2 Chronicles 16:9a "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
Today we read in Psalm 19 that the heavens declare the glory of God. If you have read much about the heavens or if you have watched a few Discovery Channel shows on the heavens you know the vast, infinite and awe striking nature of the universe and you can only imagine how powerful a being must be to create and sustain such a universe.
Charles W. Misner is an American physicist and one of the authors of "Gravitation". Charles Misner has recorded for us the tension that Einstein experienced as he witnessed with his God given mind the incredible glories of the heavens and what he heard preachers saying about the creator of this universe.
“The design of the universe,” wrote Misner, “is very magnificent and shouldn’t be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little use for organized religion, although he strikes me as a basically very religious man. He must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt that they were blaspheming. He had seen much more majesty than they had ever imagined, and they were just not talking about the real thing. My guess is that he simply felt that religions he’d run across did not have proper respect...for the author of the universe.”
My passion, my burning desire is to seek to please one and only one...my Creator, my Savior, my Lord and my God. Paul said it clearly, "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him 2 Cor. 5:9. My passionate prayer is that if I am ambitious, I long to be ambitious for HIM and HIM alone. My burning prayer is that HE would grant me a heart that is loyal to HIM and singleness of mind...a mind that is fixed and focused on HIM and HIM alone. We see this over and over...HE makes it abundantly clear...Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14? "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." What did Jeremiah teach us in Jeremiah 29:13? "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
I truly believe that if we will seek HIM with all our heart, like Asa we will find HIM! If the church will seek HIM we will find HIM. Then when the Einstein's and Misner's of this world encounter us in the world or visit us in our churches they will have an encounter with Christ incarnate, they will encounter Christ in us the hope of glory. THERE ARE EVANGELISTIC CONSEQUENCES IN OUR PURSUING HIM WITH A WHOLE HEART AND A SINGLE MIND! If we our stuck on ourselves or stuck on our agendas we WILL push people away.
Like Asa in 2 Ch 14:11 let us cry out to God, let us cry out with all our heart and then wait expectantly for God to move on behalf of HIS children. Can you think of a time in scripture when God's children cried out and HE did not answer? I can think of times HE delayed HIS response, but I cannot think of one time that HE did not move on their behalf. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
2 Ch 15:1-4 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; 4 but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them.
WOW! Do you think they took these reforms seriously?
2 Ch 15:12-13 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 and whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
2 Ch 15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.
It is sad to note that Asa did not finish well, that should be a warning to each of us...just because God has used us to have a mighty influence for HIM in the past is no guarantee for the future. Every human, great or small, is equally dependent on HIM every moment of every day.
There are consequences to our choices, there are evangelistic consequences and there are personal consequences. Please, if your life is marked by good and godly choices please don't think yourself wise...please fall on your face and thank God that HE, in HIS infinite grace and mercy, has spared you much pain and heart ache.
This past Sunday our Pastor mentioned John Bradford. Bradford (1510 - 1555) was a prebendary of St. Paul's. He was an English Reformer and martyr best remembered for his utterance, "'There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford." The words were uttered by Bradford while imprisoned in the Tower of London, when he saw a criminal going to execution for his crimes.
Bradford was put to death for his faith in Christ, but he knew that if it were not for the grace of God he was no better than a common criminal.
Let's pursue HIM with all our heart, with a single mind, be consumed and captivated by HIS love and grace and in our pursuit of HIM let bring as many with us as we are able by HIS amazing grace...BUT take no pride in the fact the HE enabled you to pursue HIM and to seek HIM...fall on your face and praise HIM for HIS infinite mercy and grace, fall on your face and thank HIM for saving you and keeping you. Worship the one true God, worship and delight in the author and finisher of your faith!
BY HIS GRACE AND FOR HIS GLORY!
LOVE,
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