“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Isaiah 61:1
What is it about God that makes Him so terrifying on the one hand, and so desirable on the other? It is first and foremost His holiness, His complete separateness from His creation. This great Potter of the clay, the very King of heaven, the One who has described Himself as being, “…the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones,” (Is. 57:15) is totally, fully and completely separate from His creation by virtue of His nature, and character. It is impossible for man to conceive just how great, and glorious God is, and yet, how completely He involves Himself in the affairs of men, to bring men to a saving knowledge of Him. It was T. Bimney, who wrote in one of his hymns: “Oh, how shall I, whose native sphere is dark, whose mind is dim, Before the Ineffable appear, And on my naked spirit bear The uncreated beam?” What is Bimney seeking to communicate to us? It is that God is unknowable by the efforts, devices, and resources of sinful man. Unless this God of creation and redemption takes the initiative to come to man, draw out his heart unto Him, reveal the truth concerning His nature with a knowledge of His ways, man cannot “rise to that sublime abode.” It is only by “an offering and a sacrifice,” that of Christ on the cross, that there is a means to come to God, and be accepted by Him. In addition to this knowledge of
God, the truths concerning Him and His ways, there still is no means, no strength or power, to truly come to Him in faith. Strength and power must be given to the lost, helpless, and sinful man. It is only to such that God will give such power to believe, come to Christ, forsaking all else, to belong to Him. In that moment when faith touches the hem of Jesus’ garment, there is a divine miracle that takes place. It is often quiet, and profound in its effects, revealing itself increasingly with time. What is it? It is a birth, a new birth. It is a spiritual birth when man is given, by the grace of God, the capacity to receive the very life of Christ by the Spirit. The more he believes and obeys Christ, walking by the Spirit, being filled with Him, the more he is transformed into the image of Christ. What is the result of such a blessing? One of the most wonderful results is not only that one is declared to be a “new creation,” but that “all things have become new.” The “old,” or that which pertained to the life outside of Christ, and certainly not lived by faith in Christ, is in the eyes of God, dead and buried. The believer is called upon to realize something of this magnificent, and complete work of Christ on the cross, whereby he died in Christ to all that was not of Christ. The “ashes” of “care and doubting, gloom and sorrow, fear and shame are mine no more.; Faith knows naught of dark tomorrow, For my Savior goes before.” All that pertained to discouragement, fear, and loss, has all been dealt with on Calvary, that the believer should live anew by the Spirit of God, by the faith of the Son of God, and reigning in life, overcoming the enemy, being more than a conqueror “through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
God has promised to restore the lost, wasted years. He promises to pour out His Spirit upon the thirsty soul.
Dear Father, Show us Thy glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.