"Everlasting Light"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Everlasting Light"

    We often tell our children and grandchildren about the days when information was much harder to come by than it is now.  Before the 1990s, if one wished to learn something about an unknown subject, a visit to the library might be planned.  Once there, a catalogue composed of thousands of paper cards directed the seeker to the section of the library where a book or article might provide the information desired.  The process was far from efficient, and often by the time one had opportunity for a trip to the library, the subject had passed from interest or attention.

    These days, of course, the push of a computer button opens a world of information on the Internet, often to the degree it can be difficult to sift through the material available about whoever subject we consider.  "Knowledge shall be increased" declares the book of Daniel regarding the last days (Daniel 12:4).  Many people now access the Internet by phones constantly at hand, making information available 24/7.  Of course, we must be careful to use discretion regarding the information offered, since both facts and falsehoods fill the Internet regarding every subject.  

    The knowledge available to us these days seems infinite.  Actually, however, it is not.  As vast as the human storehouse of information may be, if one had enough time and opportunity, he could reach the end of the data possessed by humanity.  We are finite creatures "fearfully and wonderfully made," but nevertheless limited by the truth that we are not gods (Psalm 139:14).  "Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am" (Psalm 39:4).  The most diligent seeker of human knowledge reaches a point where he can go no further.  Conversely, a repository of knowledge, information, and truth exists that has no end.  "His understanding is infinite… Thy Word is truth" (Psalm 147:5; John 17:17).  In God and His Word, born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ possess an infinite storehouse of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.  "The Lord shall be thine everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:20).

   Far more than the capacity of a smartphone, believers carry within our hearts the essence of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  "But when the Comforter, whom the Father will send in My name, is come, He shall teach you all things" (John 14:26).  His truth illuminates all who maintain awareness of our need for God's light, whether it be a new insight, or the enhancing of already accessed truth for which we require greater assimilation and application.  The Internet can be a wonderful tool for which modern believers do well to give thanks.  The Indwelling, however, provides a far more blessed repository of truth, eternal and infinite in its scope and measure.  God Himself, dwelling within our spirits by the Holy Spirit, promises to illuminate, motivate, and empower a life lived in the everlasting light of His Word and the life of His Son…

"Call unto Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."

(Jeremiah 33:3)

"Christ shall give thee light."

(Ephesians 5:14)

Weekly Memory Verse

  Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name.  Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

(Psalm 29:2)

  

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"A Sublime Beauty"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

 "A Sublime Beauty"

    

     Much of the sublime beauty of God's grace would never have been known if sin had not occurred in His creation.  This does not mean that He determined the darkness of devils and humanity.  "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man" (James 1:13).  However, our Heavenly Father is ready to deal with any contingency for the purpose of revealing and honoring His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He therefore takes advantage of the opportunity afforded by our sins to reveal glories that would have remained hidden within His heart apart from the existence of evil.  

    At the highest cost to Himself, God made a way to pardon sinners without violating His integrity.  "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" declared the Apostle John.  Moreover, the Apostle Paul affirmed that our Savior's redemptive work made it possible for our Heavenly Father to be "just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (John 1:17; Romans 3:26).  The light of such glory reveals a beauty of character beyond all fathoming.  Indeed, the Lord Jesus told His disciples, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).  Christ, however, transcended His own standard when He sacrificed Himself not for friend, but for foe.  "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10).  This is grace, again, a sublime beauty of Divine character that arose within God's heart when we fell, and then set forth on a bloody path that ultimately led to sacrifice, sorrow, forsakenness, and death on the cross of Calvary.  Sin thus served as a dark canvas upon which God's glorious heart displays its goodness to those who open their eyes to see that which the carol writer aptly described - "wonders of His love." 

   Had we never known sin, we would have never known grace to any degree such as we find in the Scriptures and in our lives.  The proper knowledge of this truth leads us to desire and devote ourselves to a holiness of life whereby we avail ourselves of so great a gift, but never with the attitude of taking advantage of God's merciful favor provided in Christ.  The believer knows that grace freely given involved the horror of a cross freely embraced for our redemption.  We see with our hearts the prints that still remain on our Savior's resurrected body as the tangible evidence of a price paid for pardon provided.  Sublime beauty indeed, as even eternity will now allow adequate opportunity to fully appreciate the grace that forever flows and sparkles with glories that would have never been seen had sin never occurred.  We fall to our knees and faces in wonder, acknowledging we can never understand such mystery, but determined to love and magnify the blessed One of whom John exulted…

"The light shineth in darkness."

(John 1:5)

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

(Romans 5:20:21)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

(Ephesians 1:3)

  

5783

"A Sublime Beauty"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

 "A Sublime Beauty"

    

     Much of the sublime beauty of God's grace would never have been known if sin had not occurred in His creation.  This does not mean that He determined the darkness of devils and humanity.  "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man" (James 1:13).  However, our Heavenly Father is ready to deal with any contingency for the purpose of revealing and honoring His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He therefore takes advantage of the opportunity afforded by our sins to reveal glories that would have remained hidden within His heart apart from the existence of evil.  

    At the highest cost to Himself, God made a way to pardon sinners without violating His integrity.  "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" declared the Apostle John.  Moreover, the Apostle Paul affirmed that our Savior's redemptive work made it possible for our Heavenly Father to be "just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (John 1:17; Romans 3:26).  The light of such glory reveals a beauty of character beyond all fathoming.  Indeed, the Lord Jesus told His disciples, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).  Christ, however, transcended His own standard when He sacrificed Himself not for friend, but for foe.  "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10).  This is grace, again, a sublime beauty of Divine character that arose within God's heart when we fell, and then set forth on a bloody path that ultimately led to sacrifice, sorrow, forsakenness, and death on the cross of Calvary.  Sin thus served as a dark canvas upon which God's glorious heart displays its goodness to those who open their eyes to see that which the carol writer aptly described - "wonders of His love." 

   Had we never known sin, we would have never known grace to any degree such as we find in the Scriptures and in our lives.  The proper knowledge of this truth leads us to desire and devote ourselves to a holiness of life whereby we avail ourselves of so great a gift, but never with the attitude of taking advantage of God's merciful favor provided in Christ.  The believer knows that grace freely given involved the horror of a cross freely embraced for our redemption.  We see with our hearts the prints that still remain on our Savior's resurrected body as the tangible evidence of a price paid for pardon provided.  Sublime beauty indeed, as even eternity will now allow adequate opportunity to fully appreciate the grace that forever flows and sparkles with glories that would have never been seen had sin never occurred.  We fall to our knees and faces in wonder, acknowledging we can never understand such mystery, but determined to love and magnify the blessed One of whom John exulted…

"The light shineth in darkness."

(John 1:5)

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

(Romans 5:20:21)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

(Ephesians 1:3)

  

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