"Real and Joyful"

"With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King." (Psalms 98:6)
I was originally going to put this verse and the last one together as one, because I could not see the separation of the two; what was I thinking, there has got to be a celebration behind our reason for preparation. I still have not addressed the elephant in the room; maybe because it is too touchy of a topic; maybe, just maybe, it's too much of a mystery as to the degree of separation the God will allow, as in, how far can we walk away from God and still be within His grasp. I heard a message the other day that really made me think about this; it was actually the message delivered that Sunday before last, which was more about feeling good about ourselves than anything else. But this certain statement was made, which might have removed some of that feel good moment, when he said, "The father did not go after the son, but watched, waiting for him to come home." That might not give many people the hope and security that they would be looking for, especially if they are someone who has walked away from the Lord; but the father was looking for a reason, because he knew that his son would return. There is another issue that demonstrates this power that God has, it is the way that God knows in advance who His children really are. Besides that, the son never stopped being the son, no matter where he might have ended up, no matter had he even had came back at all; the father would have looked for his son to return home all the way up to the time of his passing, even with his dying breath, he would have longed for his son. I think we sometimes underestimate the love that God has for us, and how far He is willing to go in order to have real fellowship with us. When God said, "Let us make man in Our image," it was more about fellowship than anything else; it was the God-Head, Three-In-One, saying, 'Let's make something that can become one with Us.' What happens here is nothing compared to the eternity that we have waiting in heaven; so what makes anyone think that we can ever take away from what God has established, even from before the foundations of the earth. We might destroy this flesh; we might even make a pig of ourselves, bringing some serious dishonor to the Father in the process; but we can never ever do enough to destroy our inheritance that we have been given in Christ Jesus! If you walk away from the Lord, you are giving up on some wonderful blessings and a whole lot of peace and joy; but you not going to stop being a son or daughter on the King, not that easily...
"Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet. He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance, the proud possession of Jacob's descendants, whom he loves. Interlude
"God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring. Sing praises to God, sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm. God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere." (Psalms 47) NLT