Lenten Devotional, Day 27: Creator Reminders Often, but Why?, When the Props are Kicked Out
Dear Lenten Pilgrims,
The Verses for Monday are Psalm 146, Isaiah 59:9–19, Acts 9:1–20.
REMINDED ME OF FASTING:
Let me say lightly a high-density truth. Did you read the Isaiah Passage? VV. 9–15 are how bleak and jaded I feel when the "props" are kicked out during a fast. But that is the paradox and grace of fasting. It leaves no doubt, no wiggle: "Salvation belongs to the LORD!" (Jonah 2:9, also Psalm 3:8, Revelation 7:10, Acts 4:12). Or as our Psalm cried out in a non placet: "Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save!" (Psalm 146:3).
CONSTANT REMINDERS OF GOD AS CREATOR, WHY?
All I can do is hint at something. I've noticed over the years that the Bible makes frequent reference to God as Creator, today it is: "The Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them." (Psalm 146:6). Why is this?
I have a theory, well an observation at least. Psalm 146 is a good example of dozens and dozens to choose from. So it seems when the Holy Spirit wants to declare some extravagant promise/s, He'll often make mention of God as Creator to enliven/quicken our faith. That is, He wants to remind us that God created "ex nihilo," literally "out of nothing." Beloved that IS power to make good on a promise! "Nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37) for One "who gives life to the dead and calls those things which are not as though they were" (Romans 4:17).
Those Psalm 146 promises to the oppressed, hungry, prisoners, blind, bowed down, righteous, strangers, fatherless, widows, and even the wicked are SURE! An ever-expanding universe? SURE, He never pulled back on: "Let there be light." Remember when Jesus said: "Lazerus, come forth?" (John 11:43). SURE, I'll declare my faith, if Jesus had not qualified His fiat Word with "Lazarus," every grave of all time would have blasted open.
And yet that someday will come: "From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened...the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged." (Revelation 20:11–13). My only point with this last Verse: Let us consider SURE eternal realities and thus "Seek the LORD while He may be found." (Isaiah 55:7). "Lest coming suddenly He find [us]...??? How will He find us? (Please know: I'm asking "us," but considering very, very personally).
The Only Best in/is Christ,
tIM