The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
(Thanks to Mark C. for inspiration on this one)
"So"
A good friend made the comment yesterday, "God is so good," with emphasis on the "so." Small word. Infinite meaning. This brings to mind the most familiar statement in the Bible…
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Can one read this glorious declaration without being aware that the "so" means far more than we will ever know? The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ stops us in our tracks regarding all understanding and meaning, proclaiming that a Being exists who sacrificed His eternally beloved Son for those who rejected and rebelled against Him. "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10). This serves as the most incomprehensible reality of Scripture, at least upon first consideration. The stunning and astounding character of God shines forth in a wonder of grace and mercy, to the degree of sorrow, thorns, batterings, scourging, nails, and a Heart crying out into the darkness, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). Yes, Someone exists who, for His enemies, consigned His beloved Son to suffer not only the wrath of man, but the wrath of God. We will never begin to fully comprehend the measure of that which has no measure.
"The love of Christ… passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19).
It is such a small word. Like the splitting of an infinitesimal atom, however, the truth of "So" can detonate in the heart with a power "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). It must. We all must seek to know the love of God in Christ as well as possible, while fully realizing that we have ever just begun our journey into an infinite reality. This includes not only His devotion to us, but to all. When we look into the eyes of another human being, we must realize that the heart behind those eyes is loved by God. It cannot be otherwise in light of the cross and the bright light of "So" that shines forth from a sacrifice beyond our capacity to understand, but not beyond our faith to believe. "We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).
"So good." My friend smiled and shook his head as he uttered the words. What else can we do when seeking to express that which transcends all language? Thankfully, the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures exist to tell us that which can be known, and will be more known as we seek that which we will never fully find. No more thrilling, filling, and fulfilling thought exists than the realization that "So" beckons us to ever come further, fly high, dive deeper into the belovedness our Heavenly Father would have to know regarding ourselves and all others.
"God so loved us."
(I John 4:11)
Weekly Memory Verse
Great is our Lord, and of great power, His understanding is infinite.
(Psalm 147:5)
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