might be able to find a behind-the-scenes administrative position. Being out of the eye of the public may allow me to provide for my family. However, teaching, preaching, and mentoring would be strictly in the past, for me.

God had given visions and plans to me about which I no longer dared to even dream. Nonetheless, God had not forgotten the dreams He placed in my heart. Those visions had not yet been fulfilled. God intended to see those dreams come to fruition.

And He did. You can imagine my shock when public ministry began to open to me, once more. In addition, God surpassed even my dreams in the fulfillment of it. Indeed, He opened doors and created pathways about which I had long since stopped thinking, much less dreaming. The Lord is especially good at resurrecting broken dreams.

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. —Genesis 50:20 NAU

·  In a Deep Pit—My Black Hole

A few years ago, I experienced something I had only read and heard about—burnout. One thing I learned about burnout is that it is multifaceted. It is much more than just physical exhaustion. It is more than being emotionally drained. Furthermore, it is not just spiritual shallowness.

Well-meaning people suggested each of the above causes for my burnout. Unfortunately, my despair over what was taking place within me had reached the point of serious depression. I had always assumed that if a person put forth enough spiritual effort in prayer, worship, and study of God’s Word, depression would automatically leave. It did not. I took careful steps to enhance my spiritual walk with the Lord but still did not get better.

Eventually, I realized part of my difficulty was physical—I was attempting to do too many things, taking too much of the load upon myself. It was no one else’s fault. I chose to do so. As lead pastor, I felt personally responsible to see that every task was kept current. Any project I observed as being behind schedule, I took upon myself to complete. My staff, my board, and especially my wife attempted to get me to slow down. I ignored them. The responsibility was eating me alive.

I also realized a good portion of my difficulty was emotional. I was not maintaining a healthy emotional balance. In spite of my best intentions, I was dwelling on negative feelings—especially feelings of failure. How could I not feel like a failure when I saw so many things not going as I had planned?

It is difficult to maintain a strong spiritual life when one’s emotions are out of balance. I increased my prayer and devotion time. I did the best I knew how to focus on the goodness of the Lord. Nonetheless, I eventually came to realize my state of burnout was having a negative effect on my public ministry. I had to make some painful, difficult decisions—decisions which had an impact on a number of good people. However, even in this, God was faithful.

It did not happen overnight. It did not even occur in a matter of weeks. Nonetheless, God did bring me out of the pit of despair. Slowly, but ever so surely, He began to give me reasons to hope again. It may not come about in the time or manner we would prefer or expect; however, God always keeps His promises.

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. —Psalm 40:2-3 NAU

God is so much different from us. It seems, for me, at least, the more determined I am to avoid a particular pitfall in my behavior, the more likely I am to succumb to it. Judy says that when she hears me say, “I have made up my mind,” she knows it is only a matter of time until I violate my intention. That certainly says a lot about my character, doesn’t it? It is not that I lack good intentions. Judy can also tell you, in painful detail, where good intensions will lead you. When our family was young, I frequently made it my responsibility to remind Judy or one of our daughters, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Quite in contrast to my behavior, when God makes up His mind, the issue is settled. There is no waiting for the inevitable failure. He will not fail. Therefore, whatever He says is dependable. You can count on it. You can build your life on it. God cannot lie.

4. GOD CANNOT FAIL

A. God’s Promises cannot fail

Yes, all of God’s promises are true. Not one of them will fail—no matter how many times I fail. What peace it brings to remind myself I can fully trust the promises of the Lord. They are as dependable as the One who made them.

"For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. ―Deuteronomy 4:31 NAU

Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date―May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform, once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat.

"Going home for keeps?"

"Sure am," Roger responded.

"Well, you're in luck if you're going to Chicago."

"Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?"

"I have a business there. My name is Hanover." After talking about many things,

Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness to this fifty-ish, apparently successful businessman about Christ. But he kept putting it off, till he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, "Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important." He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior.

To Roger's astonishment, the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. But the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. "This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me."

Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago, he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover.

A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand. "You knew my husband?"

Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war.

"Can you tell me when that was?"

"It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army."

"Anything special about that day?"

Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take the plunge. "Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ that day."

Explosive sobs shook her body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, "I had prayed for my husband's salvation for years. I believed God would save him."

"And," said Roger, "Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?"

"He's dead," she wept, struggling with words. "He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see―I thought God had not kept His promise." Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, "I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!"[33]

What a sad story with such a heartwarming ending. We are all so much like the wife in this story. We assume God has failed on His promises simply because we do not personally see the results. God is true to His promises, even if I am not conscious of their fulfillment.

B. God’s Justice cannot fail

The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. ―Zephaniah 3:5 NAU

In the same manner God’s mercies are renewed each morning in our lives, so is His justice. One of God’s characteristics is that He is just. Moreover, God’s justice is like His promises. It cannot fail. To say it another way, God cannot be unjust. With Him, justice will prevail. We may have to wait for it. We may not always see it. Nonetheless, we can rest assured God’s justice will eventually win out.

There is a negative side to this aspect of God’s character, as well. Since God’s justice cannot fail, my sins call for my death and destruction. This is the unwavering requirement of a just God. Praise the Lord for His mercy! He extends His mercy, through the blood of Jesus Christ, so that I do not have to die for my sins in order to satisfy the justice of God.

C. God’s Presence cannot fail

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." ―Deuteronomy 31:6 NAU

Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. ―1 Chronicles 28:20 NAU

Loud o'er my head, though awful thunders roll,

And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole,

Yet 'tis thy voice, my God, that bids them fly,

Thy arm directs those lightnings through the sky.

—Sir Walter Scott

D. God’s Power cannot fail

"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37"For nothing will be impossible with God." —Luke 1:36-37 NAU

And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." —Matthew 19:26 NAU

"But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. —Acts 2:24 NAU

“God is never defeated. Though he may be opposed, attacked, resisted, still the ultimate outcome can never be in doubt.” —Father Andrew

We cannot imagine a circumstance beyond the power of God. He can bring life from a barren womb. He can raise people from the dead. Perhaps the greatest demonstration of God’s limitless power is that He can cause a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Many have explained away this illustration from Jesus by describing the eye as a low gate to a city, which required the camel to kneel in order to crawl through it. They believe Jesus was simply saying in order to come to Christ we must humble ourselves. While this is, indeed, true, I believe Jesus was inferring much more than humility.

I believe Jesus was creating an impossibility. Why else would He continue by telling them with men, this is impossible? It is not impossible to kneel and crawl through a gate. No, Jesus was saying much more. He was declaring that God must be the source of the power required to enter the Kingdom of God. I cannot do it on my own. However, God can do it for me—and He has already done so through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. God’s unlimited power has enabled me to become a part of the family of God.

I am so very thankful for the things God cannot do. Otherwise, I would be hopeless.

CONCLUSION:

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. —Hebrews 6:19-20 NAU

Indeed, our anchor, that which holds us secure, is the assurance of at least four things God cannot do:

· God cannot find one greater than Himself;

· God cannot change;

·  God cannot lie; and

· God cannot fail.

Because of this assurance, we have hope in Christ our Forerunner and High Priest.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. —Romans 8:11 NAU

CHAPTER 7: GOD IS SOVEREIGN

Yours, O LORD, [is] the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all [that is] in heaven and in earth [is Yours]; Yours [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. —1 Chronicles 29:11

I would like to offer you your own personal god-making kit. It comes complete with instructions for construction and use. It is user-definable. You get to choose the characteristics of your own personal god. You can make it out of any material you choose. It can take on any particular attributes you desire. You can make your god soft and cuddly like a teddy bear. You can fashion it strong and fierce like a lion. You can make it so large it can only reside in the black whole of space. Or, your god can be so weak, ugly, and puny it must be kept in a closet.

Your personal god may operate like a spare tire and only be called upon in an emergency. The choice is yours. There is just one drawback to this god-making kit. You are stuck with the god you make. You must obey it implicitly and consistently. So be careful what kind of god you create with your god-making kit. It may not be the god you really want to serve, after all!

Scripture includes several names for God that refer to His sovereignty. We will cover some of those in Chapter 15. For the moment, let us address the following question. What does it mean to say that God is sovereign? Webster defines sovereign as above or over. Regarding a person, he describes a sovereign as one who rules above all others; one who is superior to everyone else; one who is absolute in his authority.

Richard Exley describes God's sovereignty this way, in the title to one of his earlier books, "The Other God: Seeing God as He Really is."[34]

[He who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, —1 Timothy 6:15

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. —Psalms 33:10-11

If we are to recognize God as being sovereign, we need to discover some of the attributes of His sovereignty. Below, I have listed a few of the more important things about God’s sovereignty for us to keep in focus.

1. WHAT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD REVEALS

A. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IS ABSOLUTE [see above text]

You might want to ask yourself whether you have a big God or a little God? A little girl listened attentively as her father read the family devotions. She seemed awed by her parents' talk of God's limitless power and mercy.

"Daddy," she asked, placing her little hands on his knees, "how big is God."

Her father thought for a moment and answered, "Honey, he is always just a little bigger than you need."

I believe that answer was right on target, don’t you? One thing we do not have to fear, when it comes to God. He will never be less than He needs to be to deal with anything we may face.

Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. —Lamentations 3:32-33

God's sovereignty is the sun around which His other qualities revolve. For example, God loves us. However, if He was not sovereign, He could not do for us all that His love desires. God is just and desires to establish justice on the earth. Nonetheless, if He was not sovereign, “right” could sit forever locked in a dreary dungeon and “wrong” could rule forever on the throne of our lives. The sovereignty of God makes real everything God determines to do on our behalf.

B. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY ALLOWS FOR MY FREE WILL

One of the most frequent questions asked, concerning the nature of God’s existence is, “If God is sovereign why do evil, pain, and death exist? Why are there hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis?”

Another issue that has always puzzled those who ponder the existence of God is, “If God rules the universe, how can individuals exercise free choice?” Perhaps the following illustration will help put this issue into clearer perspective.

A jumbo jet flies non-stop from Los Angeles to New York. Its destination and flight plan are pre-determined. This resembles the sovereignty we attribute to God. On board the aircraft are 300 passengers who exercise limited freedom. How they pass their time is largely up to them, within certain guidelines, of course. No one is allowed to play with the emergency exits or alarm systems.

Passengers may individually choose to read, watch the inflight movie, stroll the aisles, talk with traveling companions, or simply sleep. None of these choices of individual activity has any bearing on the charted flight plan. At the same time all these individual choices are playing out, the plane is safely carrying each of them to New York, just as the Pilot planned.

God has decreed that we would be free to make moral choices. We do not alter God's decree whenever we choose between wrong and right. Our freedom, like that of the passengers on the airplane, is somewhat limited. Nonetheless, determination and choice do coexist.

However, again resembling the airline passengers, we each still bear the consequences of our choices. The passenger who stubbornly refuses to follow the requests of the flight attendants will likely find uniformed officers awaiting him upon arrival in New York. Those who follow the guidelines have nothing to fear.

However, unlike the air travelers, we are all flawed. None of us completely follows the directions from our heavenly flight attendants. We all pursue our own preferences, at times. Here is where the airplane analogy fails us. The little story does a great job of illustrating the freewill of humans within the sovereignty of God. Yet, it fails to illuminate another aspect of God’s existence—His mercy and grace.

Although I may fail to follow God’s purposes, God's grace is sufficient for me. My choices may lead me in directions contrary to God’s will for me. Nonetheless, if I come to Him in humility and repentance, He will protect me from reaping the eternal consequences of my sinfulness.

In addition, He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:9-10

For skiers, the downhill action with its thrill of movement and speed is not what presents a problem. It is going back uphill. The trip back to the top of the sky ridge requires a long, slow ride on a ski lift.

However, a new ski craze has begun to gain interest in North America. Known as ski-sailing, this new sport enables a skier, with the aid of a sail, or parachute-type device, to ski uphill. The boring, time-wasting effort of waiting for a ski lift to take the innovative skier to the top of the slope is no longer necessary.

Does your path seem uphill all the way? Then, are you learning to use the winds of God to turn what would always remain drudgery, apart from God, into a delight? After all, God's promise is: "They shall mount up with wings...." Why not stop laboring in your own strength, and start “sailing” in His.

C. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY DOES NOT REQUIRE MY APPROVAL

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, —Romans 1:18

A man met a friend in New York's Grand Central Station. He noticed a new joy in his friend’s demeanor; so he asked about the source of this fresh vitality. The friend replied, "I've just resigned as general manager of the universe; and it's amazing how quickly my resignation was accepted."

I believe the majority of us carry far more responsibility upon our own shoulders than God ever intended. We worry and fret over circumstances that are beyond our control. We become anxious regarding future concerns, which we have no certainty will ever occur.

God is not about to change His plan for the universe because of my anxiety. He does not need my permission to complete His blueprinted-purpose—just the way He has always intended.

Having considered a few of the things revealed by the sovereignty of God, Let us now look to the requirements of God’s sovereignty.

2. WHAT DOES THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD REQUIRE?

A. BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, I MUST ACCEPT MY PAST—MY PAST IS IN HIS HAND

"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the LORD. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." —Jeremiah 31:34

Max Lucado tells a heartwarming story that well illustrates the grace of God in our lives. Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she dreamed of a better life in the city. One morning she slipped away, breaking her mother's heart. Knowing what life on the streets would be like for her young, attractive daughter, Maria hurriedly packed to go find her.

On her way to the bus stop, she entered a drugstore to get one last thing. Pictures. She sat in the photograph booth, closed the curtain, and spent all she could on pictures of herself. With her purse full of small black-and-white photos, she boarded the next bus to Rio de Janiero.

Maria knew Christina had no way of earning money. She also knew that her daughter was too stubborn to give up. When pride meets hunger, a human will do things that were before unthinkable. Knowing this, Maria began her search. Bars, hotels, nightclubs, any place with the reputation for streetwalkers or prostitutes. She went to them all.

And at each place she left her picture—taped on a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board, fastened to a corner phone booth. And on the back of each photo she wrote a note. It wasn't too long before both the money and the pictures ran out, and Maria had to go home. The weary mother wept as the bus began its long journey back to her small village.

It was a few weeks later that young Christina descended the hotel stairs. Her young face was tired. Her brown eyes no longer danced with youth but spoke of pain and fear. Her laughter was broken. Her dream had become a nightmare. A thousand times over, she had longed to trade these countless beds for her secure pallet. Yet the little village was, in too many ways, too far away.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes noticed a familiar face. She looked again, and there on the lobby mirror was a small picture of her mother. Christina's eyes burned and her throat tightened as she walked across the room and removed the small photo. Written on the back was this compelling invitation. "Whatever you have done, whatever you have become, it doesn't matter. Please come home." She did.[35]

B. BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, I MUST ACCEPT MY PERSON—MY PERSON IS IN HIS HAND

Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? [What] if God, wanting to show [His] wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, —Romans 9:21-22

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; —Acts 17:26-27

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; [and] I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I [am] a youth." But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I [am] a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I [am] with you to deliver you," says the LORD. —Jeremiah 1:5-8

A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad's father, sensing the danger, hesitated to let his son go.

The youngster reacted tearfully. "But Dad," he pleaded, "all the other kids will be there. Their parents are letting them go."

The father thought for a moment, then replied softly, "All right, you may go." Surprised but overjoyed, the boy bundled up and plunged into the raging storm. The driving snow made visibility almost impossible, and it took him more than half an hour to trudge the short distance to the party.

As he rang the doorbell, he turned briefly to look out into the storm. His eye caught the shadow of a retreating figure. It was his father. He had followed his son's every step to make sure he arrived safely. —Source Unknown

What a great picture of our own loving Father. He is always watching out for our wellbeing. We may not always see Him or even be aware of His presence. Nonetheless, we can rest assured our Father will make certain we safely arrive at our destination.

Furthermore, God is concerned for more than just our safety. He cares that we become the person for which He has created us. He will make whatever effort is required to form us into the image He has planned for us. Remember, God does not do anything half way.

C. BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, I MUST ACCEPT MY PART IN GOD'S PURPOSES—MY PLANS ARE IN HIS HAND

There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel; that will stand. —Proverbs 19:21

He [Jesus] went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will]." —Matthew 26:39

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as [it is] in heaven. —Matthew 6:10

James Whistler, the renowned artist, wanted more than anything to be a soldier. He even entered West Point as a cadet. However, he failed in a chemistry examination. Later he joked about the one wrong answer that had meant the difference between passing and failing. He said, "If silicon were a gas, I would have been a major general one day."[36]

Few, if any, of us have a good perception of God’s plans for our lives. We receive countless suggestions on how to achieve our goals in life. Nonetheless, numerous aspects of our lives remain totally outside our ability to control.

Nonetheless, God has a marvelous plan for each of our lives. The sooner we yield ourselves to His design, rather than persisting in our own stubborn direction, the more content we will be. Fighting God’s purpose for our lives is not only pointless, it can be quite painful, as well.

D. BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, I EXPRESS MY PRAISE FOR HIS HAND

Be still, and know that I [am] God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! —Psalms 46:10

A man who owned a small estate wished to sell it. Sending for a real estate agent, he asked him to write an advertisement describing the house and land. When the ad was ready, the agent took it to the owner and read it to him.

"Read that again," said the owner. The agent read the description of the estate once more. "I don't think I will sell after all," said the owner. "I have been looking for an estate like that all my life; and I did not know that I owned it!"

Alexander Whyte, the Scottish preacher of a few generations ago, always began his prayers with an expression of gratitude. One cold, miserable day his people wondered what he would say.

He prayed, "We thank Thee, O Lord, that it is not always like this."[37]

Count your blessings—indeed; but start by asking God to open your eyes to your possessions in Christ. With Alexander Whyte, begin by recognizing all you have in Christ. This will change your entire perspective and enable you to praise God, whatever your current situation may be.

