"Representation"

"So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands." (Psalms 78:72) How do we know that God loves us? It's only obvious that He does, but it needs to be made personal and it needs to be accepted on His merit not ours. That's where we tend to screw things us, when we start basing the love of God towards us on our reaction or dedication to His love. If we could just learn to get it right, and if we could just rest in His love; then maybe, just maybe, we could actually persuade others that His love is real and that it's unconditional. I'm just speaking to myself here, so don't get offended if it seems that statement includes you. Whether you can accept it or not, we are not perfect people; at least not yet, not here on this earth. But, dear friends, we are perfect in heaven! As far as I see it, the deal is done! It was done the very first time I raised both of my hands and said, "Yes, I accept your free gift, Lord!" Even though I went forward numerous times after, those were just me saying, "Lord, help me love you back!" But as far as my eternal salvation, it was secured in heaven the very first day of my new birth; placed there out of the reach of anything here, including myself! What kind of guarantee do you need beyond that? Okay, so we mess up from time to time; as well as to be expected, because we are not home yet; and we are going to continue to mess up as long as we are living in these sinful bodies, but don't get used to it! It's not good to mess up! It is bad for us to mess up, and we should hate when it happens; but when it does, and it will, we need to remember that it's this stinky dead flesh that keeps fighting against our new spiritual nature, and to have the upper hand we need walk in the Spirit. Easier said than done, you say? Just do it! That's what the Bible says! Just try it and see if it does not work, because it will! That's what that whole "as far as the east is from the west" thing is all about, besides the fact that we have been eternally secured; on this earth, it's how we learn to walk in the Spirit: Don't turn back...
"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot -yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest upon him -the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with a baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in the nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD. In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place." (Isaiah 11:1-10) NLT