Amazing, Incomprehensible Truths About God

I’ve been making my best effort to preach the Gospel to myself daily as Jerry Bridges challenges us to do in his book The Discipline of God’s Grace. I feel led to write down and meditate on some of the truths about God that have been so crucial to sustaining my faith in a period of difficulty. I pray that they offer encouragement to you.

1. The Cross is the most glorious display of God’s love for us.

Nothing speaks of the love God has for us as powerfully as the Cross and Christ crucified. When we are aware of the magnitude of Christ’s suffering and sacrifice at Calvary, we cannot possibly walk around grumbling or moping! It’s impossible to consider our beloved Savior nailed in agony to planks of wood and be self-absorbed at the same time. It can’t be done. I’m convinced that there is no thought more worthy of clinging to for our faith than the thought of the Cross and what was accomplished in Christ’s death. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to the Cross. No amount of sin or evil in this world will ever negate that kind of love.

2. Christ is alive!

I believe this to be the second most important thought that we can attempt to grasp as Christians. Of course, rejoicing in this will precede rejoicing in Christ’s death because without faith in His resurrection, it is ludicrous to rejoice in our Savior’s death. Jesus’ life at the right hand of Majesty on high is a life of action. He is not sitting idly by watching things unfold on earth. He is actively pursuing each and every one of His children and intentionally interceding to the Father on our behalf. He is showing satan our books of debt which are stamped “paid in full” and not allowing the devil to sift us like wheat and devour us. He is exercising great restraint and long-suffering towards this sinfully depraved world as He waits for the last of His people to call out to Him. Jesus is active in Heaven, and He is active in each and every one of our lives. I cling to this truth so desperately. I need to remember it. I need to rejoice in it always. I need Jesus Christ to be alive, because He is my only hope!

3. We are at our best when we are humbly seeking Christ.

Scripture is full of man’s arrogance. Adam and Eve refused to take responsibility for eating the fruit. Cain asked God if he was his brother’s keeper. The people of Sodom tried to rape two angels that Lot invited into his home. Not a single person outside of Noah’s family sought out refuge in the ark. The people of Babel wanted to make a name for themselves and so they built a huge tower to heaven. And these events took place in the first eleven chapters of Genesis!

The self-righteous attitude that we come equipped with will never bring us into a right standing with God. And we must be aware of the fact that this attitude persists in our flesh after we come to Christ, and it will always try and deny our need to humble ourselves. On a daily basis, I can point out times that, in my arrogance, I removed Christ from the captain’s chair and sat down myself. It is a reality of our flesh and we need to take up our swords in battle or else it will consume us.

Humility, on the other hand, is the ultimate sign of maturity. There is no arrogance in our Savior riding into town on a donkey as thousands of people throw Him a party hoping that He’ll rise up and establish His kingdom. They came out for a show. He rode into town to His own death. Or how does the Greatest to ever walk the earth kneel down in the dirt to wash the unsanitary feet of His disciples? Jesus Christ is the standard of humility. I know that I’ve never come close to His level of humility and I never will. However, I am determined to move closer and closer to a posture of humility by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. I am certain that as I do, I will better know my Lord and Savior.

4. Meeting with God is the sweetest part of my day.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Psalm 63:2

I do well when I remember the truths presented in these two verses. The psalmist intentionally seeks out God in His sanctuary to behold His power and glory. He seeks the fullness of joy only found in the presence of God. I do well when I am consciously aware of the active presence of God in my life.

There is nothing sweeter than knowing God. There is no higher awareness than that which comes by beholding the glory of God. There is no greater joy than being engrossed in the steadfast love of God as we meet with Him. There is no greater need than daily quiet time with God. It is through this time that we learn of His faithfulness to reveal Himself to us when we seek Him with our whole heart.

When I miss the chance to fellowship with God, I miss the chance to become more like Jesus. I miss an opportunity to experience fullness of joy and behold the glory and might of God. Sadly, I still find myself torn between God and the world on more days than I care to admit. I don’t always come running to my Daddy at the start of the day with enthusiasm. I sometimes believe the lie that I can fit God in at my earliest convenience rather than intentionally offer Him the first fruits of my time.

While I may be a poor example to follow, I have no regrets in speaking of the utmost importance of daily time with God. I must continue to remind myself of how good He is and of my great need for Him. I will never be sanctified in this truth if I do not speak it to myself and encourage others in it as well! Meeting with God will never become sweeter if I simply chalk it up to a task that I must complete as a good Christian. I must see my need for Him as being greater than the entirety of every other need I have. And I must seek to abide in this truth constantly or else my arrogance will sweep me away from my Treasure.

Oh God, because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you! I need you in ways that I can’t even comprehend, but I know I need you. Please, please, please have mercy on me. Please reveal yourself to me in greater and greater ways that I may behold your glory and power and experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in your sanctuary. Jesus, you are my Rock. You are my hope in the midst of a tragically barren world. You sustain me with your righteousness. Spirit of God, I need you to change my heart. I need you to convict me of my sin. I need you to show me my utter dependence on your strength for every good work. Reveal your truth to me and teach me all things pertaining to life and godliness. May my sanctification result in praise and glory and honor to Christ now and always. Amen.