According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2Peter 1:3-4
I’m reminded of a much-quoted line Samuel Taylor Coleridge coined in his acclaimed poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. There, Coleridge penned, “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” a H2O paradox lamenting a sailor’s lack of potable water while sailing on the high seas. This idiomatic expression speaks to the quandary of having something in abundance while being unable to benefit from it. From this poetic predicament a spiritual understanding was revealed.
John’s gospel declared of Jesus, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John1:10-11) There are few conundrums as puzzling and frustrating as these apostolic verses. How is that the Creator of all things could be in the nearest of proximities with the very creation He made, yet be disconnected from it as sharply as oil is to water? But this enigma speaks perfectly to the point of Coleridge’s plight. For if an ocean of salt water can never supply one cup of fresh water to slake the thirst of a parched sailor’s lips, so a loving, but otherworldly God cannot bring peace to a troubled humanity, unless of course, first, an alteration of impossible proportions is made.
Also, in Acts 17 we find Paul’s brilliant discourse exposing the superstitions of the philosophers on Mar’s Hill in contrast with the simplicity of Christ’s redemptive gospel. Declaring boldly that, “in Him we live, and move, and have our being”, Paul, probing them deeper than their hearts had expected, informed them that their worship “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” points precisely to the One that is not very far from us at all. In essence, though man’s idolatrous worship and dismissiveness towards the Creator is well founded throughout history, the Maker of all has still desired the fellowship and affinity of His creation all along.
In that God created all things and lacks nothing, and that He needs no help in sustaining His sovereignty and eternal majesty- it is also by Him and through love that we breathe and exist as one human race. From creation to now, His desire has always been that men seek Him and, in their seeking, perhaps feel and find Him. But though His commitment towards creation has been magnanimous and spectacularly graceful throughout the ages, the heart and eyes of His created children have been blind to His overtures. Oblivious to His presence due to our misguided perceptions of Him through sin, our worship of vain things reveals quite clearly an ignorance of our divine and eternal purpose in Him.
Though light cannot coexist with darkness and the holy cannot associate with the profane, a righteous and holy God made a way to engage with mankind, us, the innately unrighteous and sinful. God, through birth, became flesh and lowering Himself, came to us. And in love dwelled with us, walked with us, and sensed our mortality and pain. He was moved by our weakness, felt our infirmities, and identified with our affliction. He knew our sinfulness and was not afraid of it. So that without a grumble He became a servant, and through a voluntary death bore our sins on a merciless cross. So that where our sin had abounded, and where our sins had separated us from God, His grace did much more abound. The unimaginable happened! What was impossible, now is! And if what occurred at the Cross could be known in its entirety, the world could not contain the books that could be written should it all be revealed! The miracle of all miracles came through the obedience of Christ at Calvary, and the oceans of His love were then made available to all that would simply believe.
And in making the volume of His love available to all, He required not a work of human effort on our side, nor did He install a system of merit or virtue to achieve such benevolence. But rather, He accepted no more from us than a childlike trust in the supernatural redemptive work of His own character and will. What could only have been a far-flung dream became a soul-wrecking realty- God became something He didn’t have to become, to give something we could never become- a restored, peaceable, and endless life.
Not only are we now reconciled to God through Christ’s death, but precious lifelong benefits are also part of this transformational gift. These extensions of His love are precious, as nothing in the world compares to the depth and expanse of His compassion. And the purpose of His rich mercy and grace are given solely to secure forever our relationship with Him.
Regardless our years of service and love for Christ, here are a few impossible things He did for us- things to recall and cherish, things worthy of praise, and things that prove the incomparability of His care.
Forgiven- yes. Relationship restored- yes. Put us in a family-yes. Empowered- yes. Equipped for every trial- yes. Comforted in every situation- yes. Directed, taught, and protected continually- yes. Fed and clothed- yes. Blessed, favored, and successful- yes. Always triumphal- yes. Never left alone, always with us- yes. Returning soon for us, as He’s preparing a place for us- yes!
Accordingly, when the gospel of Christ is preached, hearers marvel that these divine privileges are unbounded, that the blessings are unending, and that a life with Him is even possible. There’s no message ever spoken that carries such depth of sincerity and sacrificial love. And equally important, there’s no good news as consequential as this one in sharing its wealth with others. This message matters. The gospel transcends every other message. Yet with so many affirmations and heartwarming assurances in its content, how can the broken, the worn, and the tired access such unqualified grace? Its message seems too good to be true, its richness too distant, its content too near mythical.
So, understand firstly, that everything God offers is good and everything He gives satisfies some human need or want.
Secondly, understand that every benefit, every favor, every extended hand of grace is found available in the written word of God. So, there’s verifiable documentation available.
Thirdly, realize that everything God gives is given in the form of a promise- a commitment found in scripture assuring us that God is underwriting and performing every promise He makes.
Fourthly, every promise is received by faith. And faith alone. Nothing more, nothing less. They’re gifts, not paychecks, so there’s no negotiating for them- believe them and receive them!
And lastly, so you’ll know and won’t be surprised, there’ll be a few enemies along the way. But though there be foes to every promise, there’ll be sufficient faith to overcome them all… yes, every promise is ours in Jesus’ name!