Good morning,
I
have long ago given up trying to understand the big picture of God and
who he is and what he is up to in this, his creation. What I have
learned though is that the Lord is willing to give me little pictures of
part of the bigger picture that make knowing God wonderfully exciting.
For instance, when Paul was writing about God in Romans 8, he tells us
some things about God that are usually missed. Paul tells us that God
knew which people would be a part of his family right from the beginning
of time. John 3:16 makes it clear that God loves all of his creation,
but not all of his creation would love him. God has indeed given us
choice in this matter of a relationship with him, but he also knows who
will choose to love him in return. No one is forced into a relationship
with God. We are free to choose that relationship no matter who we are
or what time frame we live in. Our country, language and background
are part of who we are, but no one can stop us from choosing to love the
God who loved us first.
I think that this means that God
chooses people who would love him, in the same genuine way that Jesus
loved him, as brothers and sister of Jesus. God knows which people will
choose to love him from their hearts so that when that choice is
finally made they will be given all the benefits that come with being a
child of God. God knew who would return his love and want to obey his
commands. Once we have that right standing with him, he then grants us
the growing glory that will come into full reality when we are standing
with him in his Heaven. If God is for us in this way, then who can
actually successfully be against us. I think it is at this point our
Enemy gets us to look at ourselves instead of at our God and ask
questions based on our worthiness and not on God’s promises. Of course
we are not worthy of God’s love and of course we keep right on sinning
the whole time here on earth. If our Enemy can just get us focused on
our own behavior we will always be afraid on some level. The question
God wants us to look for is in our hearts. Lord Jesus, do I really love
you? God knows our hearts. If we really do love him, our Savior will
give the peace that comes from our perfect lover that will make our love
a growing reality on a day by day basis. Now obeying him gives us
inner peace and joy.
Romans 8:29 For God knew his
people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his
Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And
having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called
them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them
right standing, he gave them his glory. 31 What shall we say about such
wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Roy Wisner
