“In Thy Light”

    One of the vast differences between God and ourselves is that He is perfectly self aware.  He knows exactly and completely who He is (a wondrous thing in light of His infinite and eternal being).  

    "I am the Lord.  That is My name…  I am the Lord, and beside Me is no savior… I am the Lord, and there is none else… I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight saith the Lord" (Isaiah 42:8; 43:11; 45:6; Jeremiah 9:24).

    Conversely, apart from Divine revelation, we do not know who and what we are.  No less than the Apostle Paul expressed consternation about his ignorance regarding himself.

    "For that which I do, I allow (understand) not.  For what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I" (Romans 7:15).

   The God who knows Himself perfectly also knows us perfectly.  Thus, He must progressively explain Himself to us, and He must explain ourselves to us.  "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).  The former illumination is central to our existence and well being.  "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  Indeed, we fail to understand ourselves because we do not adequately see the Lord as He is.  Thus, the more we "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ", the more we grow in realization of our need for grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.  Who are we?  Or make it personal - Who am I?  The answer lies in God, the One who knew we would exist before He made us, and the One who now knows us perfectly.  "Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:13).   Again, to know ourselves involves knowing the Creator and Sustainer of our very being.  We find no answers when we ask, "Who am I?"  We rather ask, "Lord, who are You?"

    Note the wondrous deliverance in such truth.  God's truth in Christ saves us from ourselves, or more specifically, from the misguided selfishness that constantly looks within rather than "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).  The very problem with humanity lies in our inclination toward viewing ourselves as the center of our existence.  We are not - "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).  The more such Light shines upon and within us, the more we experience the peace of knowing our Lord, and of knowing ourselves in relationship to Him.  In His light indeed shall we see light…

 

"Know ye that the Lord He is God.  It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.  We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture."

(Psalm 100:3)

Weekly Memory Verse

    "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

(Psalm 46:1)