For God [is] the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. —Psalms 47:7

"Praise is a soul in flower, and a secret, hearty blessing of the Lord is the soul fruit-bearing. Praise is the honey of life, which a devout heart sucks from every bloom of providence and grace." —Charles H. Spurgeon[38]

A few years ago, wrapping up Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 27th Anniversary Special was the Doxology, as sung by L.A. Dodger Orel Hershiser. Following the previous year's World Series, the pitching ace delighted the late night host with a sample of songs he sang to calm himself between innings.

Carson recalled that Hershiser, an outspoken Christian, caught him a bit off guard by actually singing the song on the live program, but added that he was "moved" by it. Carson then chose the tape of Hershiser singing the Doxology to conclude his prime-time television special.

We never know when or where an opportunity to offer praise to the Lord may come. For most of us, it will not be on a network television special. It may be in our backyard garden, as we admire our flowers or vegetables. It may be in the forest, amidst the abundance of various forms of life we are privileged to observe. It may be as we drive to our next appointment or place of employment. We never can be sure. Nonetheless, we will each have ample occasions on which we can offer heartfelt praise to our Lord and Master.

CONCLUSION:

I must learn to accept God for He is. I must not be limited in my perception of God. I must not see God as lopsided and insensitive. Then, if I see God as He really is, I must worship Him. Ultimately, this is the only possible response to a sovereign God.

Praise God, from Whom all blessing flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Thomas Ken, 1674

CHAPTER 8: GOD IS PERFECT

You remember, from the numerous times I have referenced it, the word perfect generally means complete, in our biblical texts. In this chapter, I want to highlight some of the more important ways in which we know God is perfect, complete.

Biblical teacher Ravi Zacharias records the following reminder: On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space. Those sophisticated men, trained in science and technology, did not utter Einstein's name. They did not even go to the poets, the lyricists, or the dramatists.

Only one thing could capture the awe-inspiring thrill of this magnificent observation. Billions heard the voice from outer space as the astronaut read it: “In the beginning God”—the only concept worthy enough to describe that unspeakable awe, unutterable in any other way. “In the beginning God created”—the invasive, the inescapable sense of the infinite and the eternal.[39]

1. PERFECT GOD PROVIDES PERFECT PROMISES

17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. —Hebrews 6:17-20 NAU

We reminded ourselves, in chapter six, of the following things, among others, which God cannot do. At first glance, it would appear an oxymoron to say the perfect God cannot lie. However, when we think of perfection as completeness, we are simply saying God, being perfectly complete, has no basis for being untruthful. He is complete in His truthfulness.

·  Since the Perfect God Cannot Lie…

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. —Isaiah 40:8

·  The Perfect God Cannot Break His Oath

but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. —Deuteronomy 7:8 NAU

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant— 70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— 71Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, 73The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, 74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,  75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. —Luke 1:67-75 NAU

2. PERFECT GOD PROVIDES PERFECT PREPARATION

Since God is perfect in all His ways, He will leave no detail incomplete in His preparation for the things He has promised to provide for His people. The apostle Paul reminds us that, unlike many humans, God never begins a project only to abandon it. If God plans something, He will do it. If God starts something, He will finish it.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. —Philippians 1:6 NAU

[God] is up to something so big, so unimaginably good that your mind cannot contain it.... What we see God doing is never as good as what we don't see. —Ben Patterson[40]

I agree with Patterson. The things we do not see are likely far more exciting than the things we see God doing. Moreover, the perfect God will leave nothing to chance. I can hardly wait to see what He is preparing for us.

3. PERFECT GOD PROVIDES PERFECT PASSION

Yes, our perfect God is a God of passion. When I was young, the only emotion I could attribute to God was anger. Yes, He does—and will—exhibit His anger when justifiable to do so. However, there is far more to the heart of God than anger. Compassion is one word we frequently read concerning Jesus. To have Compassion literally means to “suffer with” someone. God not only feels our pain, as politicians are prone to say; God actually suffers with us. When I am in pain, God hurts. When I grieve, God cries with me. When I sorrow, God weeps.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:1-2 NAU

For we know in part and we prophesy in part;10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.11When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. —1 Corinthians 13:9-13 NAU

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. —Jeremiah 31:3 NAU

18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us. —1 John 4:18-19 NAU

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. —Colossians 3:13-16 NAU

As Paul has reminded us, God demonstrates His great compassion toward us with the full expectancy that we will show the same compassion to those we encounter who are also suffering.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. —2 Corinthians 1:3-4

4. THE PERFECT GOD PROVIDES A PERFECT PLAN

Just as God’s purposes for humanity are complete—not left to random chance—His plans for us as individuals are also complete. God leaves nothing to chance. The reminder that all the days of our lives have already been written in God’s plan-book for our life might be disconcerting were it not for the reassurance He is perfect in His compassion for us.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. —Psalm 139:16

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. —Jeremiah 29:11-13

As well might a gnat seek to drink in the ocean, as a finite creature to comprehend the Eternal God. —C. H. Spurgeon[41]

This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God. —Isaac Newton[42]

The human mind cannot begin to compete with the magnitude of the way God reasons, imagines, and plans. For God, to imagine something is as good as seeing the completed object. Furthermore, He reasons at such a high level of logic our human understanding simply cannot comprehend God’s rationalization. In fact, God’s reasoning is so far above ours that we sometimes consider his rationale so much foolishness. This conclusion itself is foolish—and dangerous.

8"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. —Isaiah 55:8-9

Not only does God reason on a much higher plane than we do; He also plans and provides on a much greater scale and definition than we are able to do. Human words cannot adequately describe the eternal home God has planned and prepared for us. Even our imagination, in my opinion, falls short of being able to fathom the beauty and magnitude of Heaven.

Numerous people who have experienced near-death episodes have offered a variety of descriptions of their visit to our Eternal Home. I doubt any of them adequately captures the beauties and glories of Heaven. Their reports simply want, all the more, to reach my eternal reward. By the way, when I speak of eternal reward, I am fully aware the reward was entirely earned by Jesus alone. I will humbly and very thankfully receive the inheritance He earned for me.

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3"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. —John 14:1-3 NAU

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." —Revelation 1:8

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" 13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" —Revelation 5:11-13

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." 5And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." 6Then He said to me, "It is done. —Revelation 21:1-6 NAU

Since our perfect God has prepared the perfect place for us to spend eternity, I can hardly wait to get there. I believe it is helpful for us to pause and imagine, as best we can, the eternal home our great God has waiting for us. No, we cannot really begin to fathom its beauty, its glory, and the joys we will experience once we get there. Nonetheless, we can imagine. Why not take a few minutes right now and allow your mind to cast aside its limits and restrictions and begin to imagine the place our loving Father has prepared for us.

CONCLUSION:

The perfect God certainly thinks and acts on a far higher plane than we do. However, He also fully understands our limitations. Hence, He is prepared to give us clues and glimpses of eternity so that we do not become discouraged on our way home. I do not know about you; but I know the closer I get to the end of my journey here on earth, the more I desire to know the details of precisely what my eternal home will be.

CHAPTER 9: GOD IS FOR US

Most ministers will admit that there is a difference between a sermon and a message. A sermon is a presentation you put together from your study of the Bible, hopefully with a fair amount of prayer and spiritual insight. A message, on the other hand, is a very clear communication, not necessarily carefully crafted or especially logically organized. However, a message comes from the heart of God through the heart and mouth of the minister to the heart of the hearer. I really trust I have a message for you in this chapter.

The message I am presenting here came to me in a dream some time ago. Hence, I am attempting to present it to you in the same manner and vein in which it was presented to me—complete with the illustrations revealed to me in this same dream.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ―Romans 8:31 NIV

What “things” is Paul referencing in “What shall we say in response to these things?” Perhaps it will become clearer to us, if we examine the preceding passage:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. ―Romans 8:26-30 NIV

I have previously discussed some of the principles I will share in this chapter. However, I need to include at least a cursory mention of them to lay the foundation for the remainder of my thoughts here.

1. GOD KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE BORN

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. 15My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. ―Psalm 139:13-16a NRS

2. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. ―Psalm 139:16b NRS

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, ―Jeremiah 29:11 NRS

A. GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU IS FULL OF GOOD

Here is the heart of this message from God to you. GOD IS FOR YOU. Most of us grow up thinking God is sitting on the porch of Heaven just waiting for us to mess up, so He can zap us. This is exactly the picture I had of God, when I was growing up. My visions of Him were always of an angry man—barely restraining Himself from pulverizing me with His god-sized club.

This is not the picture of God revealed in the above passages. Both these verses tell us that God has a good plan for our life. He is not against us; He is for us. And if God is for us, who can stand against us!

Because God knew us before we were born and knows the decreasing number of hairs on our head (and their true, original color) and everything else about us; we can be assured He knows what is going on in our life. Furthermore, He not only knows everything about us; He deeply cares about us, as well.

There are times our best friend cannot understand what is going on with us. There are times our parents do not know what we are going through. There are times our pastor, our peers in church—nobody can comprehend what we are experiencing. Nonetheless, God knows; because He is working out His plan for your life one detail at a time.

So, take courage. There is Someone who understands what you are going through; In addition, He not only knows but He is using every event in your life to bring about the ultimate good He intends to accomplish in you.

B. GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU IS FULL OF FUTURE

One of Satan’s favorite tools to use on young people, and some of us who are not so young, is to get us so preoccupied with the concerns of the moment that we do not see the future at all. In fact, we sometimes even despair of the future. Why even go on with life?

God reminds us in both the Psalm and the Jeremiah passage that He is busy working out the plan He has established for our life. He is making sure that everything we need to accomplish His purpose for us is available. We cannot afford to spend all our time having pity parties. There is too much future for which we must prepare.

Yes, this world is a mess. Indeed, the environment is eroding; war and famine are all around us. For sure, there is moral decay at every turn. However, we cannot afford to be completely preoccupied with these concerns; because God is at work putting together our future.

C. GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU IS FULL OF HOPE

Furthermore, the future God is preparing for you is full of hope, not despair! Once more, we cannot afford to allow the seeming hopelessness of the situations we see every day to cause us to believe there is no hope for the future. The Apostle Paul declared:

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ―1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV

Paul is not indicating, in this verse, that we should give up on this present life. He is simply reminding us that when we look at life through eternal lenses, not with the existential view we are prone to employ, we will recognize that everything we experience is preparing us for a great future. Moreover, beyond this exciting future God has planned for us here; an eternal future awaits, which makes this earthbound future much more tolerable—indeed, even exciting.

Why? Because we know that everything which comes into our life is preparing us for this plan which God has for us, this good plan, this future plan, this hopeful plan. (See Romans 8:28)

Therefore, we face the future with eager anticipation, not with dread. We see every event, every experience of our life as a building block for the good, future, hopeful plan that God is developing in our life.

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. ―Hebrews 9:28 NRS

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. ―2 Corinthians 3:12-18

from one degree of glory to another; ―NRS

3. NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THIS PLAN OF GOD

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ―Romans 8:35-39

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. ―John 10:28-29 NIV

A. THIS PLAN OF GOD IS THE PRODUCT OF HIS LOVE

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ―John 3:16 NIV

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ―John 15:9 NIV

B. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN STOP GOD’S GOOD, LOVING, HOPEFUL, FUTURE PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

Another way of looking at verses 38-39 in Romans chapter 8, regarding His plans for our life, would be that:

· Life’s daily troubles cannot stop God’s loving plan for us.

· Difficult times cannot stop it.

· Persecution for your faith cannot stop God’s plan.

· Lack of proper food cannot stop it.

· Lack of proper clothing cannot stop it.

· Danger cannot stop God’s plan for you.

· War cannot stop it.

· Sorrow of death cannot stop God’s plan.

· Struggles of life cannot stop it.

· Angels of God cannot stop God’s plan.

· Demons of Satan cannot stop God’s plan of hope.

· No outside power can stop it.

· Present circumstances cannot stop God’s plan for a future.

· Future circumstances cannot stop it.

· There is nothing big enough to stop God’s loving plan.

· Nothing can take us far enough away from God’s good, loving, hopeful plan for our future to be able to stop it.

No, absolutely nothing or no one in all God’s creation can separate you from the love of God and His plan for your life.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. ―Psalm 139:7 NIV

We tend to look at these 16 challenging encounters of life as detours or delays along the pathway of life. God sees them as ingredients for a great future.

Therefore, if nothing or no one in this universe (either natural or supernatural) can separate us from the love of God, there is only one way for God’s plan for us to fail. God’s plan for our lives will fail, if we deliberately choose not to accept God’s plan for us. It is that simple—and that complicated. Nonetheless, God’s plan for us really is the greatest way to live.

Two seeds fell from the same tree and were carried by the winds and wildlife of the forest to two distinct locations. Each began to grow in the place it landed. One tree grew among a thick grove of other trees where there was plenty of rain, the soil was rich, and nutrients were plentiful. This tree did not have to worry about windstorms; because he was protected by the boughs of his neighbors. Nor did he bear the injuries of the forest animals. Life was good for this tree. He grew straight and tall. His branches seemed to reach into the very presence of God.

The second tree grew in a clearing where there were few other trees. She was an open invitation for the deer and antelope who sharpened their antlers on her trunk. She was vulnerable to the frequent storms that swept through the ridge on which she grew. Several of her branches had been broken—a couple of them completely torn off by the heavy winds. She was an easy target for the lightning that accompanied the thunderstorms. Furthermore, she was once in the path of a fire that accompanied a thunderstorm.

When life was finally over for the trees and it was time for their wood to be harvested, an unusual thing was noticed by the Carpenter. The tree that grew in the protected environment without difficulties produced boards with long straight grain. However, when the Carpenter tried to use its wood for support beams, it was not strong enough.

When the Carpenter went to cut boards from the second tree, He noticed that she was gnarled and knotted. Moreover, when He began to saw, He noticed the grain on her was swirled and deep, full of what a Carpenter calls character. She not only made beautiful beams but those beams were strong enough to support the weight the Carpenter placed on her.

We had a dear grandmother in one church we pastored who had received severe burns over much of her face attempting to protect her son from a gasoline fire. The first time we met her, our attention naturally fell on her scars. However, once we came to know the tender, caring heart of a mother that resided behind those wounds, we never noticed the scars, anymore.

Life may be full of challenges for you. However, do not view those challenges as obstructions to God’s plan. It is the storms and challenges of life that make us strong and develop character in us.

These things may scar us and even make us outwardly ugly at times, but the inward beauty and strength that comes from these storms of life are all a part of God’s plan for us.

CONCLUSION:

Yes, God is for us. He is busy allowing the storms, bruises, and fires of life to bring about the strength of character and beauty of spirit that are a part of His great plan for us.

It is because God is for us that He allows these opportunities to come our way. When we respond to life’s challenges as God’s blueprint for spiritual growth, then we will be able to fulfill His good, loving, hopeful, future plan for our life.

CHAPTER 10: God is HOLY

"Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. ―Leviticus 19:2

God is holy and holiness (is) the moral condition necessary to the health of his universe.... Whatever is holy is healthy, ...the holiness of God, the wrath of God, and the health of creation are inseparably united. God's wrath is his utter intolerance of whatever degrades and destroys. He hates iniquity as a mother hated the polio that would take the life of the child. ―A. W. Tozer[43]

It is the custom among Jewish worshippers to engrave the instruments and utensils utilized in worship. Those items have etched upon them the phrase Holy unto the LORD.

The name for God most closely signifying His holiness would be Jehovah-Tsidkenu. This name means the Lord Our Righteousness. For more about some of the names of God, see Chapter 15.

The Hebrew word for holy is qadosh, which means consecrated, dedicated, sanctified, or set apart. Instruments used in the worship of Jehovah were set apart from common, everyday use. The same was true of utensils employed in the offering of sacrifices. Once they were dedicated to the Lord, they could no longer be used for ordinary purposes. In similar manner, God is totally set apart from all other beings when it comes to moral purity. Because He is holy, He finds no place in common, ordinary behavior. He stands apart and above us, when it comes to moral conduct.

Moreover, God calls us to be holy, as well. He engraves us, as instruments in His hands, with the phrase Holy unto the LORD. On the surface, this appears to be a contradiction in God’s nature. How can God be altogether apart from us; yet we are to be set apart from sin and set apart unto God? In other words, how are we to be like God? Let us look at some ways we share in God’s holiness.

1. HOLINESS IS:

A. God’s holiness means separation from sin and uncleanness

"Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. ―2 Corinthians 6:17 NAU

The chief mark of counterfeit holiness is its lack of humility. Every seeker after holiness needs to be on his guard, lest unconsciously what was begun in the spirit be perfected in the flesh, and pride creep in where its presence is least expected. ―Andrew Murray[44]

A farmer went each week to the Farmers' Market to sell, among other things, the cottage cheese and apple butter made on his farm. He carried these in two large tubs, from which he ladled the cottage cheese or apple butter into smaller containers the customers brought. One day he got to the market and discovered he'd forgotten one ladle. He felt he had no choice but to use the one for both products. Before long, he couldn't tell which was which.[45]

That is what happens when we attempt to dispense the good news of Christ using hearts, minds, and tongues too recently immersed in the coarseness and one-up-manship of the world. The flavor of both is so tainted neither Christians nor unbelievers find any nourishment in what we say.

B. God’s holiness means separation from humanity and limitation

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 9"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. ―Isaiah 55:8-9 NAU

God’s holiness separates God to the degree He is elevated far above our thoughts and manner of doing things. He is completely removed from any semblance of moral impurity or wrongdoing. His manner of thinking and acting are as far removed from our own as the heavens are separated from the earth.

C. God’s holiness is the central manifestation of God’s character

An Assemblies of God theologian, Stanley Horton, speaks for numerous others when he states that the holiness of God is His most important attribute.

Jonathon Edwards states, A true love of God must begin with a delight in his holiness, and not with a delight in any other attribute; for no other attribute is truly lovely without this.[46]

D. God’s holiness is the consecration of His Being toward redemption

For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ―Romans 5:7-8 NAU

Now that we have seen a glimpse of the nature of God’s holiness, let us review how this holiness manifests itself in Him.

