I was thinking back on choices I've made and how God uses the bits and pieces of our lives to weave this overall picture of grace and forgiveness. And I thought of specific moments when I didn't believe what God was saying. When, for some reason, I did not think He was serious or fully aware of the situation. The first time, my answer was, "Well, okay, I guess I can deal with that." The second time, my answer was, "Oh, well, you must have just meant that first time. So now I'm in the clear, right?" ....................................why did I think that?
It seems to me that this is a part of the human condition. Why do we not take God at His Word? Why don't we believe what He says? I think we often hear Him and think that the truth He gives us is conditional or temporary. Our God does not change - His character is everlasting; so why do we think that His will for us is so flexible? When we receive a message from the Holy Spirit telling us to avoid this-that-or-the-other-thing, we are quick to say yes. For that moment. But if the same principle comes up later in a different scenario, then the truth of God's Word does not change. Yet we look at it and say that it's not the same, or it doesn't apply to this instance. Or we say, "God, you've asked for this part of who I am, for me to surrender this entire aspect. Here, take it. I give it freely. But surely you didn't mean for this section of this part. That doesn't fall under the scope of what you've asked for."
God is not human. He doesn't go back on what He says. If we stop believing the veracity and endurance of what He has said to us, then not only are we robbing ourselves of the blessing of obedience, but we are qualifying God as less than Holy. Who are we to say that God didn't mean it? Why don't we trust Him when He says He's got our best interests at heart, and the things that He tells us are to bring about the best possible outcome for us? He does not fail us. When we give ourselves into His keeping, we don't get to pick and choose when to listen. Being a living sacrifice means that you do not keep your own identity - you become the necessary thing to that which you are sacrificing. We are His children and His identifiable Body to a world in need of His mercy and grace and UNADULTERATED LOVE, yet as we go out into this world, we so often turn back and say, "Are you sure? That can't be right." How does that show our faith? How does that justify us to unbelievers who do not think that this figurehead can be trusted?
There are always places where we keep God's Word contained and specifically designated. One of mine was "No Houghton boys." It took many years for me to believe that when God said that to me, He meant it. Always. Not just in one circumstance. When God says "Love others," He means all others. When God says "Do not lust," He means with anyone. When He says "Give me your burdens," He means all of them. When He asks, "Be mine completely?" He means every part of you. He's not trying to trick you, to play mind games, to trap you into something later. When God tells you something - believe it.
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
- Numbers 23:19
4 comments:
skaeOne of my favorite verses Miss Furman. It's good. It's foundational in our belief/idea of God.
He's not human in that he lies. (He was human, but he didn't become more like us in his character, he was still God, whilst he was entirely human. Human with no sin, which is only possible if you are God also.)
If you don't sin, you don't need to concern yourself with doing one thing and saying another, therefore his yes is yes. On top of all of this, as if you can handle any more awesomeness, he catches the fall out of it all. He will not leave you or forsake you. So even when you are out on a limb feeling like no one cares, he's on it. He's eternal like that. Working it all out.
Keep writing!
Interesting post Emily. I have a question for you, though. You say that God's will doesn't change, and I agree. But you imply that when God tells us to do something, he wants us to keep doing it 'til it's done. Example: lets say God told me to go to Houghton. Previously I've thought that he might do that, then use a connection I make there to prompt me to transfer to, say, Indiana Wes. If he told me to go to Houghton, should I take that to mean that I shouldn't go to IWU? Maybe I'm reading too much into what you wrote. Either way, I'm interested in your opinion.
Laura,
I think you and I share a knack for reading into things. ;-)
I did not mean to imply an imposed time limit on the Will of God. I'm quite the situational-ist, as you may have guessed from my own admissions. I do not deny the existence of seasons in the spiritual realm. But I think that when God gives you a command, He gives you an understanding of the duration. In your example, "go to Houghton" may mean that His word was for the initial enrollment and time spent there. Not saying you shouldn't go to IWU. Not saying you should. In my example, "no Houghton boys" meant ever, and I knew it, and chose to justify my decisions otherwise with the "but you had to have meant only that one time." I think yes, God wants us to keep doing it until it's done. But I also think the completion of a task according to God's understanding of how it will impact our lives can be VASTLY different from our understanding of completion and impact. Does all that make sense? Answer your question?
Yes, and yes. Thanks Emily. =) Do keep writing - your thoughts are always interesting and your writing is great. (even if I'm skilled at reading into it) =)
Post a Comment