Saturday, July 18, 2015

Great Pain & Great Grace

I have begun reading through the Bible again and I am amazed at how it speaks so powerfully each time.  I have had the privilege of hearing the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, and Abraham since I was a child, but I love how the Holy Spirit speaks new truths through it again and again.  They are not just nice stories we tell our children.  In fact the more I read them the more I feel we have watered down these great truths into cute kid stories.  God’s Word is powerful truth!  Each story gives us a beautiful glimpse into God’s heart, His love, plan for us, grace, holiness…and His plan for salvation, Jesus.

Read the story about Noah for example.  It begins with God in great pain.  Did you know God, the Creator of all, King of King, hurts so deeply?!  You know why?  His great pain comes from sin.  When His children sin, it hurts.  God made all people in His likeness and they turned from Him and made Him their enemy.  The Bible says that every thought of their heart was evil all the time.  And God grieved.  Their wickedness was so great God regretted making man.  This caused Him so much pain.

We need to stop and hear the terrible side of the story – the great sin, great pain…so we can see the greatness of God’s grace at the end of the story.  If we miss the pain, the ugliness, the emotion, we will miss God’s mercy and love.

Now God is Holy.  He cannot be anything else and so He can not tolerate sin.  He is just.  Justice is right and good.  And so, God knew He had to destroy His very own creation.  And He grieved.  It didn’t make Him happy, He grieved.

But, there was one man, one Father, one family who chose to follow the Lord in such wickedness – Noah.  Noah was righteous and blameless among the people because he walked with God.  How about us?  How about you?  Our world is still wicked and full of sin do you stand out to God?  Are you walking with Him and living in righteousness?  Or have you fallen into the ways of the world, accepting it instead of standing for truth, and looking no different than the world does?

Noah found favor in God’s eyes, He blessed Noah.  God chose to start over with mankind through Noah’s family.  God told Noah His plan.  And Noah obeyed.  Noah didn’t question, didn’t doubt, didn’t say no…Noah did everything just as God commanded him.  You see when God speaks the only answer is, “yes, Lord.”  Everything else is disobedience which really is rebellion and lack of faith.  However, Noah was human and when he was building the ark in a desert, mocked and laughed at he most likely went to God in his times of questioning, waiting, doubt.  The key is bringing it to God and continue to obey.


After the whole ordeal was over, Noah’s first response was a thanksgiving offering to God and it was pleasing to God.  And God said in His heart, after watching His whole creation die because of their sins, NEVER again!  Even though He knew mankind would become just as wicked again (every bit of our hearts from childhood!) He chose never to destroy everything again.  When God makes a promise it is for sure!!!  Then God made a sign to remind Him of his covenant – a rainbow.  God knew He would need a reminder because the world would make Him grieve again.  What grace, what mercy, what love God has shown us!  He didn’t have to, but He wanted to.  Why?  Because He loves you!  He loves His children and gives us grace so we can know Him.  That is the beauty of the rainbow.  Not just pretty colors or things the world has distorted it to, but God’s handmade sign of everlasting grace and love.           

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