2. HOLINESS DOES:

A. God’s holiness inspires fear and awe

He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." ―Genesis 22:12 NAU

We view the marvels of nature, such as lightning and the accompanying thunderstorm, with deep awe at the mighty hand of God at work. At the same time, we are painfully aware of the enormous potential for destruction in the same thunderstorm.

Such is the holiness of God for us. We hold both fear and awe at his holiness. Indeed, we stand amazed at the wonder and power displayed by His mighty hand. At the same time, we shudder at the thought of that same power turned against us.

B. God’s holiness brings awareness of our sin

The man who knows his sins is greater than one who raises a dead man by his prayer. ―Isaac the Syrian [47]

Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." ―Isaiah 6:5 NAU

God’s holiness makes us painfully aware of our own lack of holiness. When Isaiah found himself in the presence of God, he immediately fell to his face and proclaimed his impurity before God. He became instantly aware of how far short he fell of God’s holiness.

Are we any different? We should not be. We are just as unclean before God as any person we care to identify. Without the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ applied to our heart, we are totally without hope in our impurity.

C. God’s holiness demands holiness from us

I am dwelling in a generation to whom nothing is holy. Sacredness is an aspect people never assume toward anything. They revel in bald frankness which enervates moral consciousness. I feel it affecting me…. Oh, to be holy! Just to sense for a moment that I have somehow, however small, simulated some measure of Thy character, Lord Jesus. A word from Horatius Bonar spoke to me tonight. "Holiness is not austerity or gloom; it is the offspring of conscious, present Peace." ―Jim Elliot[48]

Some years ago we often sang a hymn, "Take Time to Be Holy." I wish we sang it more in these days. It takes time to be holy; one cannot be holy in a hurry, and much of the time that it takes to be holy must go into secret prayer. Some people express surprise that professing Christians today are so little like their Lord, but when I stop to think how little time the average Christian today puts into secret prayer the thing that astonishes me is, not that we are so little like the Lord, but that we are as much like the Lord as we are. ―R. A. Torrey[49]

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ―2 Corinthians 7:1 NAU

It does not take us long, in our Christian walk, to discover that the demands of holiness are far above our ability to attain them. No matter how hard we try, we simply cannot be holy. Although God requires holiness of us, we are unable to meet His demand. This is why I am so thankful God did not leave us to flounder in our hopeless struggle toward becoming holy.

D. God’s holiness provides holiness for us

A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. ―Isaiah 35:8 NAU

In our age, as in every age, people are longing for happiness, not realizing that what they are looking for is holiness. ―Jerry L. Walls[50]

The old original wounds must first be probed in their depth before there can be healing. The Scripture compares sin with the wound of the soul, and says that an attempt to heal this wound without examining it first is vain and deceitful. It is God's message to show men how awful their state is before he brings the comfort of deliverance and healing. The gospel must be revealed as bad news before it can be good news. ―Jonathan Edwards[51]

21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; ―Romans 3:21-25 NAU

E. God’s holiness accomplishes The Divine will in history

You have heard the story about the chemist who offered a powder which, when mixed with water, produces gold. It only works if you do not think about red monkeys when you mix the powder and water. No one has yet produced gold with the mixture. It seems you simply cannot follow the prescribed process without thinking about red monkeys.

As the apostle Paul would tell us, in such a circumstance, the spirit is willing; but the flesh is weak. It seems the harder we try not to do something, the more difficult it is to succeed.

We cannot avoid the dangers and the reefs of which this life is full, without the real and constant help of God. Let us ask him for it without ceasing. But how can we ask him without being with him? And how can we be with him without often thinking of him? And how can we often think of him without forming a holy habit of doing so? ―Brother Lawrence[52]

The solution, as we see in Brother Lawrence’s statement, is to focus our attention on the Lord and His character. The more we think about sin and the difficulties of avoiding it, the more we will sin. On the other hand, the more we think about the Lord and His holiness, the less we think about—and yield to—sin.

Do you know the primary means a financial institution employs to identify counterfeit bills? They will teach numerous things, to be sure. However, one of the primary means of identifying a false fifty-dollar bill is to become very familiar with the look and feel of the genuine article. It seems that tellers can intuitively recognize a counterfeit bill, once they have handled a significant quantity of legitimate currency.

"I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. ―Ezekiel 36:23 NAU

F. God’s holiness manifests God’s character

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? 12"You stretched out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them. 13"In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation. ―Exodus 15:11-13 NAU

The more we see of God’s creation and His caring guidance on behalf of those He loves, the more we are aware of the core characteristics of God’s being. Notice that the purpose behind God’s acts of creation and guidance is to bring us into His holy place of habitation. God desires nothing more than for us to join Him in His Holy City.

G. God’s holiness inspires our worship

and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ―Romans 1:4 NIV

Prayer is not simply to get things from God, but to make those things holy which already have been received from Him. It is not merely to get a blessing, but also to be able to give a blessing. Prayer makes common things holy and secular things sacred. It receives things from God with thanksgiving and hallows them with thankful hearts and devoted service. ―E. M. Bounds[53]

Sin has many manifestations but its essence is one. A moral being, created to worship before the throne of God, sits on the throne of his own selfhood and from that elevated position declares, "I AM." That is sin in its concentrated essence; yet because it is natural it appears to be good. "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37) is the deep heart cry of every man who suddenly realizes that he is a usurper and sits on a stolen throne. ―A.W. Tozer[54]

The more of God’s holiness we observe, the more we are drawn to worship Him. As Bounds reminds us, our thanksgiving for what God has already done to bless us is of far greater importance than any petitions we might choose to bring before Him.

Furthermore, the overwhelming reality of God’s great grace offered to us and mercy extended on our behalf causes us to worship God, without pause. He is worthy of all the worship we could ever offer Him. That a holy God would invite someone who is utterly unholy to receive the embrace of His love and compassion is beyond my ability to comprehend.

Nonetheless, it is not beyond my ability to respond. I can worship His holiness with all I am. After all, He has declared us holy, because of His cleansing power at work in our lives. What more could we ask of a holy God?

CONCLUSION:

Our awareness of the holiness of God demands holiness from us. Moreover, the only way we can attain this required holiness is to embrace Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Then we can truly worship God from a holy heart.

CHAPTER 11: GOD IS MERCIFUL

For the LORD [is] good; His mercy [is] everlasting, And His truth [endures] to all generations. —Psalms 100:5

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

—William Shakespeare[55]

We love to speak of the goodness of God. We are quick to extol His righteousness. We speak much more reluctantly of His justice, until we remember that God is also full of mercy.

1. GOD IS GOOD

A. GOD IS GOOD IN THE FACE OF EVIL

• What is God's relationship to evil?

• If God created all things, did He create Evil?

• If so, then why did He create it?

• If God did not create evil, then who did? Is there another god out there?

The LORD has made all [things] for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. —Proverbs 16:4

Much could be written, and already has been, regarding the creation of evil. Obviously, from a moral point of view, a good God could not create evil. Either God cannot be good or He could not have created evil. However, to relegate any portion of creation to anyone other than our Creator God would be to imply there is a lesser god, somewhere in the cosmos, in completion with the Lord.

My opinion, on the subject of the origin of evil, derives from Scripture and from what I am able to deduce from my personal observations. My primary conclusion is that God created everything good. Genesis chapters 1 and 2 clearly declare as much. After God created each of the components of the universe, He paused to review His effort then and declared it good. By the way, when He appraised the creation of humanity, He described it as very good.

If God acknowledges everything He created as being good; yet evil exists; we are faced with a puzzle. If God did not create evil, how did wickedness appear? Actually, the answer is in the problem. Everything God created was good. However, there was a vacuum. Because we are not God, we have limitations. Furthermore, we were created with an ability to make choices. Adam and Eve in the Garden are proof enough of this.

Actually, we are told, in that same passage, the source of evil. Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of any fruit they desired, except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This clearly informs us God created Adam and Eve’s environment with a future possibility of evil.

I believe the first man and woman came into this world without having any evil in them. However, they did possess the ability to choose evil. Howbeit, until they ate of the forbidden fruit, they would not have been aware of any evil choices. Therein lies the problem and the answer to the dilemma.

God clearly did not desire for Adam and Eve to learn the distinction between good and evil. Otherwise, He would not have forbidden them to eat of that specific tree. At the same time, this was a test to determine if they would choose good or evil. The irony of their dilemma is clear to everyone. If we are told not to do a particular thing, our mind locks in on the forbidden item. Adam and Eve were no different. Add to the formula an evil serpent, Satan, to add his enticement; and the results were predictable.

At the same time, we have to ask how Satan, part of God’s creation, became evil. Apparently, the angels of heaven have a level of ability to choose, just as we do. This is why we read of Satan desiring to exalt himself above God. Furthermore, this is why we learn of one third of the angels being cast from heaven with Satan. They chose to follow him. Therefore, they receive the same punishment.

B. GOD IS GOOD THOUGH LIFE ISN'T FAIR

For more information on this topic, I would recommend reading Robert Schuller’s "Life’s Not Fair, But God is Good."[56] “Where is God When it Hurts?” [57] or “Disappointment with God”[58] by Philip Yancey may also be of help on this subject.

There is so much to life we simply do not understand—and likely never will. Although the very character of God is good, evil not only exists, it prevails for most of the world in which we live. So, where is God in all of this? He is right beside us, helping us through the dark valleys of life. He never forsakes His own. This is a reality I not only have discovered but cling to with tenacity.

I may never understand all the reasons God allows evil to exist; but I know God will ultimately abolish all evil from our lives. Furthermore, I believe God allows evil, at least to some degree, so that we will cling to Him more closely. However, it is comforting to know there will be a time in our future when evil will no longer have any influence in our lives.

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. —Psalms 13:1-6 NIV

Charles Spurgeon loved to tell the following story. “My grandfather was a very poor minister, and kept a cow, which was a very great help in the support of his children—he had ten of them; —and the cow took the “staggers” and died. ‘What will we do now?’ said my grandmother. ‘I cannot tell what we shall do now,’ said he, ‘but I know what God will do. We must have milk for the children.’

“The next morning, there came 20 pounds to him. He had never made application to the fund for the relief of ministers; but, on that day, there were 5 pounds left when they had divided the money, and one said, ‘There is poor Mr. Spurgeon down in Essex. Suppose we send it to him.’ The chairman—a mister Morley of his day—said, ‘We had better make it 10 pounds, and I’ll give 5 pounds.’ Another 5 pounds was offered by another member, if a like amount could be raised, making it up to 20 pounds; which was done. They knew nothing about my grandfather’s cow, but God did, you see; and there was the new cow for him. And those gentlemen in London were not aware of the importance of the service which they had rendered."[59]

C. GOD'S GOODNESS WILL BE REALIZED

Other gods are often portrayed as petty, greedy, nasty, and self-serving. What if the only True God were not good? Thankfully, this present time is not the end of our plight. God has good in store for us we may not even be able to imagine.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. —Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

How often we have heard told of God’s goodness in a weather-related incident. A wildfire is causing difficulty for the firefighters. Furthermore, the weather report calls for extreme heat that particular day. No clouds are in sight. The fire situation is at its worst. Suddenly, a little weather system appears. It comes out of nowhere; and it moves in over the fire and begins to rain. It does not rain much, just enough to give the advantage to the fire fighters.

This kind of weather activity generally does not happen during the summer in arid locations. Nonetheless, it does happen. Why? God may well have been answering someone’s prayers. On the other hand, He may have simply moved in to avoid massage destruction. We likely will never know.

Nonetheless, we must ask ourselves the question. Was it simply coincidence? Alternatively, does God intervene on our behalf? Many answers to prayer are like that. They could be coincidental. Nonetheless, when we make specific request and the answer comes in such a specific manner, shouldn't we give credit wherever it is due—and to Whom it is due?

D. GOD'S GOODNESS GIVES MEANING TO OUR LIVES

·  God’s Goodness Gives Purpose

God’s goodness gives purpose to those who are happy; it gives hope to those who are suffering. God never wastes suffering. He has a purpose in your life that He is fulfilling—even when you are not aware of it. Furthermore, this life is so very brief in comparison to eternity—without any pain, tears, agony—ever again.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. —Romans 8:18 NIV

·  God’s Goodness Gives Eternal Joy

This particular joy, however, is only promised to the believer, to those who trust God with their lives and their future. So deep is God’s loving commitment to us and our wellbeing, He made the greatest sacrifice we could imagine on our behalf.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 NIV

E. GOD'S GOODNESS ADDS BEAUTY TO OUR LIVES

Just as a musical piece will sometimes have brief sections of discordant tones in order to bring out the concordant beauty of the entire score, God will sometimes allow moments of discomfort and stress in order to bring greater beauty into our lives.

An old Andre Crouch song reminds us that if we “never had a problem, I wouldn’t know God could solve them.” This is how God’s goodness uses suffering and pain to bring beauty into our lives. The contrast between the problem without God and the difficulty after seeing God’s hand at work gives us abundant reason to give praise to our Lord.

2. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

God’s goodness is not a random occurrence. It is part of God’s character—just like His righteousness. God does not just act in a righteous manner. He embodies righteousness.

A. GOD'S CHARACTER IS RIGHTEOUS

When we speak of righteousness, we mean to be morally correct, akin to holiness. Righteousness is the standard by which God judges the world. God has a universal standard regarding right and wrong. This righteousness is not just a set of rules God has established. It emanates from the very essence of God.

Therefore, when we attempt to apply a standard of right and wrong to a particular people, we are, whether we realize it or not, asking them to be like God. When we ponder this observation, we recognize it to be true. This might well explain why the founding fathers of our nation used the Ten Commandments as the rule of measure for developing the constitution for governing this new country.

It may also explain why we so often find ourselves in conflict with the laws of the land. We are not God. Therefore, we find it difficult—if not impossible—to consistently fulfill the demands of a righteous law. This is the moment we most appreciate the reminder that God knows we are only reclaimed dirt.

Nonetheless, this does not nullify the requirements of a righteous God. He still expects us to be righteous—even knowing we can never totally measure up to His standard.

For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. —Psalms 11:7 NIV

And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. —Revelation 16:5

Therefore, what are we to do before a righteous God? We beg for God’s mercy, asking Him to apply His righteousness to our lives.

B. GOD'S CONDUCT IS RIGHTEOUS

God alone is able to live up to the standards He holds for character and behavior. He does not simply establish righteous laws for humanity to follow. He is righteous. He fulfills every requirement He makes of us. At the same time God calls us to love everyone—regardless of how loveable the other may be; He loves even those who hate Him. In the same manner that God instructs us to care for those who are needy; God himself cares for the lowliest among us.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. —Psalms 145:17 NIV

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.  —Psalms 31:1 NIV

The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. —Daniel 9:14 NIV

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, —Romans 3:21-23 NIV

C. GOD'S COMMANDS ARE RIGHTEOUS

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. —Psalms 119:172 NIV

Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. —Psalms 119:137-138 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Everything God demands of us is consistent with His character of righteousness. A righteous God will naturally give righteous commands. However, He extends His mercy to us, knowing that we cannot attain His righteousness.

3. GOD IS JUST

"Justice flows from the character of God himself." —Charles Colson[60]

Again, God does not simply act in a just manner; He is just in His very being. It is part of His character. When we say God is just, we are implying that justice emanates from the core of God’s being.

A. GOD IS JUST IN HIS PERSON

You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? —Jeremiah 12:1 NIV

Jeremiah readily concedes God’s righteousness. There is nothing of moral impurity in the character of God. Everything He does is founded on His righteousness. Nonetheless, Jeremiah is struggling with God’s justice. Since God is righteous, why does He not demand justice for those who ignore His righteous commands?

He has yet to see that God will not ultimately deny justice. He will settle all accounts. In the end, no one will escape God’s justice.

B. GOD IS JUST IN HIS PROCEEDINGS

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. —Ecclesiastes 8:14 NIV

but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. —Jeremiah 9:24 NIV

An interesting story unfolds in First Samuel, Chapter 30, concerning faithfulness. King David and his men were away at battle; and while they were gone, their foes came in and laid the city of Ziklag in ashes, carrying away the wives and sons and daughters of the absent soldiers. When the men returned they were overwhelmed with grief. Scripture says they "lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep" (v. 4).

The soldiers began to blame David for their grief. Then David selected 600 men and set out to rescue the captives. When they came to the brook Besor, 200 of the men were so faint they could not cross over the brook. "Very well," said David. "You two hundred stay here and mind the baggage; and the others of us who are stronger will go on."

The troop went on, made a great recovery, and returned with the spoil. When they returned to the brook Besor, a protest arose on the part of those who went to battle. They did not want to share the spoil. At that time, David made a great statement about faithfulness: "As his part is who goes down to the battle so shall his part be who stays by the supplies. They shall share alike" (v. 24). David said that not all are equally strong; yet all can be equally faithful. The 200 who did the best they could were just as worthy of the reward as those who fought in the fierce battle.

So profound was David’s proclamation that it became an ordinance in Israel from that day forward.

This episode is a reminder of ultimate justice—not equality—justice. Any parent of more than one child soon learns you simply cannot treat your children with equality. Many parents start out with this premise, soon to realize it simply will not work. Why? Because the children are different individuals. Therefore, parents must handle them according to their different character.

As new parents, we soon learned this lesson the hard way. Our first daughter was easy to discipline. She was strong-willed but compliant. She would vigorously argue her case. She may even disobey us in the matter. Nonetheless, when we disciplined her, it required little to get her compliance.

Our second daughter, on the other hand, was just as stubborn as her sister was. However, she quickly learned how to take any punishment as an opportunity. If we sent her to her room, she simply crawled in bed and went to sleep. If we sent her to clean her room, we were likely to find her hiding in the closet reading a book. I never did figure out how she could see to read in the closet.

