“So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” Joshua 10:13
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he writes: “For by Him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” (Col. 1:16) That which Joshua experienced of the greatness of Christ, is the same thing that Paul is declaring by that which he perceived by the Spirit. Christ is unchangeably the Creator, Redeemer, the very Sustainer of all creation. On the day that Joshua, in the midst of a key battle against the Amorites, prayed to the Lord, and then said: “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.” Christ in HIs greatness and might, though ever so quietly, caused the sun to stand still for about a whole day. We might think that this is so because the Lord stopped the earth from turning on its axis, but the work of God was, in all probability much greater than that. How then could this be? The answer lies in two truths, the first of which is expressed in a hymn: “I am not skilled to understand, what Thou hast made, what Thou hast planned. I only know at Thy right hand stands one who is my Savior.” In other words, man does not have the capacity to grasp fully the works of God, unless God in his mercy reveals them to him, and this in the measure that man can receive the revelation. Secondly, God in Christ, is greater than the entirety of His creation, able to speak, and seas and rivers are divided, storms upon the seas are stilled. He can heal every disease, deliver from every foe, and save to the uttermost any soul. Here is revealed the eternal greatness of Christ. He is both the Almighty Creator, the Beginning and the Ending, declared as such throughout Scripture, and at the same time, the perfect, Sovereign Savior, who can reach down to the depths of human depravity and desolation, where sin, Satan, and death reign, to awaken the sleeping, blind soul, to its plight, but also to its worth, in the sight of God. This Almighty Redeemer, Conquering King, Loving Lord, to whom all power and authority have been given, and who has left no foe unvanquished, sits this day at the Father’s right hand, ever living to make intercession for those whom He has saved, and will save. This Christ, Eternal Shepherd, Guide and Keeper, is worthy to be praised, worshiped, served, and adored. He is worthy to receive all the praise, thanksgiving, and blessing of His creation. The perfect gifts of the Father, through Him, are good and perfect. Christ is worthy to be loved, for He is perfect goodness, love, and faithfulness, pure and right in all that He does and says. God cannot lie, and He alone is able to commit Himself to work and act in a certain way, according to His concise, clear word, accomplishing, all that He has promised to man. His provision of all resources in Christ is complete, so that man can know Him.
When Jesus, after the resurrection, told His disciples to go into all the world, making disciples, “…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you,” (Matt. 28:20), He was giving to mankind the means by which man could truly know God. The objective, but living word, of the Creator and Redeemer, is still the power of God, for by and according to it, He will perform all that He has promised, in His way, His time, for His glory.
God’s method to bring men to faith, and an experience of Christ’s life by the Spirit, is first to provide a clear vision of Himself. With the vision of His greatness comes the command to obey Him, to trust and to follow Him. In Psalm 81, He says: “I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Herein is the key to great blessing.
Dear Father,