“The Infinite and the Infinitesimal"

    In the Old Testament, God humbled Himself to behold the things He so wondrously made.  In the New Testament, He humbled Himself to become a part of His creation.

    "Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Psalm 113:5-6).

    "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.  And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself" (Philippians 2:5-8).

     God exists in both infinite majesty and lowly humility.  The universe reflects the Divine nature of its Maker, being both vast in dimension, and infinitesimal in substance.  The telescopes and microscopes of modern times inform that we would venture for seemingly immeasurable eons if we could journey either out there into space, or in there into the atom.  Far more will believers in the Lord Jesus discover both the greatness and humility of God as we eternally make our way into the reality of these ineffable wonders perfectly united in Him.

    The Infinite and the Infinitesimal beckon us to amazed wonder regarding the creation, and even more, concerning the Creator.  Both aspects of our Lord lead us to our knees, His greatness overwhelming our minds, and His humility, our hearts.  How can there be One so glorious and terrible in holiness, power, vastness, and splendor?  How can there be One so meek and lowly, even to the degree of embracing a cross for those who nailed Him to it?  Eternity will not allow full discovery of either reality, but this moment offers opportunity to glory in the greatness of the Infinite, and the goodness of the Infinitesimal.

"His greatness is unsearchable."

(Psalm 145:3)

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded."

(John 13:4-5)

Weekly Memory Verse

   I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Thy name forever and ever

(Psalm 145:1)

“The Peace Of His People"

    One of the retirement communities where we conduct services includes an interesting population of residents.  Dogs, cats, birds, and even a pot-bellied pig (whom I've never met) live there, so much so that it would seem unusual to visit the place without being greeted by a meow, bird call, canine smile, or maybe even an oink (the premises, by the way, are by far the cleanest in a nursing facility we've ever seen).

    I'm sure that such a circumstance is not for everybody, or every facility.  It fits for Allen Memorial, however.  The animals add something to the environment and atmosphere that makes things seem happier and more normal.  By and large, the residents love their companions of other species, and the animals seem perfectly content.  I daresay the dogs, cats, and birds (again, haven't met the pig) give every indication of recognizing they fulfill a unique and important role in the lives of those with whom they share a home.

    "He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity" (Ephesians 2:14-15).

     Referencing Jew and Gentile, the Apostle Paul declares the blessed truth that salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ not only draws us into loving union with the God so unlike ourselves, but also with people so unlike ourselves.  We find ourselves loving and being loved by those with whom no other bond seems to exist.  Nationality, ethnicity, heritage, race, culture, gender, and upbringing dissolve when two Christ-loving believers find they share the same devotion, having received the same grace.  The peace of the Lord Jesus becomes the peace of His people united in Him when no other influence could form a relationship of loving fellowship and shared purpose.  "We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).

   I love the animals of Allen (even the cats!).  They provide so much to people who have often lost so much.  Moreover, they remind me of greater realities in the Christ who redeems people from earthly enmities unto a heavenly love for each other that can only be explained by the presence of the Prince of peace.  A long eternity awaits us in which we will live joyfully with each other in the bond of Christ.  Such glory begins in the here and now for those who realize that the Lord Jesus died to unite us not only with Himself, but with brothers and sisters spiritually born of the same Father and the same Spirit.

"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

(Philippians 2:1-4)

    

Revealed Things, Secret Things

    There are things we must know.  We must know there is one God who exists as three eternal persons, joined in such perfect unity that "the Lord our God is one Lord."  We must know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Bible is the Word of God.  We must that the Holy Spirit is the pervasive influence for good both in the world and in our hearts.   We must know that salvation, in its inception, continuance, and culmination, is a gift of grace to be received by faith in the Lord Jesus.  We must know that God mandates a certain way of life for believers, based upon His promised bestowal of leading and enabling.  We must know that love, as defined and constituted by the God who is love, serves as the heart of His purposes and working in our lives.  We must know these and other truths plainly declared by God in His Word (Deuteronomy 6:4; I John 4:15; II Timothy 3:16; John 16:7-15; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:6; I John 2:6; Philippians 4:13; I Corinthians 13).

   There are also things we cannot know, and that we must not seek to know.  "The secret things belong to the Lord, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29).

    It may be that as much light shines forth  in "the secret things" as in "the things which are revealed."  Our limitations illuminate the truth that God is God and we are not.  To a race that long ago embraced the lie that "ye shall be as gods," this is a bright and essential light in the night sky of our darkness (Genesis 3:5).  Left to ourselves, we seek our own way, plan our own destiny, boast of our own devices, and seek to live as the divinities we are not.  Thankfully, our Lord does not leave us to ourselves, but rather communicates to us the truths we must know, while remaining silent regarding equally necessary unknowings.  Thus, we seek to heed Solomon - "With all thy getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7).  We proceed into such Light, however, in the recognition that realities of God and truth exist far beyond our capacity and need for knowledge.  "God… doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number" (Job 9:2; 10).

    Emphasis on revealed things fosters edification and transformation into the image of Christ - "that we may do all the words of this law."  We live on a need to know basis.  This involves much light, far more than we can begin to assimilate in our present lifetime.  Much, however, will remain necessarily dark as we "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 7:5).  Thus, we "make room for mystery," as A.W. Tozer wrote.  We accommodate ourselves to both revealed and secret things, recognizing the necessity for the illumination that shines from the things we can know and the things we cannot know.

"Let us walk in the light of the Lord."

(Isaiah 2:5)

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness."

(Psalm 112:4

Weekly Memory Verse

   I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Thy name forever and ever

(Psalm 145:1)