If our younger daughter decided to not do a task we demanded of her, there was absolutely nothing we ever found that would get her to comply. We had to be very creative with her. Even then, it was a challenge to keep her within the guidelines of good behavior.

After our first daughter, we thought we had parenting figured out. After our second daughter, we realized we still did not have a clue. Had we treated them equally, there would have been total chaos.

We soon realized that justice did not mean equality. Thus it is with God. He does not treat us all the same, because our temperament is different. In God’s application of justice, it will look different for me than it does for you. This does not mean God loves you more than He loves me. He simply treats each of us as He knows is necessary to grow our character according to His plan.

C. GOD IS JUST IN HIS PROMISES

The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him. —Ezekiel 18:20 NIV

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, —Romans 1:18 NIV

Among numerous other profound quotations found on the Jefferson Memorial, in Washington, D.C. is the following sobering statement, particularly so when we consider the state of our nation today:

God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberty of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever. —Thomas Jefferson

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. —Romans 3:23-26 NIV

Here, we discover the nature of God’s justice. He must deal with sin. It is part of His character to do so. At the same time, He offers His own son to pay the penalty for my sin. This is certainly far from any sense of justice I might concoct. However, this is exactly the justice God enacts on behalf of all who come to Him.

In this regard, God does treat us all the same. Each of us must come to God and confess our shortcoming. None of us is able to keep the commands of the Lord faithfully. Because God is just, He must provide a means of dealing with our sins. Otherwise, there would have been no hope for us.

In His great love for us, God provided a means of justice—although it meant the horrible suffering and cruel, shameful death of His Son.

4. GOD IS FULL OF MERCY

Mercy comes from a root word which relates to feelings of a mother for her offspring; a brother for his sibling; a loving commitment that will not be broken. When we apply this characteristic to the Lord, we gain even more insight into His nature. God has deep parental feelings toward us. He loves us so unconditionally He was willing to allow His Son to suffer and die in our place. When we consider God must love His only begotten Son in a much deeper manner than He loves us, it makes His gift to us even more rich and overwhelming.

A. GOD'S MERCY IS SHOWN THROUGH HIS COVENANT

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for [He is] good!

For His mercy [endures] forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!

For His mercy [endures] forever.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!

For His mercy [endures] forever:

To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

To Him who made great lights,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

The sun to rule by day,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

The moon and stars to rule by night,

For His mercy [endures] forever.

To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

And brought out Israel from among them,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

And made Israel pass through the midst of it,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

To Him who led His people through the wilderness,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

To Him who struck down great kings,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

And slew famous kings,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

Sihon king of the Amorites,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

And Og king of Bashan,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

And gave their land as a heritage,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

A heritage to Israel His servant,

For His mercy [endures] forever.

Who remembered us in our lowly state,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

And rescued us from our enemies,

For His mercy [endures] forever;

Who gives food to all flesh,

For His mercy [endures] forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!

For His mercy [endures] forever.

—Psalms 136:1-26

Throughout Scripture, we read of the mercy of God. This aspect of God’s temperament is constantly leaping from the pages of His Word, lest we forget just how much He loves us.

B. JESUS ILLUSTRATES GOD'S MERCY

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." —Matthew 9:9-13 NIV

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes , Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. —Matthew 9:27-31 NIV

Repeatedly, as we read the Gospels, we see Jesus demonstrating mercy toward those who were suffering, as well as those who were far from living according to God’s commandments. As we reflect on those stories, we become aware that God loves us as much as He did them. What He did for those through the life of Jesus, some two thousand years ago, He will do for you and me.

C. MAN'S MERCY TO ONE ANOTHER MUST FOLLOW GOD’s COVENANT

In the Old Testament, God always demonstrated His mercy in some tangible form, in connection with His covenant. He laid out the dictates for mercy, within the human community, utilizing the same guidelines. In the same manner that God demonstrates His mercy toward us, we are to be merciful to one another.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. —Matthew 5:7 NIV

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! —James 2:12-13 NIV

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. —Luke 6:36 NRS

To whom have you shown mercy lately? The following story gives great insight to the attribute of mercy.

A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring New Yorkers ‘the Little Flower’ because he was only five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids.

One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter’s husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges.

“It’s a real bad neighborhood, your Honor.” the man told the mayor. “She’s got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson.” LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said “I’ve got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions—ten dollars or ten days in jail.” But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: “Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.”

So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.[61]

D. WE DAILY RECEIVE GOD'S MERCY

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. —Psalms 25:6-7 NIV

[Through] the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning; great [is] Your faithfulness. —Lamentations 3:22-23

As the Weeping Prophet tells us, each day we deserve the consuming fire of God’s righteousness and justice. Instead, He offers to us His great mercy, which He extends anew each day.

E. WE DAILY REJOICE IN GOD'S MERCY

Because of God’s great mercy on our behalf, we consistently offer praise to our Lord. God’s mercies extend to numerous aspects of our lives. He shields us from enemy attacks. He intercedes in our struggles. He adds His great wisdom to our foolish plans. However, the greatest act of God’s mercy is that He has taken upon Himself, in the person of His Son, the punishment for my wrongdoing.

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. —Psalms 28:6-7 NIV

CONCLUSION:

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. —2 Chronicles 7:14

God demonstrates His mercy to us in that…

• From Heaven; He will hear our cries for His help;

• He will forgive our sins;

• He will heal our land.

However, before we can expect God to reveal His mercy to us, we must take the following steps…

• We must humble ourselves before God;

• We must pray unto the Lord;

• We must seek after the face of God;

• We must repent and turn from our wickedness back to the will of God.

Then we will see the tender mercy of God demonstrated among us.

CHAPTER 12: GOD IS LOVE

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. —1 John 4:8

The Book of Hosea is a story of marriage, divorce, and remarriage—an allegory of sinful humanity and our rejection of the love of God; the results of that rejection; and our renewal in God's love. We can never learn enough lessons concerning the love of God and the effect of this love in each of our lives.

1. REJECTION OF GOD'S LOVE—SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY

[When] the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry [by departing] from the LORD." —Hosea 1:2

A. GOD HAS ALWAYS PURSUED US

Long ago the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. —Jeremiah 31:3

This wooing of the Lord toward us is not something new. He did not just appear one day, after we had wondered far down the path of rebellion and sinfulness. No, He has always been there encouraging us to see the error and foolishness of our ways.

B. WE HAVE BROKEN GOD'S HEART

For He said, "Surely they [are] My people, children [who] will not lie." So He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; —Isaiah 63:8-10a

The Lord should be able to expect those who belong to Him would be honest in their dealings—especially with Him. With this mindset in focus, God sent His only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. He shared in our sufferings. With His great love toward us, He paid the price of redemption to buy us back from our bondage to sin. In spite of this tremendous demonstration of unconditional love, we turned our backs on God, grieving His Spirit too deeply for words.

That there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus throughout His life. Even in death, He was despised, having been crucified on a Roman cross, the symbol of shame and rejection.

During His life, He had no place of His own—even to lay His head. The only place there was room for Jesus was on a cruel Roman cross—followed by burial in a borrowed tomb. He sought entry to the over-crowded hearts of men. He was refused entrance there; and today His search and His rejection are ongoing. There is no room for Jesus; there is no room for God’s undying love.

Many years ago, while on a visit to America, a wealthy foreign businessman was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study crystals and the petals of flowers, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. Therefore, he decided to purchase one of these fascinating devices and take it back to his homeland.

He thoroughly enjoyed using it, until one day he examined some rice he was planning to eat for dinner. Much to his dismay, he discovered that tiny living creatures were crawling in it. Since he was especially fond of this staple food in his daily diet, he wondered what to do.

Finally, he concluded that there was only one way out of his dilemma—he would destroy the instrument that caused him to discover the distasteful fact! Thus, he smashed the microscope to pieces.

"How foolish!" you say. Nonetheless, many people do exactly the same thing with God and His Word. They hate God and want nothing more than to get rid of Him, because the overwhelming love and holiness of God reveals their evil nature. Therefore, they destroy any evidence of God they happen to encounter.

C. WHAT HAS BROKEN GOD'S HEART?

Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD [brings] a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. [By] swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed after bloodshed. —Hosea 4:1-2

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does [any] plead for truth. they trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. —Isaiah 59:3-4

So truth fails, and he [who] departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw [it], and it displeased Him that [there was] no justice. —Isaiah 59:15

What has broken the heart of God? Our Lord is grieved because He finds…

· No truth—only falsehood and taking His name in vain.

· No mercy—instead, destroying the lives, property, and dignity of others.

· No knowledge of God—rather, filling our minds with foolish facts and vain imaginations.

· No commitment to relationships—instead, fleeing our commitments at the first sign of difficulty, committing fornication and adultery.

· No restraint—open anarchy and bloodshed.

No wonder the heart of God is broken, when He looks upon us. We have repeatedly wounded Him by our foolish, self-centered behavior.

2. RESULTS OF NO LOVE—SPIRITUAL POVERTY

"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, so that she cannot find her paths. She will chase her lovers, but not overtake them; yes, she will seek them, but not find [them]. —Hosea 2:6-7a

Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall deliver her from My hand. —Hosea 2:10

I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers. Then she forgot Me," says the LORD. —Hosea 2:13

A. MOURNING OUR SPIRITUAL POVERTY

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden [His] face from you, so that He will not hear. —Isaiah 59:1-2

Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away. —Hosea 4:3

Yes, we grieve our spiritual poverty. We are deeply saddened at our failure and unfaithfulness to our Lord. At the same time, we continue in our sinful ways, which brought us to this place of hopelessness. In spite of our regrets, we find no genuine repentance.

B. MISERY IN OUR SPIRITUAL POVERTY

destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known." —Romans 3:16-17

A child asked a man to pick a flower for her. That was simple enough. However, when she said, "Now put it back," the man experienced a baffling helplessness he had never known before.

"How can you explain that it cannot be done?" he reflected. "How can one make clear to young people that there are some things which when once broken, once mutilated, can never be replaced or mended?"

This is a picture of youth betrayed. Young people are so eager to grow up and to experience adult pleasures. Sadly, they fail to realize that once their innocence has been taken, there is no putting it back.

Such is the case with so many of us. We foolishly ignore the warnings about maintaining our purity. Furthermore, when our innocence is gone—and cannot be restored to us—we continue on our mindless way.

Nothing can be more devastating than a prairie fire. Supposedly, one of the worst wildfires on record was started inadvertently by an army officer stationed at a nearby base.

He and some friends had been hunting wild turkeys and had paused for a few moments to rest. While they were relaxing, the officer touched a match to some dry grass just to produce a spectacle. He never dreamed what dreadful consequences would follow his thoughtless act!

Within minutes, the entire area was ablaze; and the men were powerless to stop it. The flames, fanned and driven by a strong wind, raged furiously and swept rapidly across the prairie. The fire burned up everything that stood in its path—thousands of acres of land, homes, buildings, and countless head of livestock.

As you can well imagine, the tragic ruin and loss caused by that single act of carelessness brought untold grief and heartache to the one responsible, as well as numerous others. Careless sin quickly gets out of control and does more damage than you can imagine. Moreover, much of the damage can never be restored.

C. MOCKERY IN OUR SPIRITUAL POVERTY

Come now, [you] rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon [you]! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. —James 5:1-4

The story is told of an eagle perched on a block of ice just above Niagara Falls. The swift current carried the ice and its majestic passenger closer to the edge of the great precipice. The cries of other birds and animals, warning the eagle of danger that lay ahead, were to no avail.

"I have great and powerful wings," he boasted. "I can fly from my perch at any time. I can handle it."

Suddenly the edge of the falls was only a few feet away. The torrent of water rushed the block of ice over the great falls. The eagle spread his powerful wings to mount up over the impending doom only to discover too late that his claws had become frozen to the cake of ice.

Need I say more? None of us is immune to the subtle, devastating consequences of sin. The following story has received some criticism as to its validity. Nonetheless, the point of the story is quite valid. Therefore, I will offer it as illustration of the relentless consequences of sin.

When Leonardo da Vinci was painting his masterpiece "The Last Supper," he sought long for a model for his Christ. At last, he located a chorister in one of the churches of Rome who was lovely in life and features, a young man named Pietro Bandinelli.

Years passed, and the painting was still unfinished. Da Vinci had portrayed all the disciples save one—Judas Iscariot. Now he began looking for a man whose face was hardened and distorted by sin—and, at last, he found a beggar on the streets of Rome with a face so villainous; he shuddered when he looked at him.

He hired the man to sit for him as he painted the face of Judas on his canvas. When he was about to dismiss the man, he said, "I have not yet asked your name, but I will now."

"Pietro Bandinelli," the model replied, "I also sat for you as the model for your Christ."

If such is the effect on the body, formed as it is, of the dull clay of the earth, what must not sin do to the real man made in the image and likeness of the God of all beauty?[62]

D. MUDDLED IN OUR SPIRITUAL POVERTY

unlike Moses, [who] put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were hardened. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the [veil] is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. —2 Corinthians 3:13-15

for whatever [is] not from faith is sin. —Romans 14:23

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. —James 1:6-8

A person with a double mind is exasperating to both himself and those around him. I can think of no circumstance in the world in which a person who cannot decide would be an asset. To vacillate is to invite disaster. Some situations leave no room for indecision. Can you imagine the horror and devastation that would follow a person caught in a burning building and unable to decide which direction to run?

It does occur, of course, that individuals become trapped in a burning house, choose to run the wrong direction, and are captured by the flames. However, the odds against a person who chooses to sit and ponder his potential escape are generally far greater than for the person who acts quickly and decisively.

When it comes to believing God, the matter is even more sobering. To believe God will honor His word only to then begin to doubt God’s promises can carry devastating, even eternal consequences. Asserting faith in God only to change our position is like trying to change horses in the middle of a raging river. There is nothing to stop you from doing so; but the consequences can be deadly.

3. RENEWAL IN GOD'S LOVE—SPIRITUAL LIFE

"And it shall be, in that day," says the LORD, ["That] you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer call Me 'My Master,' —Hosea 2:16

"I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD. "It shall come to pass in that day [that] I will answer," says the LORD; "I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer With grain, with new wine, and with oil; they shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on [her who had] not obtained mercy; then I will say to [those who were] not My people, 'You [are] My people!' And they shall say, ['You are] my God!'" —Hosea 2:19-23

God is eagerly anticipating our return to Him. He desires us like the bridegroom his bride. He has placed our unfaithfulness behind Him. He longs for our presence. He keenly awaits our return to Him.

A. REPENTENCE—GODLY SORROW

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. —2 Corinthians 7:9-10

A pastor tells of a man in his congregation, a Christian worker, a man used of God. Unfortunately, in a vulnerable moment the man slipped badly. The pastor reminds us of God’s Word. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” This man fell; and he was serving a 7-year sentence in one of our penal institutions.

Through his encounter with a Godly Barnabas-like pastor, this prodigal came to know the recovering power of the precious blood of Christ. On the flyleaf of his Bible, he wrote the following simple poem:

The soul that comes to Jesus

Through failure, shame, or pain,

By His wondrous love and mercy

May soar as high again.” —Source Unknown

A sense of need and the spirit of repentance is a vessel into which God wills to pour himself in His recovering grace. God is eagerly waiting, even longing for the repentance of the unfaithful one. Nor will He waste time rehearsing all your past failures when you arrive home. He wants you, not all the baggage you one time carried. The one offering true repentance will leave all those past failures behind and face forward to a new, exciting relationship with her bridegroom.

My wife often reflects on one of her most dreaded childhood memories. The thing she hated most about discipline was the lecture that came with the punishment. She has frequently stated that she would almost welcome whatever chastisement her parents may enforce—if she did not have to endure the lecture that came with it.

Unfortunately, she married someone who is prone to lecturing. Moreover, my discourses have not always been directed to our daughters. Judy has endured more than her share of unwelcome speeches from me. Furthermore, Judy reminding me she is well aware of her shortcomings does not always stop me from lecturing.

I am so thankful the Lord is not like me. He does not waste His time or effort lecturing me about my past sins. He is very cognizant that I am painfully aware of my failures. He need not rehearse them. Doing so would only bring pain—no genuine assistance toward true repentance.

"Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. —Jeremiah 3:14-15

O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for Your name's sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against You. O the Hope of Israel, his Savior in time of trouble, why should You be like a stranger in the land, and like a wayfaring man [who] turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should You be like a man astonished, like a mighty one [who] cannot save? Yet You, O LORD, [are] in our midst, and we are called by Your name; do not leave us! —Jeremiah 14:7-9

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin [is] ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done [this] evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, [And] blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden [part] You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, [That] the bones [which] You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [with Your] generous Spirit. [Then] I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, The God of my salvation, [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give [it]; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise. —Psalms 51:1-17

B. REVELATION—VEIL REMOVED

Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. —2 Corinthians 3:16-18

I love the picture the apostle Paul paints for us, here. When we turn our hearts toward our Lord, it is as if the eager Bridegroom is removing the veil from the face of His waiting bride. Once the veil is removed, she can see the tender, loving, longing face of her Bridegroom. Notice that her attention is not on all her flaws and shortcomings. Those are quickly forgotten. Her full attention is upon the glory and beauty of her Bridegroom. As she beholds His lovely face, she eagerly takes whatever steps she can to improve her appearance in His eyes—not her own.

C. REVIVAL FROM GOD

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. —Hosea 14:4

For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name [is] Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him [who] has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls [which] I have made. —Isaiah 57:15-16

Who [is] a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights [in] mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob [and] mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. —Micah 7:18-20

The result of true repentance is revival. God wants nothing more than to pour out His Spirit upon us, renewing, refreshing, and reviving our inner man. Like the father of the prodigal son, God eagerly waits, ready to run to the returning son or daughter. Is it you He is longing for? Are you running to the Father? I assure you, He is approaching faster than you are.

