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“As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my Beloved among the sons.” (Song of Songs 2:3)
I have recently begun listening to C. H. Spurgeon sermons on the internet. That even sounds peculiar to me when I write this, since Spurgeon preached in London in the 1800′s, long before any of the technology that is so normal and commonplace to us. The sermons may be “old” but their content is as fresh and challenging today as it was on July 6, 1873, when the following was heard:
“My dear Hearers, there are some of you who have never known, yet, what it is to be perfectly happy. I do not call it being perfectly happy to be full of excitement, laughter and apparent joy—and then to go home in the evening and sit down and feel disgusted with it all. That is the froth of fancy and not the true wine of joy. But to be perfectly happy is to be able to think about all things on earth and all things in Heaven, and yet to say, “I lack nothing! There is nothing I desire, nothing I pine after! I am saved! I am a child of God—the eternal God is my own Father! I am on my way to His own glorious house. If death should strike me now it would not matter, or if I am spared for another 50 years it will make no difference to me, for all is well and could not be better! If there are crosses in my lot, they are God-sent crosses. If I have troubles, they work my lasting good. If I lose, I am a gainer by my losses. If I have all things, I see God in all things. And if I have nothing, yet I see all things in my God. Nothing more can I desire. Christ is all and Christ is mine and, therefore, I have all things.” Now, that is the position of the Christian this day. He sits down under the shadow of Christ and Christ’s fruit is sweet to him. Let me ask you, can you imagine any other place where such peace of mind or such happiness can be enjoyed?”
That is my “plea for grace.” That is my hope and my lasting joy. That is my treasure; that is the juiciest fruit, the reddest strawberry; the most juicy blackberry; the juiciest peach and apple that any fruit tree could ever produce. Is He yours?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
This has been a week of shaking my head and crying to God, “I just don’t understand! I don’t get it!” for various reasons. Marriage breakups just when it appeared there was a breakthrough; cyclone killing hundreds of thousands of people but supplies and food denied by their own government; financial ruin; job losses; wayward children. I’m sure anyone could add to this list and it would never come to an end.
This passage (actually the whole chapter), read in this context, not only gave me comfort, but also silenced much of my questioning:
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The real question is not, “God, why do these things happen?” but rather, “God, why are You so merciful? Why do You extend grace and mercy to any of us?” I had to repent, and reframe my questions. The real question is, “God, I just don’t get it? Why are You so incredibly merciful to me?”
And so, as in this passage, I seek the Lord while I can; I call upon Him, because He is near. In humble astonishment, He is near, and He loves me.
His Ways are not my ways; they are His ways.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 ESV)
Such a small verse. . .such immense power and freedom. I’m reading a book entitled, “The Cross-Centered Life” by C J Mahaney. It’s a small book, but I’m digesting it slowly. Reading it is almost like savoring a yummy dessert that is delicious, rich, yet calorie-free. That dessert is impossible to have! Exactly; the cross, God’s grace and mercy, our rescued, redeemed lives, are totally incredible. . .but God still did it. Read this quote from this book. Savor it; digest it; live like you believe that it is true.
“Because of the gospel’s power, you can be completely free of all condemnation.
Not mostly free; completely free.
Don’t buy the lie that cultivating condemnation and wallowing in your shame is somehow pleasing to God, or that a constant, low-grade guilt will somehow promote holiness and spiritual maturity.
It’s just the opposite! God is glorified when we believe with all our hearts that those who trust in Christ can never be condemned. It’s only when we receive his free gift of grace and live in the good of total forgiveness that we’re able to turn from old, sinful ways of living and walk in grace-motivated obedience.”
- C.J. Mahaney, The Cross Centered Life, 39, 40
