"On Solid Ground" -Too

"For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds." (Psalms 108:4)

 As far as our ability to reach, it is only by our lips that it is possible; through praise and prayer; by our sharing and ministering God's word; every word spoken of or about God's great mercy and love, is not only received in heaven, but it is recorded. Doesn't that make you feel like sharing the treasure that is in your heart? I know that the blood of Jesus has washed away all of our sins, but there is just something special about sharing the awesome gift we have been given; it is not for our salvation that we do this, it is to glorify the name of Jesus. Which reminds me, the solid ground that we are on, it is our Rock; He is the manifestation of the Word of God. John was so taken by this revelation that he spent the first 18 verses of his Gospel to try and get us to understand it. Isaiah 55:9 says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." There are a couple of different ways that we can receive that statement: one is that of God being so far superior and holy that we could never ever come close to understanding Him and how He works; the second, much like like the first, but with compassion, is that His ways and His thoughts for us are secured high above, out of our reach and beyond our ability to destroy them. No matter what we might think, God thinks differently; no matter which way we might turn, God will always turn us around. Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." God always finishes what He starts! We might not get that or understand how He works it all out, but isn't why we do what we do! Here is another quote from C.S. Lewis: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." If it is true, and I firmly believe that it is, then our very lives depend upon not only knowing it, but that we share it to those we love and meet; it is that important, because without them believing also, they are going to hell. That is the meaning of that quote; that is what drove Paul to keep praying for and ministering to his fellow Jews. Even though he was called to minister to the Gentiles, Paul still had a heart and a concern for those who he saw as being trapped under the law, unable to realize their own need for God's gift of salvation, because they were so consumed with following the law and doing it on their own. If ever you wanted an illustration of sinking sand, that was what it looks like...

""Yes," says the LORD, "I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt." All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what the LORD will do for you. They will be embarrassed at their feeble power. They will cover their mouths in silent awe, deaf to everything around them. Like snakes crawling from their holes, they will come out to meet the LORD our God. They will fear him greatly, trembling in terror at his presence. Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago." (Micah 7:15-20) NLT