D. RESTORATION BY GOD

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. —Isaiah 57:17-18

God does not just renew, refresh, and revive us when we return to Him; He also restores us. As I said earlier, some things, once they are broken, can never be restored. I am speaking of things like sexual purity and taking of a life. However, even in those circumstances, God restores the heart

It is important for us to understand this principle. Although we cannot always repair the damage done by our sins, we can allow God to make our hearts completely new. Remember God’s Word concerning us, when we give our heart and life to the Lord:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

CONCLUSION:

"Sing, O barren, you [who] have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you [who] have not labored with child! For more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman," says the LORD. "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; nor be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker [is] your husband, the LORD of hosts [is] His name; and your Redeemer [is] the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the LORD has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused," says your God. "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. "For this [is] like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has mercy on you. "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children [shall be] taught by the LORD, and great [shall be] the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. —Isaiah 54:1-14

CHAPTER 13: GOD IS FATHER

The Father Heart of God

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. —1 John 3:1

One of the saddest realities we face in society today is the simple fact that there is an alarming number of people, in our congregations, who do not have a healthy image of a father. They simply have no point of reference of what constitutes a proper father. What are the characteristics of a good father? Certainly, I have failed (as did my father before me and his father before him) to set an ideal example for my daughters, though there is no question of my desire to be a good father.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of examples of good fathering. At the same time, each of these is likely to be fraught with failures and shortcomings. Only One sets the perfect example of Fatherhood—the Father Heart of God. Moreover, example is the key word to this statement.

Let me add a perspective I believe to be very important to this discussion. Just because you did not have a healthy relationship with your father is no excuse for not embracing God as father. Our Heavenly Father stands ready to be everything your earthly father was not. He can, and will, restore your healthy image of a father—if you allow Him to do so.

1. THE FATHER HEART IS TO PARTNER

God’s ideal plan for humanity is one man and one woman raising their children together. We need not be a theologian or anthropologist to recognize that God created a mate for the first man because he was incomplete without her. A careful read of the creation passages in Scripture will tell us Adam carefully observed all the animals created by God—even giving each of them names (Genesis 2:19). However, the following verse informs us that, throughout the various species of animals, none was suitable for a mate to Adam. The term translated suitable literally means to stand before or to face. In all of creation, there was no one who could stand face-to-face with Adam. Hence, God created Eve.

A careful study of the choice of words in this verse clearly paints a picture of someone to complete Adam, someone who would fill in the missing parts, someone who excelled in his areas of weakness, someone to be a lifetime partner. At the obvious risk of criticism, think of it this way. In the circle of life, Adam was the yin; and Eve was the yang.

God never intended for us to face life alone—especially in raising our family. It is also clear to me; God expects a family to contain a husband and a wife who will complete one another as they face the daunting task of raising their children together.

It is also important to note that the father heart of God is for Himself to be husband to the unmarried and the single parent. He does not expect a single parent to raise a family alone. Moreover, you do not have to. God is always right there to help you, when you are struggling with the ongoing challenges of nurturing an emerging family.

5for your Creator will be your husband. The LORD Almighty is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. 6For the LORD has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God. —Isaiah 54:5-6 NLT

2. THE FATHER HEART IS TO PARENT

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" —Galatians 4:6

A. SOME MEN ARE FATHER THROUGH CHANCE

However, being a Daddy is not chance; it is choice. A real father is one who takes on the responsibility of meeting the PROVISION, POTENTIALITY, AND PROTECTION needs of a child. God has certainly done this for His children, for those who call God Abba, My Father, or Daddy.

We are far too aware of the number of men who have sired children but care nothing for their welfare. Some may even brag of their masculinity in bringing a child into this world. For these, they consider their work complete. They have done their part. They replicated their DNA into this tiny bundle of life. Now they are off to bigger and better conquests.

God is not such a Father. Nor does He expect us to be. God has set an excellent example of what a great father is like. We would be wise to follow His example.

B. NOT EVERYONE CAN CALL GOD "FATHER"

"and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as [our] father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. —Matthew 3:9-10

"You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father; God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. "You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and [does not] stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it. "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because  you are not of God."—John 8:41-47

Jesus makes it very clear that natural lineage is no guarantee of being a child of God. Today is no different from the time Jesus lived on earth, regarding this issue. Millions of people rest their hope, for eternal life with God, on the simple fact their parents were Christians; therefore they are Christians. Being raised in a Christian home makes them a Christian, doesn’t it? Most of the world believes this. Most other countries call America a Christian nation, because our ancestors were Christians and a high percentage of us still claim some Christian affiliation.

However, to believe these claims would be like saying, “I sleep in the garage; therefore, I am a car.” Proximity or lifestyle does not determine one’s DNA. This is also true regarding our spiritual heritage. Therefore, living in a Christian home or occasionally worshiping with Christians does not make me a Christian. I have to be born into the family.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. —John 3:16-17 NLT

For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. —1 Peter 1:23 NLT

C. THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. —John 1:12-13

D. WE AS PARENTS

Therefore, having God as our best example of what a good parent is like, we set our hearts and minds to become good parents, as well. In addition, one of the more important things we learn from God about being a good parent is not to set unattainable expectations for our children.

God knows our inability, by our own efforts, to keep the requirements that He sets before us. This is why He offers to come alongside and help us in our weakness. He knows we will always fail, if left to face the challenges of righteousness alone.

He encourages us to be this same kind of parent. When we set unrealistically high expectations before our children, we are setting them up for frustration and bitterness toward us.

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. —Ephesians 6:4

Martin Luther's father was very strict, to the point of cruelty. Martin Luther appeared to agree with this strict upbringing that sparing the rod would spoil the child—to a degree. However, he balanced his approach by stating, “the apple should be with the rod,” implying beside the rod one should keep an apple, to give the child when he has done well.[63]

Is this not exactly like our Heavenly Father? He does not chastise us without offering rewards for our efforts, as well. He understands that encouragement is just as important as discipline.

3. THE FATHER'S HEART IS TO PROVIDE

A. HE WILL NOT MISLEAD YOU

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if [he asks] for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" —Luke 11:11-13

Contrary to what we may have previously believed, God has no interest or purpose in deceiving us. It is not within His character to be cruel. He may delay a provision on our behalf. However, if He does, God has a perfectly good reason for doing so. His intentions are never to hurt or exasperate us.

As I previously stated, this picture of God as loving, caring, and kind toward His children required a major adjustment in my view of God. Growing up, I had an image of God as one looking down from Heaven with a sharp eye toward catching me doing something wrong, so He could wallop me with His god-sized club.

This is not the God of the Bible. The God we find in Scripture is a loving God, compassionate and caring toward His children. Of course, as any loving parent would do, the Lord must discipline His children. How else would we know right from wrong in His eyes? Nonetheless, God is far from capricious. Instead, He is a true picture of a loving Father.

B. HE WILL SUPPLY YOUR EMOTIONAL NEEDS

Susan Chunn writes, in Billy Graham's Decision magazine, regarding her relationship with her father and how his behavior negatively affected her life. Because her father was an alcoholic, she mistakenly concluded that his fits of anger and violence were her fault. She never felt she could earn his love. She never felt she could trust his love. She came to see love as arbitrary. She applied these same attributes to God.

Eventually she overcame all her doubts and uncertainties and came to a loving relationship with the Lord. She stated, "Once I knew who God is and that he is trustworthy, I didn't need my earthly father to be my god anymore."

She learned that God will succeed where our earthly fathers fail in the areas of love and trust. As Luke 11:13 reminds us, "how much more" will our Heavenly Father demonstrate His love to us than even our earthly fathers are able.

"Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light." —Matthew 11:28-30

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7

Indeed, this is the picture of our loving heavenly Father. He invites us to come and allow Him to walk in tandem with us. When we do, we discover He is willing to carry the bulk of our heavy load. As Peter encourages us to see, God really does care that much for us.

C. HE WILL SUPPLY YOUR PHYSICAL NEEDS

Something about watching flocks of small birds reminds me of the intricate nature of God’s care for us. We are all familiar with the old song, "When the swallows come back to Capistrano." For approaching two centuries, observers have experienced the arrival and departure of swallows at the mission of San Juan Capistrano.

The precision and predictability of the migration of those golden-breasted birds is amazing. They always arrive on March 19 and leave on October 23, never missing those dates. Not once have they varied over the years. Even leap year does not change the times of their coming and going. Furthermore, the swallows invariably start out before daylight on their southern flight.

I also find my mind focusing on the words of another song, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” My memories of this particular song take me to my young adulthood and my aunt, uncle, and cousins singing this precious reminder.

How do we explain this unusual phenomenon? Nature's guidance? Luck? Coincidence? It is none of those. Instead, the swallow's Creator has put within those little creatures an instinct that tells them with uncanny accuracy when to head south and when to return. Their survival depends on this innate sense of timing.

What meticulous care God exercises to guide the swallow and other fowls in their migration. Moreover, we should consider of how much greater value we are to God than these tiny birds. The One who has provided for our feathered friends with such precision is certainly interested in us, who are made after His own image. How can we help but sing, "For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!"

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. —Matthew 10:29-31

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19

4. THE FATHER'S HEART IS TO PARDON

Not only is our heavenly Father compassionate and caring toward us; He is also patient, ready to pardon our shortcomings—if we will admit to them.

A. HE IS PATIENT

As a father pities [his] children, [So] the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we [are] dust. —Psalms 103:13-14

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. —2 Timothy 2:13

However, pardon is a two-part transaction. God offers His pardon to us. We, in turn, must accept God’s pardon. God patiently urges us and waits for us to receive the pardon we so desperately need.

Back in 1830, George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson, but he refused to accept it. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. "A pardon is a slip of paper," wrote Marshall, "the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged."[64]

As eager as God is for us to respond to His mercy toward us, He will not force His will upon us. If we choose to reject His pardon, we will die in our sins and bear the eternal consequences of doing so.

B. HE IS FORGIVING

Have you ever wondered who came up with the idea for the yellow ribbons proudly displayed in support of our troops? If you Google “yellow ribbon,” you will get well over two million hits. Numerous references tie the yellow ribbon to a Civil War legend.

This old legend is actually the inspiration for the 1973 hit song, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree,” sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn, which tells of a prodigal on a bus heading toward home.

I found the following account of this touching legend in a small pamphlet printed to commemorate a popular radio program from a couple of generations ago.

A preacher was returning home from a revival meeting and he got on a train. The train was crowded and the only seat left was beside a young lad who looked to be no more than sixteen years of age. The minister set his handbag down and sat beside the boy. They went along for a while when he noticed the boy was crying. He saw a quiver pass over the sensitive young face as he choked back a sob. He thought, perhaps the boy has recently lost his mother or father, then aloud he said, "Excuse me son, I do not know your troubles and you don't have to tell me unless you want to, but I am a preacher and I might be able to help you with your problem."

The boy looked at the minister for a moment and then said, "I want to tell you―I have got to tell someone."

"Alright then let's hear it."

The boy laid his head back and looked out the window. He began, “You see, a few months ago I had to leave home and run away. I had got awful wicked. I started going with the wrong crowd, drinking, laying out of school and I got tired of doing chores around the farm. I even got so bad that I struck my father and he asked me to leave.

“I did not think much about how bad it was, or how I would get along after I got to where I was going. I just hopped a freight train and by night, I was in St. Louis. I had never seen as big a place as that and I was scared.

“I had a little money but it didn't last long, and I got awful lonesome, especially at night when there's no place like home. And then, a few nights, I went to a revival and God saved my soul! When I got up off my knees, the first thing I wanted to do was go home and ask dad to forgive me. I wrote dad and told him I would be on this train today. If he wanted me, I would get off, but if not I would just keep on going. But now I'm scared.”

“What are you afraid of son?”

“I'm afraid they won't want me.”

“But how will you know?”

“I told dad if he wanted me to tie a white rag in the old apple tree in the back yard. It’s beside the railroad; and we are just about there. I can't look. I'm afraid they won't want me.” He was crying now.

The preacher’s eyes were also misty. Leaning over, he put his arm around the boy and patted his shoulder. “Don't worry, son. I'll be your eyes. I'll look for you.” Suddenly the hoarse note of the train whistle broke in upon them and the boy sat up. The minister wiped the steam from the window and peered out. He must not fail. But he didn't have to worry. For even a half-blind man could have seen that tree. Laughing and crying he pulled the lad up to the window. “Look there,” he said, “the apple tree is all bloomed out.” And sure enough, it was. For upon its branches hung not only one but at least fifty white rags, gaily fluttering in the wind like victory banners of forgiving love.

They looked a little closer, and there standing beside the tree was an old grey haired mother and daddy. Each had a big white sheet and they were waving it back and forth. A sign that he was forgiven.

Friends, the Cross of Calvary is a sign that we can be forgiven if we'll only come home.[65]

No matter how far we have strayed from the guidance and security of home, a loving parent's arms are the one place the repentant child can always come and receive a welcome and a hug. This is the love of an all-knowing father! This is the love or Our Father!

Indeed, this is the message of the father heart of God to us. Yes, as the Luke 15 story of the prodigal son tells us, our sin breaks the heart of God. Nonetheless, He is waiting eagerly and hopefully to bring forgiveness to those who will only come home.

Furthermore, may I add, grieving parent, the same father heart of God who was eagerly waiting to forgive us is also longing to restore our wayward children, as well. Let us attempt to be as patient and loving toward them as our Heavenly Father is toward us.

My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. —1 John 2:1

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9

C. GOD EXPECTS THE SAME OF US

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." —Mark 11:25-26

God does not extend His mercy and forgiveness toward us without expecting us to respond in a similar manner. In fact, Jesus taught that if we are unwilling to forgive others; we will not receive God’s forgiveness.

On the surface, this appears to be a harsh expectation. Would God turn His back on us simply because we refuse to forgive someone who does not deserve forgiveness? Actually, in my opinion, it is more a matter of our ability than God’s will. If I am unwilling to forgive someone who has wronged me, I clearly do not have an adequate grasp of the concept of my own forgiveness. I am still viewing forgiveness as something we earn. With this mindset, I am unable to accept God’s offer of forgiveness to me.

5. THE FATHER'S HEART IS TO PROTECT

A. FROM THE WORLD

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that [is] in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. —1 John 2:15-17

Because of His great love for us, God goes out of His way to shield us from the evils this world would bring into our lives. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our desires. Therefore, God provides protection from the things that would destroy us—if we will but accept His protection.

B. FROM THE FLESH

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. —Romans 7:24-25

"Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are]. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. —John 17:11-12

As Paul reminds us in Romans 7, our flesh is constantly attempting to rise up and divert us from our intention to follow the leading of the Spirit. Our spirit longs to follow the Lord. Our flesh, although crucified with Christ, will continue to attempt to resurrect to its old ways of leading us astray.

This battle, according to Paul, is ongoing. We cannot escape it. We can only throw ourselves upon Jesus Christ and trust His grace to keep us strong against our own flesh. He is faithful. If we call upon Him to help us overcome our flesh, He will not fail us.

C. FROM THE DEVIL

Though Satan should buffet,

Though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

—Horatio Spafford, It is Well with my Soul, 1873

Satan does not intend to give up on his assault on our lives. He has every intension of badgering us until we give in to his temptations. He knows he is doomed for eternal punishment. He does not expect to go there alone. He will take as many of us with him as possible.

Nonetheless, God has the same intension toward us. He will not turn away from us, no matter how long and how great the battle with Satan may be. Furthermore, God is greater than Satan is. We must never forget that God created Satan. He is not equal to God in any way, although he acts as though he is god. He is even called god of this world, at times. However, this does not imply he is in any way equal to God. God stands alone in His might.

The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." —Zephaniah 3:17

This is a picture of the supremacy and loving kindness of our God. He not only stands in our midst as our Powerful Protector, He comes to us in gentleness, quieting our troubled spirits with His songs of love.

CONCLUSION:

As John 1:12 tells us, God gives those who receive Jesus Christ the privilege of claiming Him as Father. In addition, with that privilege comes the right to call Him, "Daddy!" This special honor we receive is to remind us that God has promised to be Daddy…

·       in parenting!

·       in provision!

·       in pardoning!

·       in protecting!

Is God your Daddy today? He wants to be. Come embrace the father heart of God—and be embraced by your loving Father.

CHAPTER 14: GOD IS OWNER

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." —Matthew 22:21 NIV

What do you think was the cause of the first sin? What do you think was the cause of the first murder? What do you think was the cause of Israel's first military defeat?

The answer to each of those questions is, "Not giving proper honor and allegiance to God." In the above passage of Scripture, Jesus teaches us to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." So let us look into the Word of God to discover what belongs to God.

1. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; —Psalms 24:1 NIV

The Old Testament name that most implies this attribute for God is Adonai. This name signifies Master, Owner, or Provider. We will look more closely in the following chapter at some other names for God that include the attribution of ownership.

The Old Testament laws of first-fruits were a reminder that everything belongs to God. Israel was instructed to take from their first harvest the best grain and dedicate it to God. The same was true of their flocks and herds. God expected to receive the first and the best of all their increase.

God has not changed. He still desires the first and the best of our gain to be dedicated to Him. God chose this process to ensure that we do not forget He is the true owner of everything we possess. We do not own it; we simply manage it for a time.

2. WE BELONG TO GOD—WE ARE HIS STEWARDS

You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. —1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV

Not only does everything we possess belong to God; we belong to Him, as well. Even our body belongs to Him. After all, He made us. Why should it seem strange that He owns us? Does not the artist own the sculpture he fashions? Does not the painter own the portrait he creates?

In precisely the same manner, God molded us from the dirt. Therefore, He is well within reason and right to declare that He owns us.

Furthermore, since we belong to God; we operate at His command. Therefore, we are His servants, His stewards over the possessions He places into our care.

3. AS STEWARDS, WE GIVE OURSELVES UNTO GOD

You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. —1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. —Romans 12:1 NIV

And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. —2 Corinthians 8:5

Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into God's hand; and then, when we have given all to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about. —Hudson Taylor[66]

Hudson says it well. Everything we have, hold, or dream of possessing belongs to our loving father. He is not only the source of it all; He own it all—including our very being.

