2003-03-15 - All Thoughts Great and Small

Encore 1996-08-22

Driving home from work last night, I saw a oddly shaped cloud in the sky. It was shaped roughly like a cupped hand and extended arm. As I turned through a bend in the road, the late afternoon sun seemed for a moment to float in the hollow of the cupped hand. The picture reminded me of a verse in Isaiah 40:

Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by a span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure and weighed the mountains in the balance, and the hills in a pair of scales? ¹³ Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who as His councillor has informed Him?

The Lord Jesus, as He created the Universe, holds the Universe between His outstretched thumb and little finger, the span of His nail pierced hand. He spoke "Let their be..." and the power of His words created light, physically and in concept and in exacting measure, from nothing. In His thought, exact measure of elements, and the composition of the elements themselves were understood. The understanding was unleashed in limitless power by the spoken word of the Lord standing in the darkness of eternity past.

Psalm 90:1-2 Lord, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. ² Before the mountains were born, or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

We dwell in God and He protects us in His strength. He has cared for all generations, and therefore, preexisted mankind. It is a staggering statement to make: "Thou art God." alone imparts so many superlatives in honor, power and strength. And then to add the reference that stretch into eternity past simply adds dimension to the superlatives. Omnipotence, omniscience an d omnipresent in all things. The finite human mind can only begin to fathom the boundless depths of the infinite.

The Trinity is the source of all power, wisdom and time. They live outside these boundaries having created them as a reference for mankind. God is also the source of love, mercy and grace. One of the first glimpses of this love is seen in Genesis 1:26 where the members of the Trinity confer before man is created. The infrastructure of the earth and the heavens has been created by Jesus seemingly unilaterally. But extra care is taken in the creation of Adam, the first man. Later, Eve is created from one of Adam's ribs. This creation also has great pains and care taken in it. The resulting woman is as perfect as the first man. Even after the fall, God continued to provide for Adam and Eve, with skins first and a promise of redemption.

Genesis 3:15 (God to the serpent) And I shall put enmity between you and the woman (Eve), between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on your head, and you shall bruise him on the heal.

From before the initiation of the creation, God knew that mankind would fall, and need redemption. In eternity past, the Lamb of God was slain. Before time and space existed, our redemption was planned and secured. Jesus entered time and space, to show us the redemption that, in the mind of God, was already and accomplished fact.

Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone who name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

So, we see God in limitless power and might; beyond human measure in all things. While it is true that Lucifer has momentarily corrupted a small measure of love to lust, and power to avarice and hate, it is only for a season. In the near future, all things will be put right by the Lord forever. Such matchless attributes, it staggers my mind to attempt to capture the essence. And once my mind begins to grasp the enormity of it all, He reminds me that He chose me and loves me, in spite of all the thoughts and things that I have toyed with and done.

Colossians 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

He created every star, knows it's location, the day it fired to life and the day it will die out or nova. He sculpted the delicate, intricate and varied leaves of the plants. He spoke the word and all the worlds where created and placed into their courses. And yet, He has the hairs of our heads numbered. He values us far more than many sparrows and knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. The Psalmist asks (Psalm 8:4) "What is man, that Thou doest take thought of him?" Please take a moment and read Psalm 8. It is the perfect companion to these thoughts. God is all these mighty things and cares for us all so much that He willingly send His own Son to die in our place, to pay our price. I would not be so generous with my boys, I assure you. If the total provision for our salvation in Christ is the measure of God's love, it is easy to see that we are truly forever in His debt. And still He continues to pour on the blessings in this life, and is preparing a mansion for our home coming. The debt keeps rolling, and we are the only ones keeping count.

Lord Jesus, Your magnificent power and wisdom are so far beyond our minds that we stagger under the thought of them. And yet, it all this might and knowing, You care for each of us. It is Your will, your desire, that no one would perish. Your hand is reaching out to everyone. You know our names, our cares, our likes, our heart's desires and our days. Such intimate care seems to contradict the limitless strength. But it is all used to Your glory and our benefit . Thank you for that love and care. Keep us mindful of it. Teach us to love You and each other better as the days pass, even though we can never expect to return the smallest fraction to You by comparison. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org