The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Mercy On His Mind"
"God made a human race that could and did rebel against Him. He did so in the full knowledge we would scatter as sheep in our unbelieving and disobedient flight from Him. He created us nevertheless, with mercy on His mind even before He made us."
Moses affirms and assumes God's existence.
"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
One must be before one can do. Thus, the Maker must exist, and He must predate His makings. This raises the question: how long did God exist before creating all things? Scripture plainly answers. "From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God" (Psalm 90:2). Our Lord has always been. An eternity of "from everlasting" therefore preceded His creation
We have no innate frame of reference for such a Being, possessed of knowledge, understanding, wisdom, creativity, and power so transcendent that He could create a universe wondrous beyond all imagining. We have only Scriptural reference, the witness of the Holy Spirit, the pondering and discoveries of humanity regarding the universe, and creation's own testimony of the living and eternal God. "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" (Romans 1:20).
This leads to another question, of even greater import: what kind of God made all things? What quality of character guides His actions? How does who the Lord is result in what He does? The Bible yet again answers. "Thou art good and doest good" (Psalm 119:68). The God who has forever existed always acts from a winsome nature of goodness. Yet another question presents itself: What is goodness, both in the character of God's heart, and the conduct of His hand? This inquiry most challenges our understanding, primarily because the eternal God exists and acts in a measureless quantity of infinite and loving goodness. "The love of Christ passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19) No full answer awaits us. However, on several occasions, the Psalmist provides a clue regarding that which may most speak to the truth that God is good…
"The Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting" (Psalm 100:5).
God made a human race that could and did rebel against Him. He did so in the full knowledge we would scatter as sheep in our unbelieving and disobedient flight from Him. He created us nevertheless, with mercy on His mind even before He spoke us into existence. The Apostle John refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). According to His "eternal purpose… in Christ Jesus our Lord," God formed a way to forgive in His heart before the first molecule of the universe sprang into existence by His hand. Little wonder the prophet stated a truth about our Lord's goodness for which we may have the least inherent frame of reference…
"He delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18).
Infinite glory lies before us. The "from everlasting to everlasting" God of goodness so loves to be merciful that the forgiveness that flows from His character preceded the fiat that formed His creation. Our Father made all things with "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" coursing through His heart and mind, in full knowledge of the cost - the cross - that would make our pardon possible. He freely forgives and redeems all who freely receive His grace by faith in the Lord Jesus. "Goodness?" The word does not seem big enough, does it? Yes, the from everlasting to everlasting God made all things, and He did so with mercy on His mind…
"Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."
(Nehemiah 9:17)
Weekly Memory Verse
Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."
(Nehemiah 9:17)
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