4. AS STEWARDS, WE GIVE ACCOUNT UNTO GOD

In the same manner that any manager reports to the owner the results of his stewardship efforts, we must give account to God. As Owner, He has every right to expect a regular, honest report of how we are faring with the things He has placed under our care.

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. —Romans 14:12 NIV

5. AS STEWARDS, WE GIVE OUR TIME AND TALENTS

Matthew 25 records a parable from Jesus illustrating the importance of being a faithful and wise steward of what God has placed into our hands. Jesus describes a businessman who planned a long trip. He left money for each of his servants to manage. To the first, he gave five talents, about 15 years of wages in value. To the second, he gave two talents. To the third, he gave one talent.

We learn from Jesus’ narrative that each servant received an amount consistent with his ability. This was not an arbitrary or capricious action on the part of the owner. He knew his servants and was aware the level of skill and experience possessed by each one. He left for his trip, no doubt leaving clear instructions regarding his expectation, concerning the money.

When the owner returned from his journey, he called his servants in for a report. Each must give account of how he handled the money entrusted to him. The man given five talents reported a net gain of five additional talents. The owner was well-pleased.

The second servant brought his two talents plus an additional two. Likewise, the owner commended him for his efforts.

The third servant, no doubt seeing how the other two were treated, realized he could expect a rebuke. Therefore, he prepared an excuse for why he did not invest the money given to him. You see, he had not even tried to increase the value of the assets he received. No doubt, he reasoned that the amount was so small there was little he could do to increase it. Hence, he simply buried it and waited for the master’s return.

His excuse was a clever one, to be sure. He argued that he knew his master to be an aggressive businessman, looking for increase in unlikely places. Even in locations he had not sown, he expected to reap a harvest. Therefore, the servant argued, there was little point in even trying.

Notice that the owner did not dispute the argument of the lazy servant, regarding his vigorous efforts at earning money. He actually confirmed it—then used the same argument to remind the worthless servant he should have at least put the money in the bank where it would have earned interest. As it was, all the servant had to show the owner was the same coins—now covered with dirt.

The owner’s response may seem a bit harsh, until we analyze the entire scenario. The anger of the owner was at the laziness of the servant, not his lack of ability. The owner was willing to accept a smaller profit than from the other two servants, since this man had less ability. However, the owner did expect him to try—regardless of how small his talent may be.

The picture, to me, is very clear. God has given us varying degrees of opportunity and responsibility, based on His knowledge of our individual ability and experience. He expects us to take what He has given us and do the best we know how, leaning on the experience we have gained from working alongside the Owner.

To those of us who even refuse to try, simply allowing our talents to gather dust, the Owner will likely not offer words of kindness. Remember, the two-talent servant received the same affirmation as the five-talent servant. However, the five-talent man received even more money to manage, at the end of the story.

I am not sure if I am a one-talent, a two-talent, or a five-talent person. Nonetheless, I do not intend to stand before the Owner of it all and hear Him chastise me for doing nothing with what I received. Instead, I long to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You do know, do you not, God’s rewards are always to the faithful?

A. WE MUST LEARN TO INVEST OUR TIME AND TALENTS WISELY

Charlie Brown comments to Lucy in the "Peanuts" cartoon, "Someone has said that we should live each day as if it were the last day of our life."

"Aaugh!" cries Lucy. "This is the last day! This is it!" She dashes away screaming, "I only have 24 hours left! Help me! Help me! This is the last day! Aaugh!"

Charlie Brown, now alone, muses, "Some philosophies aren't for all people."

Charlie Brown may be right. Nonetheless, this does not exempt us from the consequences of ignoring reality. The day of reckoning will come whether we like it or not. We will give account. Therefore, let us wisely invest the time and talent God has given us.

B. WE MUST FIND THE PROPER PRIORITIES

It would seem that most Americans tend to worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship. As a result, their meanings and values have become distorted. Their relationships disintegrate faster than they can keep them in repair. Their lifestyles resemble a soup opera in search of a plot. In other words, we have our priorities all messed up.

In A.W. Tozer's book, Man: The Dwelling Place of God, there is a story about a British nobleman who died at 89 years of age. He had inherited great wealth; and therefore was free to do whatever he pleased. According to the article, he "devoted his life to trying to breed the perfect spotted mouse."

Think of it! Rather than using his privileged position in life, with its potential for serving the Lord and for ministering to human need, both material and spiritual, he devoted himself to perfecting spotted mice. No mention was made of this being a scientific experiment to benefit mankind. It seemed to be no more than a novel pursuit to satisfy his narrow interest.[67]

Now, let us make this personal. When we have completed our life's work, will we have to say, "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and...indeed, all was vanity"? Instead, will we be able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness"? (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).

C. We can, if we put God first in all we do.

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. —3 John 1:5 NIV

Remember, God knows our limitations as well as our abilities. He never asks us to do anything that He will not come alongside and help us. Therefore, we can afford to be bold. We can step out in confidence God will be there to help us with whatever talent He has given us to invest.

6. STEWARDS GIVE OUR SUBSTANCE UNTO GOD

A. BE GENEROUS IN GIVING AS GOD IS GENEROUS

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?—Romans 8:32 NAU

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! —Matthew 7:11 NAU

J.L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who had given approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years, said, "The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord."

J.D. Rockefeller said, "I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week."[68]

An ambitious young man told his pastor he'd promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time, he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00.

In a few years, his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now.

The pastor replied, "I don't see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you'd have no problem tithing $4.00."[69]

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, —1 Timothy 6:17-18 NAU

We are not asked to give because God needs our money. Rather, we are asked to give because we need the blessing of giving. Therefore, when we give, it is not because God's work cannot make it without our money, but because we cannot make it without His blessing.

·  Loving obedience not fearful obligation

· Do I really belong to Him?

· Do I really recognize His right to me?

· Do I respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership?

· Do I find freedom and complete fulfillment in this arrangement?

· Do I sense a purpose and deep contentment because I am under His direction?

· Do I know rest and repose, beside a definite sense of exciting adventure, in belonging to Him?

Before I can say He is my shepherd, I need answers to these questions. —Philip Keller[70]

But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. —1 Samuel 15:22 NIV

·  Self-denial not self-gratification

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own —2 Corinthians 8:1-3 NIV

We do not give to satisfy our own need to be noticed. Neither do we give so that we feel good about ourselves. Our giving is a simple act of remembering that everything we own belongs to God. Therefore, we have no basis for feeling any sense of loss, when we give. It was not ours to begin with. We give generously and joyfully, because this is how God has given to us.

B. WE GIVE CHEERFULLY NOT BEGRUDGINGLY

Someone once stated, "The Lord loves a cheerful giver; but He'll even accept it from a grouch!"

This may well be true. However, the grouch should not expect much in the way of eternal reward for his giving.

One pastor had a layman who liked to go out visiting people. But he was rather crude; so the pastor, instead, gave him a list of delinquent church members and some church stationary and told him to write letters to all those who hadn't been coming to church.

Several weeks later, the church secretary received an envelope with a check inside for $1000. In addition, enclosed was this note: "To whom it may concern. I received your letter; and I want to remind you that there is only 1 "T" in dirty and no "C" in skunk."

It does not sound as if this letter came from a very cheerful giver, does it? Giving is so much more of a blessing when I am able to give in a cheerful manner. If I resent the gift, I might be wise to pray until I can actually give with a certain level of joy. I am thankful that God has given me a heart to give. My challenge is in not having enough to give to all the worthwhile ministries and opportunities that come my way.

By the way, perhaps the pastor needs to keep looking for the ideal task for the poor man who wrote the initial letter. However, it does serve as a good reminder to all of us that our talents do vary. We are wise to work within the boundaries of those things for which God has given us a particular ability. Even our letter writing needs to be done cheerfully.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. —2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

C. GIVE IN PROPORTION TO WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED

For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality —2 Corinthians 8:13 NAU

Do you know that people with considerable money have more difficulty with that passage than those with little?

Mother Teresa had a handle on how most people view giving. She observed, “The more you have the less you can give, and the less you have the more you can give.”[71]

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. —Matthew 10:8 NAU

D.   DON’T MISS A BLESSING

The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. —Proverbs 11:25 NAU

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. —Psalm 112:5 NIV

9Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; 10So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. —Proverbs 3:9-10 NAU

In Run with the Horses, Eugene Peterson tells how he saw a family of birds teaching their young to fly. Three young swallows were perched on a dead branch that stretched out over a lake. "One adult swallow got alongside the chicks and started shoving them out toward the end of the branch—pushing, pushing, pushing. The end one fell off.

Somewhere between the branch and the water four feet below, the wings started working, and the fledgling was off on his own. Then the second one.

"The third was not to be bullied. At the last possible moment his grip on the branch loosened just enough so that he swung downward, then tightened again, bulldog tenacious. The parent was without sentiment. He pecked at the desperately clinging talons until it was more painful for the poor chick to hang on than risk the insecurities of flying.

The grip was released, and the inexperienced wings began pumping. The mature swallow knew what the chick did not—that it would fly—that there was no danger in making it do what it was perfectly designed to do. "Birds have feet and can walk. Birds have talons and can grasp a branch securely. They can walk; they can cling. But flying is their characteristic action, and not until they fly are they living at their best, gracefully and beautifully.[72]

How like the third little bird we tend to be. We cling tenaciously to our secure branches, when we could be soaring above the clouds. We limit ourselves so much, when we fear to turn loose and allow God to guide us to the very thing for which we were created.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. —Malachi 3:10 NAU

CONCLUSION:

Since everything belongs to God, including us, and since we are stewards of what He has placed in our care, we should have an attitude of obedient, self-denying, cheerful giving back to the Lord the portion He asks of us.

CHAPTER 15: GOD HAS A NAME

What is in a Name?

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. —Exodus 20:7

What is in a name? A group of letters—a couple of syllables pronounced quickly, almost without thought, when we refer to one another. So, what is the value of a name? Well, for one thing, it is the single means of uniquely identifying a person. When your parents named their children, did they call all of you by the same name? When you went to school, did the teacher have difficulty giving you a unique moniker?

George Foreman, former boxer and marketer of the George Foreman Grill, offers a particular challenge on this issue of names. It seems he named each of his five sons George. Yes, I said all five of George Foreman’s sons are also named George. Obviously, each son received a nickname, as well. How else would they be able to single out an individual? I am sure their household most have been quite interesting at time, especially since there are also seven daughters.[73]

Regarding the uniqueness of names, did you ever notice that you imagine certain characteristics in an individual, at the mention of their name? Even if you have never met a person, you tend to give him or her particular attributes, based on the mental image you bring to the screen of your mind. This, of course, is not an accident. Such images are the consequence of remembering others with the same name and the characteristics you have assigned to that earlier acquaintance.

A Number of years ago, the following observation occurred. A few changes have occurred over the years. However, the basic pattern remains. You are probably aware that the most common nicknames of college teams come from the animal world. Eagles and tigers lead the way, followed by cougars, bulldogs, bears, and multitudes of other ferocious creatures. Trailing the pack, snout to the ground, are the solitary anteaters of the University of California at Irvine.[74]

I wonder; if God gave us nicknames that were based on the characteristics of our spiritual lives, what would you be called?

Moreover, men of old felt equally sensitive about the names they were given. In ancient Israel, a name was a means of signifying the characteristics of the person. Abraham was Father of many nations; Isaac was One who laughs; Jacob was a man of contention who became a prince with God.

Furthermore, God himself has been given a name—a covenant name known intimately by His people, signifying the very character of God. Moreover, just as you and I are identified uniquely by our name, so is God. We cannot be satisfied in addressing a generic deity who is one among a hoard of nameless gods. Instead, we want to call upon the One we know intimately, the One whose name signifies the character of His person.

There are far more names attributed to our Lord than we can cover in this brief chapter. I will take the time to mention a few of those before going into more detail on the primary names by which we refer to God.

The passage we call the Lord’s Prayer, in Matthew 6:9, clearly identifies God as Father. Since I have devoted a chapter to this attribute of our Father, I will spare you any further detail.

The New Testament frequently uses the term kurios, which translates as Lord, Master, or Owner. Scholars generally consider kurios a New Testament equivalent of Yahweh, which we will review a bit later.

Adonai is a plural name for God, meaning Master, Owner, or Provider.

El Shaddai is often translated God Almighty. Although uncertain, this name is thought to reflect God’s loving supply and comfort.

El Elyon, the Most High God, emphasizes God’s strength, supremacy, and sovereignty.

Elohim is the first name we read for God. In Genesis 1:1, we encounter this plural name used to emphasize God’s majesty, sovereignty, creative activities, and, later, His provision for Israel.

Since the character of God, which we find reflected in the first two commandments, is so very important for us to remember, there is no wonder, then, that God commanded us not to abuse, misuse, or take His name lightly. To do so is to slander the very character of God himself. This, we can now understand, is the basis of the third commandment of God to his people.

Why such a stern commandment? Certainly one reason is that God wants us to have proper honor and regard for Him. However, it goes beyond that. He knows that if we have a high regard for His name, we will honor others’ names as well. Indeed, this is what He desires for us—to hold one another in high esteem.

Nonetheless, before we proceed to a study of God’s names, we need to discover what it means to take the name of the Lord in vain. First, we must understand the meaning of the name referenced in our text passage. If you look up Exodus 20:7 in most translations of the Bible, you will note that LORD is in all capital letters. Any place we see this name for God, we know it is a translation of the four Hebrew letters literally translated Yahweh. Since early Israelites desired to keep the third commandment faithfully, they refused to pronounce that Hebrew name at all. Instead, they cleverly took the vowel sounds from another name for God, resulting in Jehovah. We can find the introduction of this special name for God, and the reason God uses it, in Exodus 3:14.

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

This is quite an unusual name, to be certain. "I Am Who I Am." God needs no other basis of identification, he declares. Simply, "I Am." Some Hebrew scholars believe this name for God is an imperfect form of the "to be" verb, signifying, "I Will Be Who I Will Be."

Jesus tell us in John 8:58,

"Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Additionally, in Hebrews 13:8 we read,

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Thankfully, God did not leave our understanding of His nature broad and nebulous. Instead, He attaches a variety of characteristics to that covenant name―characteristics that encourage us to honor both the LORD and His name. In this chapter, we will touch upon several of these compound names.

JEHOVAH-JIREH—THE LORD WHO WILL SEE TO IT

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. 14So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." —Genesis 22:8, 14 NIV

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. —Genesis 22:14 KJV

The familiar story of Abraham taking his only son Isaac to a mountain peak to sacrifice him there to the LORD is the source of one of the most popular covenant names of the LORD. You remember how Abraham and Isaac travelled for three days with the wood and the fire for a sacrifice, but had no lamb.

When they had arrived at the appointed place and had built an altar, Isaac wanted to know the location of the sacrifice. He did not yet understand that he was the intended lamb. Nonetheless, Abraham's answer was quite revealing. He informed Isaac, “God will see to it”―and He did. God showed Abraham a ram caught in the bushes that became the sacrifice in place of Isaac. Furthermore, God will “see to it” for you and me, as well.

He has provided His son as the Perfect Lamb, the sacrifice for our sins (John 1:29). God will see to it that we do not have to pay the penalty for our own sins.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ―Romans 5:8

In addition, He has promised to supply all your needs. Those who place their trust in Him will enjoy His unfailing supply.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. C. He will make a way through your trials. ―Philippians 4:19

Furthermore, God has promised to deliver us through all our temptations. He did not assure us there would be no trials or temptations. He simply promised He would assure our victory over them.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. ―1 Corinthians 10:13

JEHOVAH-NISSI—THE LORD OUR BANNER

And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: ―Exodus 17:15 KJV

Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. ―Exodus 17:15 NIV

From another familiar passage in the Pentateuch, we discover the name Jehovah-Nissi, which means the Lord is my Banner. This idea of a banner, like a precious gem, has several facets to it.

In Exodus 17, we find the story of Moses interceding before God for the armies of Israel, while observing the battle from a distant peak. You remember that as his arms became weary, Aaron and Hur held up his arms. Hence, Moses continued praying until Israel prevailed in the battle. Furthermore, Moses recognized that Israel won the battle solely because of the LORD's intervention. Moreover, he signified this by declaring that Israel had fought the battle under the banner or insignia of the LORD.

We may best illustrate this particular understanding of a banner as follows. When an army takes a territory, the very first thing the conquering army does is to plant a flag of their country in a prominent location, replacing the flag of the defeated foe. We can recall and visualize many such occasions from the multitude of battles that have been fought throughout history.

Has the LORD planted His flag in your heart? Has the enemy of your soul been defeated by the armies of the LORD? He has promised to fight our battles for us. Have you let Him win the victory in your life and plant His flag of ownership there?

This use of a banner is also found at the head of a procession, as the victorious army returns home. The person with the flag or banner will march at the head of the parade as the victorious army enters their own home city. In Revelation 19:16, in the description of Christ's Victorious Return, we read of a very special banner,

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

So let us march in his victory, as we head for home, behind the banner of the LORD of LORDS and KING of KINGs.

Additionally, one will also find a banner in the banquet room of the King. This was another reminder to all who entered the banquet room who was host of the event. When we apply this picture of a banner to the Song of Solomon as an allegory of our relationship with Christ, we envision ourselves invited to the banquet house of Our Beloved.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. ―Song of Solomon 2:4

Does the banner of The Lord Jesus Christ fly over your intimate life? Is He enthroned there also? Does He feed you delicacies from His table as He speaks to you softly of His love for you? This He desires also—to be the Lover of your soul—your hero, the one of whom you dream, the one with whom you long to spend your time. Read the entire Song of Solomon, if you desire to get a picture of Christ and His love affair with you, His bride.

