The Saturday Series - 31 - "The Possessor"

(Friends:  Most Saturdays for the duration of this year, I plan on sharing a message that relates to the character and nature of God, and our response thereunto.  I hope you will find it helpful, and as always, thanks for allowing us to send the devotionals to you.  Glen).

The Saturday Series - 31

"The Possessor"       

    

   

   

    Scripture declares God to be "the possessor of Heaven and earth" (Genesis 14:22).  It also affirms, "The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).  Thus, everything belongs to the One who made and sustains all things.  

   Note the present tense of the Biblical statements above, despite the existence of sin, imperfection, and even rebellion in God's creation.  In thy mystery of Divine wisdom and purpose, the Lord allows conscious beings to receive or reject Him, and thus to act as if we possess ourselves.  This delusion began with the angel Lucifer and others that followed him, proceeded to Adam and Eve, and now plagues the entire human race.  This includes born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have been delivered from the delusion's mastery and darkness, but who can still think, speak, act, and relate as if we belong to ourselves.  Thus, the Apostle Paul wrote to believers, "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

    Few Biblical truths more set our hearts at peace than the liberating illumination regarding "the Possessor."  God alone can own things in a manner that leads to function rather than futility.  His knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are perfect, infinite, and characterized by a heart of loving unselfishness.  These traits are inherent in Him, and thus He can own and govern His possessions with no possibility of misuse or abuse.  Conversely, created beings who seek to possess either themselves or anything else will always destroy both themselves and their supposed possessions, either immediately or over time.  God alone owns.  All others receive that portion of His property He chooses to vouchsafe to our stewardship, including our very being and everything we "have."  This is peace because this is Truth, and because the recognition thereof provides the only sane and safe way of viewing God, ourselves, others, and all creation.  "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9). 

    Let us breathe the sweet sigh of relief in this moment: God owns all things as the Possessor of Heaven and earth.  He does so perfectly, and He offers to us escape from the destructive delusion that we must view ourselves as possessors rather than possessions.  We are not equipped for the former; we exist for the latter.  Redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ saves us from the darkness and delusion unto the sweet liberty of belonging to the only One capable of possessing and governing our existence.  Yes, this is peace. This is Truth.  And this is the Light that beckons us in this moment to rest our hearts in the beautiful heart and strong hands of the Possessor.

"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen."

(Romans 11:36)

"Ye are not your own."

(I Corinthians 16:9)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

(I John 5:12)