With God . . . It IS About YOU
Encapsulated in this Psalm,
is the heart of it all . . .
Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name. For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! This poor man cried to the Lord-and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him. Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.
~ Psalms 34:3-10 (TLB)
Before the first rays of light warmed the great expanse and the waters separated . . .
Before the heavens were formed and the stars aligned in the first constellation . . .
Before the planets whirled through space to pull and be pulled in their synchronized orbits . . .
Before Halley’s comet streaked across the celestial canvas on its 76-year run or ever Polaris guided the first caravan across the desert sands . . .
. . . You were in the Father’s heart and He awaited your first breath of life.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ~ Ephesians 1:4 (KJV)
Before the moon took its first revolution around the earth . . . in the very opening words of the Bible–In the beginning, He knew you and chose you in Him. Isn’t it good to know God loved you before the world began and still does!
“From the beginning, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has been a God of deliverance, restoration, and salvation. What a wonderful day it will be when mankind comes to the realization of God’s good intent and good will toward all humanity.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ~ Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)
One of the hardest concepts for man to truly get his arms around is that God is good always, and that his intent toward mankind has always been good will. One elementary Scripture that should govern the hearts of mankind is the true proof of his redemptive love as so clearly expressed in John 3:16 (KJV).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Let me attempt to explain some of the greatness of the depth in this verse:
For God—who is indeed the greatest
So loved—the greatest intensity
The world—the greatest number (every person)
That he gave—the greatest act
His only begotten Son—the greatest sacrifice
That whosoever—the greatest invitation
Believeth in him—the greatest simplicity
Should not perish—the greatest deliverance
But have everlasting life—the greatest gift
How vast is the heart of God! How gracious is his invitation. How simple he made this magnanimous gift available.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9–10 KJV).
Then comes this stunning pronouncement to all of mankind,
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17 KJV).
Satan certainly condemns the world. Men may wish to condemn the world, but God’s proclamation is that it might be saved (restored to wholeness). Perhaps you were taught as was I, that God would destroy the world (the planets and the inhabitants) one day. How wrongly I had been informed. How often I would lay the blame for calamities, disasters, and tragedies at the feet of God. When the truth is, salvation for humanity is available now and God will bring the earth back into perfection at the appointed time. All the time my Bible spoke clearly and definitively—God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” ~ (The True Justice of a Just God, pages 63–64)