Have you been taking the name of the LORD in vain? Have you taken lightly the fact that He is your Provider? Have you ignored the fact that He is the conquering King and wants to rule over your life and to be the Lover of your soul?

I challenge you, starting right now, determine you will no longer take the name of the LORD your God in vain—but will honor, respect and cherish it; because it reminds you of the ONE who Provides for you and conquers for you, and loves you more than you know.

JEHOVAH-SHALOM—THE LORD OUR PEACE

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. —Judges 6:24 KJV

So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. —Judges 6:24 NIV

In Judges 6, we read of Gideon’s visit from an angel of the LORD. Gideon, quite understandably, was frightened. Nonetheless, the angel told him not to fear—to be at peace. Therefore, Gideon built an altar to the LORD, in that location, and called it The-Lord-Shalom.

When Gideon had come face-to-face with an angel of the LORD and found peace there, it made such a lasting impression on him that he called the place where it happened "The LORD is Peace."

Isaiah prophesied that the coming Messiah would be called Prince of Peace.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6

A young daughter was working so diligently at her homework that her father became curious and asked her what she was doing.

"I'm writing a report on the condition of the world and how to bring peace," she replied.

"Isn't that a pretty big order for a young girl?" her father asked.

"Oh, no," she answered, "and don't worry. There are three of us in the class working on it!"

One can certainly not fault the little girl for her effort and ambition. As to her ability to bring about world peace, that is a different story. Nonetheless, God smiles upon those who seek after peaceful resolution to troubling situations.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. —Matthew 5:9

Christ's mandate to be peacemakers remains an awesome challenge for all Christians. However, we have all learned that true peace can never be realized outside of the Prince of Peace.

Several years ago, a submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it returned to the harbor, the captain was asked, "How did the terrible storm last night affect you?"

The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed, "Storm? We didn't even know there was one!"

The sub had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached the area known to sailors as "the cushion of the sea." Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds, the waters below are never stirred.

We too can receive protection from the waves of worry, if we are resting deeply in the LORD. There, sheltered by His grace and encouraged by His Holy Spirit, we can find the perfect tranquility that only Christ can provide.

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7

Furthermore, Ephesians 2:14 informs us, regarding our relationships with one another. Prejudice and lack of mutual respect has separated races and groups of people for thousands of years. Isn’t it about time we began to act and look like the true Body of Christ? Let His peace draw us together as nothing else can do.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. —Ephesians 2:14

Christ alone can bring calm from the storms of life. Moreover, Jesus has promised this peace to you and me. John 14:27 reads,

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Long ago, a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.

The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely, this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself; and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters, as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.[75]

Indeed, this is a true picture of God’s peace at work in our lives. While the storms of life fiercely rage all around us, we are safe in the Cleft of the Rock, Jesus.

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH—THE LORD WHO IS ALWAYS THERE

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD Is THERE. —Ezekiel 48:35

When Ezekiel had finished describing the Celestial City, in the last chapter of his book, he ends with the above verse, concluding with this statement, "The LORD is There."

When John the Revelator tells of the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, he describes the throne of God and of the Lamb at the center of that City.

Yes, God in our midst—from the beginning, it has been so. Furthermore, it will be so through eternity!

When Adam and Eve walked through their garden paradise, in the cool of the day, who came and joined them for their stroll? God himself! (Genesis 3:8)

When Enoch, that righteous man of old, was taken from this world, what was his epitaph? He walked with God! (Genesis 5:22-24)

When the three young Hebrew men were thrown into a roaring furnace, because of their refusal to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar, what do we find taking place? A fourth man walking about in the furnace with them—One whom the king himself admitted must be the Son of God. (Daniel 3:25)

Many years later, when two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus after Christ’s crucifixion, who appeared and began walking with them—the Resurrected LORD! Moreover, they marveled to one another, did not our hearts burn within us! (Luke 24:13-32)

When Jesus was about to be taken back to His Father, He assured his followers they need not ever be alone again. He said, I will not leave you comfortless or as orphans. He promised to send His Holy Spirit to dwell in us at all times. (John 14:18, 26)

Furthermore, Jesus’ parting words, according to Matthew 28:20, were, “Indeed, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The Lord is always there.

JEHOVAH-TZIDKENU—THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. —Jeremiah 23:6

Some time ago, a minister was chatting with a consultant for some of the largest U.S. companies about their quality control. Because ministry is a form of human quality control, he thought he would ask for some insights.

He was told, "In quality control, we are not concerned about the product."

The minister was surprised.

However, the consultant went on to say, "We are concerned about the process. If the process is right, the product is guaranteed."

How relevant that observation is to our Christianity. Often, we tend to be more oriented to the "product" of our faith than the process. As Christians, we tend to desire and demand products of righteousness, but give little attention to the process.

Furthermore, this little story helps us to define the name of God we want to highlight here—"The LORD Our Righteousness." We might define righteousness as having the necessary qualities to do right. The prophet Jeremiah gave this name for God, in reference to the offspring of David who would reign over the earth (Jeremiah 23:6).

The Psalmist tells us that the LORD is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works (145:17).

Again, when the Psalmist gives us a glimpse of the coming Messiah, we read that He loves righteousness (45:7).

Moreover, When Isaiah foretells of the same Anointed One referred to earlier by Jeremiah, he states that righteousness shall be His belt—it will keep His garment secure, so that He does not stumble (Isaiah 11:5).

And when we are given a picture of the conquering Christ, in the final chapters of Revelation, we are told that He rides forth to victory in righteousness (19:11).

There is good reason why it is so important for us to understand that the LORD Jehovah is Righteousness. It is because we are unable to be righteous, no matter how hard we try. All of us have sinned. There is no one who has done only good and never sinned—except for Jesus, of course (Romans 3:23; Psalm 14:1).

As Paul reminds us in Romans 7:15, 24-25, 8:1,

15For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? —Hebrews 9:13-14

JEHOVAH-RAPHA—THE LORD OUR HEALER

"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." —Exodus 15:26

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, —Psalms 103:1-3

Moreover, we are told in Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Peter quotes this verse in his First Epistle, chapter 2, verse 24, clearly linking it to Jesus Christ. He expresses no doubt that Jesus provided, by His stripes, for our healing.

Health, to the ancient Hebrew, implied overall wellbeing. It referred to the body, mind, and spirit all being right. After all, we must face the reality that, unless Jesus returns for us before we have lived out our allotted years, we will all succumb to the wearing out of this body. Therefore, physical healing is always a temporary reprieve of the inevitable. However, we do not have to live a crippled, helpless, hopeless life while we are here!

However, Christ is our healer—we cannot heal ourselves. Thus, we must allow Him to bring wholeness into our life, in His way and time. We cannot put restrictions on God, dictating how He must act to bring healing into our life.

The following is a wonderful prayer by Norwegian Theologian Ole Hallesby:

"Lord, if it will be to Your glory, heal suddenly. If it will glorify You more, heal gradually; if it will glorify You even more, may your servant remain sick awhile; and if it will glorify Your name still more, take him to Yourself in heaven."[76]

Robert L. Lynn wrote the words of the following poem for a friend. The words were largely forgotten, until someone discovered the poem and copied it. The poem soon made its rounds on the Internet, often without attribution. It makes a powerful statement, for sure.

Cancer is so Limited

By Robert L. Lynn

They’ve sentenced you with invisible cells that embed themselves deep in body recesses and multiply: lymphatic assault on vital functions.

Can cancer conquer you?

I doubt it, for the strengths I see in you have nothing to do with cells and blood and muscle.

For cancer is so limited—

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the spirit.

It cannot cancel Resurrection.

Can cancer conquer you?

I doubt it, for the strengths I see in you have nothing to do with cells and blood and muscle.[77]

We are foolish and presumptive when we attempt to force the hand of God. Does that mean we should simply throw up our hands in surrender and simply take whatever sickness or disease comes to us, without response on our part? Of course not! We should no more presume the inevitable victory of disease over our body than we should presume immediate healing. Furthermore, God's Word encourages us to pray for and expect physical healing to take place. James 5:14-15 declares:

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Have you ever watched a bird sleeping on its perch and never falling off? How does it manage to do this? The secret is the tendons of the bird's legs. They are so constructed that when the bird bends its knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly.

From sleeping birds, we can learn the secret of how to hold onto things which are most precious to us—honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, respect, and character. The secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values that make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured He will hold tightly to us.

CONCLUSION:

I trust that the LORD Who is Always There is dwelling in your heart today. I trust that He has brought His peace to abide there. Furthermore, may the Lord Our Righteousness also be the Lord Our Healer. He has promised this to us. Let us not fall short of the wholeness appropriating this promise will bring into our lives. God wants His Presence, His Peace, and His Provision to abide with us to the very end of this life and to carry us victoriously into eternity.

CHAPTER 16: GOD IS OUR SHEPHERD

Jehovah-Roeh—The Lord Our Shepherd

This name for God is so important, I decided to give it a complete chapter. Furthermore, I can think of no better outline for describing God as our Shepherd than following the verses of Psalm 23. The discussion of this name for God is considerably longer than the others we have studied. However, I believe our relationship with the Good Shepherd is worth the extra space.

1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Jesus described His role as Good Shepherd to us in John chapter 10. After He detailed the characteristics of a Good Shepherd versus a hireling, the disciples still did not understand that He was speaking of himself. Finally, He plainly stated to them, "I am the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep." The Lord who, according to Colossians 1, is the Creator of the universe has chosen to be Shepherd of my life.

One of the ways herdsmen and shepherds identify their own animals is by cutting special notches in the ear of the animal. This method is often used as a substitute for, or in addition to, branding. The mark is more easily seen from a distance. Furthermore, an animal without a mark, or with a mark in a different location, will immediately stand out from the rest of the flock or herd.

Masters used this same practice in ancient Israel to identify a love slave. An owner may offer a slave his freedom only for the slave to respond that he desires to remain a slave for the remainder of his life, because of his love for his master. That is why he is called a love slave. The owner would then mark this slave, in his ear, to identify to anyone who saw the slave that he was a love slave to his master.

You and I bear God’s special, unique mark in our ear much like a love slave of the Old Testament. God identifies us as belonging only to Him for the rest of our lives.

But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. —Exodus 21:5-6

Once I have declared my loyalty to my Shepherd, I bear a clear identity as one of His. It is now public knowledge and is plain for everyone to see.

Furthermore, I am completely dependent on the Lord for my care. I cannot make adequate provision for myself. I would become lost if I were to go out on my own, seeking food and water. I dare not go anywhere without my Shepherd to guide me.

William Barclay notes the following about shepherds: His life was very hard. No flock ever grazed without a shepherd, and he was never off duty. There being little grass, the sheep were bound to wander, and since there were no protecting walls, the sheep had constantly to be watched. On either side of the narrow plateau, the ground dipped sharply down to the craggy deserts and the sheep were always liable to stray away and get lost.

The shepherd's task was not only constant but dangerous, for, in addition, he had to guard the flock against wild animals, especially against wolves, and there were always thieves and robbers ready to steal the sheep.

Sir George Adam Smith, who travelled in Palestine, writes: "On some high moor, across which at night the hyenas howl, when you meet him, sleepless, far-sighted, weather-beaten, leaning on his staff, and looking out over his scattered sheep, every one of them on his heart, you understand why the shepherd of Judea sprang to the front in his people's history; why they gave his name to their king and made him the symbol of providence; why Christ took him as the type of self-sacrifice." Constant vigilance, fearless courage, patient love for his flock, were the necessary characteristics of the shepherd.[78]

In addition, I am safe in His care and provision. I not only have my every need supplied, but I am content here in His care. This provision is not just in possessions. In fact, we frequently read that worldly wealth can corrupt us. The provision that matters most is of inner peace and joy, which no human can give or take away.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. —John 14:27

2a. He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

Four things keep a domesticated animal from lying down. These are particularly true of sheep: A sheep will not lie down if he is afraid, threatened by other sheep, tormented by flies or parasites, or if he is hungry.

Paul tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Sheep will lie down and rest, when they know their Shepherd is keeping away the wolves and bears and other predators.

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah —Psalms 32:7

Sheep will also be at rest when they know their Shepherd is nearby to prevent other sheep from butting them and driving them away from their place of food, safety, and rest.

and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. —Ephesians 2:16

A Good Shepherd will also make sure His sheep are free from the persistent insects that torment them. If not properly tended by pouring oil over the sheep’s head, the insects will eventually drive the sheep crazy. Worse yet, the insect bites may become infected and bring about blindness. The Good Shepherd will carefully pour oil over the head of the sheep so that it can lie down and rest.

In addition, sheep cannot peacefully rest if they are not well fed. This, too, requires much effort and care on the part of the Shepherd. Our Shepherd causes us to lie down in green pastures surrounded with everything we need.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19

2b. He leads me beside the still waters

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. —Matthew 5:6

Still water, as used here, is not referring to stagnant water. Instead, it identifies the deep, quiet streams. The deeper stream will run more quietly. The water level is well above the rocks that are the source of a constant chattering. However, a deep-running stream also affords more danger. The Good Shepherd will not allow a sheep to approach the deep waters without supervision. The awkward, careless sheep may well slip or stumble and fall into the depths. If the Shepherd is not nearby, the sheep stands little chance of pulling itself out of the water. With its now water-laden wool and its inherent difficulty of righting itself, once on its back, there would be little hope for the endangered sheep.

In addition, those early morning hours, while the dew is still heavy upon the grass, offer one of the best sources of quiet water. No wonder the Psalmist cries, "Early will I seek Thee."

Moreover, the Good Shepherd will prevent the flock from drinking from polluted streams. He will make certain the water is safe before allowing the sheep to drink. A thirsty animal will drink anything it finds. Arid regions are infamous for their heavy alkaline-contaminated waters, which are poisonous to animals and humans.

Our Good Shepherd is careful to protect us from those things that would be harmful to us, often completely unknown to us.

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18"they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." —Mark 16:17-18

3a. He restores my soul

The Psalmist, in chapter 42, verse 5, cries, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?"

A cast down sheep has gotten onto its back and cannot get back on its feet. If not discovered and restored in a short time, this sheep will die. The loss of circulation and resulting loss of strength causes the upside-down sheep to become totally helpless—and terminal, unless the Shepherd quickly finds and rights the sheep.

However, the Shepherd of my soul hears when I cry out in despair, like the Psalmist. Furthermore, He restores me back to my feet, so that I can once more graze in His inviting, green pastures.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me with Your generous Spirit. —Psalms 51:10-12

3b. He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake

Sheep, like us, are creatures of habit. They will follow the same trail, until it becomes a washed out gulley. They will graze in the same pasture, until it becomes barren, as they literally eat the grass down to the roots. This practice also invites all the diseases and parasites that can destroy even a healthy herd.

Likewise, a sheep is prone to wondering away from the herd and from safety—literally walking off a cliff to his or her own destruction.

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12They shall bear you up in their hands, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. —Psalms 91:11-12

4a. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me

At this point, Psalm 23 makes a transition from third person—telling about the Good Shepherd—to second person—talking with the Shepherd.

The Mountaintop

I love to be on the mountaintop;

I love to breathe its air.

The beautiful view from the mountaintop

Is hard to be compared.

I love to look from the mountaintop

To the valley far below.

It seems to be much clearer here

Than the valley could ever know.

But I cannot stay on the mountaintop;

It was never meant to be.

It is only for a moment's time

I can share its ecstasy.

I must see, while on the mountaintop,

God's purpose for my life.

I must hasten, then, from my lofty peak

To a valley full of strife.

No, I cannot live on the mountaintop;

Instead, God says to me,

"You will find Me in your valleys, too:

I will always be with thee."

So, I come down from the mountaintop,

With its beauty and its calm,

To make, with the "flowers and herbs I've found,

A fragrant smelling balm.

You may never know how your mountaintop

Will help a friend in need.

As you meet him in the valley

And salve his wounds that bleed.

Remember, it's not the mountaintop

Alone that makes you strong.

You must sometimes fast and often pray

In the valleys that come along.

Then, you'll someday dwell on the mountaintop

That God has made for you.

No more valleys will come your way:

Christ's love has seen you through.

—Norman R. Lindsay, 1980

We all want to go to the high country. We love to breathe the pure, fresh air. We sigh with relief at its quiet majesty. Yes, we desire the heights of God's Provision. However, none of us wants to walk through the valley to get there. This phrase speaks of leaving behind the winter and spring pastures of the plain and beginning the trek up the long pathways to the lush mountain meadows, which can only be enjoyed by following the Shepherd from one meadow to another up the dark, treacherous valley path.

For us to go with safety up these winding pathways, we must shed anything that may cause us to become weighted down or off balance. We need to be at our best when traveling the mountain trail ways.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:1-2

As we pass through the valley, on our way to the mountain peak, we feel all alone with our Shepherd. While others are out happily grazing in the relative safety of the plains, we must walk this dark valley, with no one beside us except our Shepherd.

We all have moments when it seems there is not a friend left on the face of the earth. We feel as if someone has ripped a huge hole in our heart and left us to suffer, alone. Nonetheless, we are not unaccompanied; for the Shepherd is still with us, even in the darkness of the fearful valley, with all the accompanying sights and sounds of death.

In addition, the path to the mountain meadows must necessarily follow the valleys, which are the only means of getting from the plains to the mountains. Psalm 42:1-2 gives us the picture of a deer running hard and far to avoid the wolves that intend to destroy her. She finally breaks out of the forest into a small clearing where a fresh, bubbling brook awaits her. Frightened and exhausted, the deer takes the time to drink deeply of the refreshing water before continuing her escape.

In this same manner, we find ourselves cruelly oppressed by our enemy, who has our destruction on his mind. With joy and thanksgiving, we discover a place of refreshing, in the presence of our Lord, before we must face our enemy again. Those refreshing times are spiritual lifesavers. Without them, we would faint and be destroyed.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? —Psalms 42:1-2

"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. —Matthew 7:14

However, we must never forget that we walk through not just into the valley. There is no reason to fear, as long as the Shepherd is leading the way through the valley. He has promised that the valley is only for passing through. We need not stay there. We will not perish there. Our Good Shepherd will protect us from all predators and dangers found in the valley. Furthermore, our Shepherd has provided lush pastures for us in the meadows beyond.

4b. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me

The rod is a weapon of authority, discipline, protection, and defense, used to safeguard against danger—both to the Shepherd and to the flock. It is, in a very effective way, an extension of the Shepherd’s right arm.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, —2 Timothy 3:16

God’s Word is a rod for us, in the hand of our Great Shepherd. For the Christian, Scripture carries the nature of "Thus saith the Lord." God's Word, as our primary source of authority, is a comfort to me. I know where the boundaries are. I do not have to guess at what is right and wrong. His Word is the sure source of authority for the Believer.

This rod is also used as a source of discipline. By carefully, but firmly, applying Scripture, we who are stubborn and self-centered can be properly halted from our straying. Furthermore, we can receive warning of the danger found in following our own path.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path —Psalms 119:105

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:6

This rod is also a tool used to examine the sheep for disease and parasites. The Shepherd is able to pass the rod over the sheep and quickly tell if there are pressing health concerns. The rod more effectively enables the Shepherd to see to the health and wellbeing of His flock.

Our Good Shepherd does the same with us, through His Word. Psalms 139:23 states,

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

In addition, the rod is a source of defense, keeping away the enemies of the flock. God's Word is the only sure means of protection from the enemies of our soul. It is an indisputable weapon in the hands of our Shepherd.

The staff, like the rod, has several uses. However, the staff is strictly for the comfort and wellbeing of the sheep. The staff allows the Shepherd to develop intimate relationships and is very effective in guiding the flock—by directing wandering sheep back into the flock.

Likewise, our Shepherd draws us into relationship with one another.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. —1 Corinthians 12:13

The staff is particularly helpful in extricating a sheep from the predicaments into which it may get itself. The staff is quite handy for rescuing a sheep that has fallen down a ravine or into a cleft in the rocky incline. In precisely this same manner, the Holy Spirit comes alongside to help us.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. —Psalms 40:2

Moreover, the Shepherd will employ His staff to lift a newborn or timid lamb and draw it to its mother, so there will not be a rejection or alienation. Since rejection of lambs by their mother is a common occurrence, this is a vital part of being a Good Shepherd.

In the same manner, the Holy Spirit draws us to Christ. He gently nudges us toward our Lord, allowing us to become better acquainted with Him, and enabling us to receive the nourishment we so urgently need.

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, 17"even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 26"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. —John 14:16-18, 26

The Shepherd may also use the staff to direct the sheep into new paths. As mentioned earlier, like us, sheep are creatures of habit. They will continue on the same path until the Shepherd steers them, with His staff, into a new pathway.

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." —John 16:13-14

Sometimes, the Shepherd will utilize this process of guidance simply to facilitate a special intimacy between the Shepherd and a particular sheep or lamb. He may desire to spend time with an individual that has been injured or become ill.

5a. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

The table referred to here is a plateau. This is a quite common use of the word. Actually, the word mesa used so often to refer to a plateau is the Spanish word for table. The preparing of this plateau refers to the placing of salt and other minerals and the locating of suitable bedding grounds. It also includes removing of toxic weeds and other menaces.

Shifting to a human analogy, table makes reference to a meal prepared for special guests. This choice of words is often the one used to describe a king’s banquet table. This speaks of special honor and provision.

Jesus reminded Peter of this kind of care for him when He told Peter that He prayed for him.

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." —Luke 22:31-32

Keep in mind, for the sheep, all this preparation is taking place within sight of the enemy. It is remarkable that the sheep of this Psalm can quietly graze on the plateau pasture, prepared by their Loving Shepherd, while the enemies of the flock watch from below. The wolves and other predators are able to see the sheep but not able to get to them, because the flock is on a plateau, or table. Under these conditions, the sheep does not fear those enemies; because he knows they are clearly visible to his caring Shepherd, as well. As Psalms 3:6 says,

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. —Psalms 3:3

5b. You anoint my head with oil

The need for protection from the invasion of flies and other insects is inevitable. Without treatment, the intensity of this attack causes severe damage; and some sheep will actually bring about their own death, attempting to rid themselves of this assault. A shepherd will tell you that an ointment of oil, sulfur, and tar, when properly applied, makes an almost miraculous transformation in the sheep's disposition.

We, likewise, are constantly invaded by seemingly innocent and harmless distractions, which, if left unattended, cause severe damage or death. However, we have the healing anointment of the Holy Spirit that, time after time, is poured over our infested lives to bring about the purity and health God desires for us.

Paul reminds us of the importance of this in Ephesians 5:18:

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, [or more literally "be being filled"]

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. —Romans 8:1-2

5c. My cup runs over

Certainly, we can all say that our lives have overflowed from the abundance of God's blessings. However, there is more meaning in this phrase. In the winter cold, the quiet pools of water or the troughs of water that the Shepherd provides tend to freeze over. The need for a fresh source of water is of particular importance then.

Such is true with us as well. In the sunny days of our lives, we find it easy to locate the streams of flowing water. Nonetheless, in the harsh, snow-covered days of winter, we must look much harder to discover those streams that flow from God Himself. As the song reminds us, "Anyone can sing when the sun is shining bright, but you need a song in your heart at night."[79]

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. —James 1:2-4

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. —2 Corinthians 6:10

6a. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life

The flock of the Good Shepherd can boast in the assurance that their Shepherd will take good care of them. He will extend mercy toward them, because of His great love for His sheep.

Look around you! Reflect on your own life, yes even with all its problems and disappointments. What else can we say but that goodness and mercy have been our lot? Therefore, we have every confidence He will not change in His attitude toward us. We are confident that Jehovah-Shammah, the LORD Who is There, will always be there for us.

However, there is another side to this phrase as well. The verse states that goodness and mercy shall follow me. That implies that these virtues will come after me as well as proceed me. Therefore, if we are sheep of the Good Shepherd, the benefits of belonging to Him will follow us, as well.

Just as a sheep fertilizes and clears a field from weeds, we are to be salt and light to this world—making a positive difference wherever we set our feet. We are a living advertisement for our Shepherd. We inform everyone who sees us what it is like being in the Great Shepherd’s flock. Either we will complain about the scarcity of our provisions; or we will brag about being well fed, content, healthy, and peaceable.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15"Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:13-16

6b. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever

The sheep feels very secure being a part of the flock of the Great Shepherd. He has no desire to leave. His every need has been supplied. He has no temptation to escape to mingle with the sheep of another shepherd. Why should he? He has everything he needs with His Shepherd.

Furthermore, he has no fear of being forsaken by the Good Shepherd. As we are told in John 10:27-29, we are safe in His hands. No man or beast can snatch us out of the hand of our Shepherd.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

CONCLUSION:

What kind of sheep are you? Are you content with your shepherd? Does He provide for all your needs? Does He bring comfort and peace in your hours of turmoil? What does your shepherd offer you?

With our Great Shepherd, we not only have everything we need to be healthy and content, we have even more awaiting us after this life is finished.

and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. —1 Peter 5:4

CHAPTER 17: SINCE GOD IS, LET GOD…

We have argued the evidence for the existence of God. However, we concluded that, no matter the weight of the proof, we still must take a “leap of faith” to decide we believe God really does exist.

In addition, we have touched upon a number of attributes of God’s character. We have learned much about the various ways He cares for us. We have determined that God is Someone on whom we can depend. The numerous names men have used to identify God have further enlightened and encouraged us.

Therefore, we must ask, what is stopping us from letting God be all He desires to be in our lives? Since God does, indeed, exist and is powerfully at work in our lives and our world, why not…

1. LET GOD KEEP YOU

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. —Proverbs 22:6

My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, —Proverbs 6:20-23 NIV

Let us nurture our children in the principles of God’s Word so that they will continue to follow these same values, after they are grown. God is able not only to save our family and us; He is able to keep us, as well.

2. LET GOD GUIDE YOU

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. —John 16:13 NIV

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, —Psalms 23:2 NIV

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. —Psalms 73:24 NIV

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." —Isaiah 30:21

Our Good Shepherd will guide us safely to the table He has prepared for us. He will guard against any predator that may attempt to sneak in among us. He will stay close beside us as we walk through the dark valleys. We have no reason to fear; our Shepherd is with us, even in the darkest hour. He has His weapons at the ready, should any wolf or bear approach us.

Countless times, Our Good Shepherd has drawn us from a ravine or cleft with His ever-present staff. He has used this same staff to draw us to Himself, when He desired close communion with us. During those precious times, He has anointed our heads with oil, so that the flies and other insects will not destroy our vision.

Our Shepherd has always made sure we have plenty of fresh water. He knows how important water is to sustain life. He even promised us a living water to refresh our innermost being.

"but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." —John 4:14

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." —John 7:38

3. LET GOD USE YOU

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." —Acts 1:8 NIV

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. —Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. —Ecclesiastes 11:1

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" —Isaiah 6:8 NIV

CONCLUSION:

In this final section, I feel compelled to ask a few serious questions.

· Why do we call upon the Lord?

· Is our relationship to Christ a purely selfish one?

· Are we only interested in what we can get from the Lord?

· Do we ever give any thought to what God desires from us?

· If God asks something from us, will we be willing to give it?

· Are we willing to search God’s Word and seek His face in prayer to determine what He desires of us?

God’s Word tells us that He is not willing that any should perish. He desires for everyone to come to Him and repent of their shortcomings. He is longing for a personal relationship with each of us—and with everyone we know, as well.

Although we are abundantly blessed by our Lord, we live in a world filled with difficulties and challenges. All around us are people who desperately need someone to guide them to safety.

Therefore, let us close this time of reflection by submitting ourselves to the “God Who Is,” in the same manner as did Isaiah, in the above passage, “Lord, here am I. Send me!”

Books Available from this Author

Filling Empty Pulpits: Developing Homegrown Leaders

God in Covenant with Man

God is…

Guarding the Gates of Our Heart

Jesus, Above all Others: An Overview of Hebrews

Learning Leadership: Taking Spiritual Growth to the next Level

Portraits of the Patriarchs

A Pilgrimage with Peter

Possessing the Promised Land: A Journey through Joshua

Putting on Christ in Our Family

Ray of Sonlight Volume 1: A Daily Devotional

Ray of Sonlight Volume 2: A Daily Devotional

Up to Jerusalem: Psalms of Ascent [120-134]

Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/normanlindsay

For more resources: http://Lindsaychurchsupportministry.com

For updates: https://www.facebook.com/normanrlindsay

Daily blog: http://rayofsonlight.blogspot.com

ENDNOTES

[1]Bruce Shelly, Christian Theology in Plain Language, Word Books, 1985, p. 38.

[2]Rene` Descartes, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and of Seeking Truth in the Sciences, (1637).

[3]Jim Bishop, Miami Herald, July 27, 1987.

[4]Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis, Harvest House, p. 319:

[5]Zig Ziglar, Confessions of a Happy Christian, Pelican Publishing Co., 1978, p. 20.

[6]John R. W. Stott and John Wyatt, Issues Facing Christians Today, Zondervan, 2006.

[7]The Christian Herald, June, 1989.

[8]“The Universe as Happy Conspiracy,” Washington Post, October 27, 1985.

[9]Quoted in "Is Science Moving Toward Belief in God?"

[10]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnut_the_Great#Ruler_of_the_waves, accessed January 11, 2014.

[11]Hy Pickering, Twice-Born Men: True Conversion Records of 100 Well-Known Men in All Ranks of Life, Pickering & Inglis LTD, 1930.

[12]John F. Walvoord, Decision, January 1991.

[13]Stephen Charnock, Discourses Upon the Existence and Attributes of God, Baker, 1979.

[14]http://www.biblicalwritings.com/encyclopedia-of-7700-illustrations-signs-of-the-times/?alfa=3-ILLUSTRATIONS&word=2705, accessed January 11, 2014.

[15]Charles Colson, Kingdoms in Conflict, Zondervan, 2010.

[16]http://www.prayingthegospels.com/martin-luther-quotes-2/short-quotes-martin-luther/, accessed January 11, 2014.

[17]C.H. Spurgeon, God’s Love to the Saints, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 2959, October 26, 1905.

[18]D.L. Moody, Pleasure & Profit in Bible Study, Fleming H. Revell, 1895.

[19]Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place, Bantam Books, 1984.

[20]F.B. Meyer, The Secret of Guidance, New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1896.

[21]John Walvoord, Decision, January 1991.

[22]As printed in Leadership, Winter 1992, p. 48.

[23]Ravi Zacharias , If the Foundations Be Destroyed, Preaching Today, Tape No. 142.

[24]Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Christian History, no. 29:

[25]Thomas Merton, The Spring of Contemplation, Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 10:

[26]Aurelius Augustine, Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 1:

[27]Oswald J. Smith, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 3:

[28]Soren Kierkegaard, Leadership, Vol. 2, no. 4.

[29]Sir Isaac Newton, Women in the Medieval Church, Christian History, no. 30:

[30]Ravi Zacharias , If the Foundations Be Destroyed, Preaching Today, Tape No. 142.

[31]Ben Patterson, Waiting, Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 11.

[32]Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 1:

[33]J. Kirk Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 39-41.

[34]Richard Exley, The Other God: Seeing God as He Really is, Logos, 1979.

[35]Max Lucado, No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, Multnomah Press, 1986, p. 158-59.

[36]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Abbott_McNeill_Whistler#cite_ref-14, accessed January 18, 2014.

[37]Quoted in Our Daily Bread, August 26, 1989.

[38]Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Sermon Notes, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publication, 1990, p. 77.

[39]Ravi Zacharias, If the Foundations Be Destroyed, Preaching Today, Tape No. 142.

[40]Ben Patterson in Waiting, Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 11.

[41]Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Christian History, no. 29.

[42]Sir Isaac Newton. Women in the Medieval Church, Christian History, no. 30:

[43]A. W. Tozer, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 3.

[44]Andrew Murray, “Humility, the Beauty of Holiness.” Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 1:

[45]Beth Landers, Waterloo, Ontario, Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 2:

[46]Jonathon Edwards in A Treatise Concerning Religious Affectations: Works (Vol. V). Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 4.

[47]Isaac the Syrian, Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 2.

[48]The Journals of Jim Elliot, from 1949, Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 5.

[49]Reuben Archer Torrey in “The Best of R. A. Torrey,” Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 9:

[50]Jerry L. Walls in “Good News” (May/June 1995), Christianity Today, Vol. 39,  no. 8.

[51]Jonathan Edwards in “Religious Affections,” Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 11:

[52]Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God, Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 8.

[53]E. M. Bounds in “The Best of E. M. Bounds on Prayer,” Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 6, 7:

[54]A.W. Tozer, “The Knowledge of the Holy,” Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 5:

[55]William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene 1.

[56]Robert H. Schuller, Life’s Not Fair, But God is Good, Bantom Books, 1997.

[57]Philip Yancey, Where is God When it Hurts?, Zondervan, 2010.

[58]Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God, Zondervan, 2009.

[59]The Wonders of Prayer: A Record of Well Authenticated and Wonderful Answers to Prayer, Fleming H. Revell, 1885, p. 84.

[60]Charles Colson, Justice, Navpress, 1988.

[61]Brennan Manning, The Ragmuffin Gospel, Multnomah, 1990, pp. 91-92.

[62]John Wilbur Chapman, Another Mile: and other addresses, Fleming H. Revell, 1908, p. 87-89.

[63]Charles Beard, Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany Until the Close of the Diet of Worms, London: Philip Green, 1896, p. 121.

[64]Prokope, V. 11, #5.

[65]White Rags in the Old Apple Tree, Don and Earl’s 20th Anniversary Heart Touching Poem and Story Book, Knoxville, TN, n.d.

[66]Quoted by Michael Anderson, Jr., Unclaimed Destiny the Workbook: A practical Guide for Unleashing Your Potential, WestBow Press, 2013, p. 35.

[67]A.W. Tozer, Man: The Dwelling Place of God, Fig, 2012.

[68]W. A. Criswell, A Guidebook for Pastors, Baptist Sunday School Board, 1980, p. 154.

[69]Ibid.,  p. 156.

[70]Philip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Zondervan, 1996.

[71]Mother Teresa, Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 1.

[72]Eugene Peterson, Run with the Horses, IVP, 2009.

[73]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Foreman#Family_and_private_life, accessed February 14, 2014.

[74]Psychology Today, July 1984.

[75]Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King: 8 Studies on the Armor of God, Victor Books, p. 45-46.

[76]Ole Hallesby, Prayer, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1931, 1959, 1994.

[77]Robert L. Lynn, © 2007. From Cancer Is So Limited and Other Poems of Faith, Amazon Books, 2013.

[78]William Barclay, Gospel of John, Westminster John Knox Press, 1975.

[79]E.L. Slavens and Ira Stanphill, New Spring, 1946.

Table of Contents

www.sermonillustrations.com

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1: GOD IS

Where God Ain’t

CHAPTER 2: GOD IS CREATOR

Where Were You?

CHAPTER 3: GOD IS ETERNAL

But for Grace

CHAPTER 4: GOD IS HERE

Peace from Above

CHAPTER 5: GOD IS UNCHANGING

CHAPTER 6: IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD

CHAPTER 7: GOD IS SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 8: GOD IS PERFECT

CHAPTER 9: GOD IS FOR US

CHAPTER 10: God is HOLY

CHAPTER 11: GOD IS MERCIFUL

CHAPTER 12: GOD IS LOVE

CHAPTER 13: GOD IS FATHER

CHAPTER 14: GOD IS OWNER

CHAPTER 15: GOD HAS A NAME

Cancer is so Limited

CHAPTER 16: GOD IS OUR SHEPHERD

The Mountaintop

CHAPTER 17: SINCE GOD IS, LET GOD…

Books Available from this Author

ENDNOTES

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