Ad Infinitum

(This reading is based on Psalm 90 - read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.)

"For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night." Ps 90: 4

Unquantifiable

The impact that spending a thousand dollars will have on me is different from the impact that that spending would have on a billionaire. And then there are billionaires, and there are BILLIONAIRES! It would take going to the top of the food chain, Bill Gates, to get something that comes remotely close to compare the impact that the passing of time has on God versus man. And yet, while a Bill Gates is quantifiable... God isn't. God operates with the currency of eternity and with boundless resources - time and resources ad infinitum.

                                   

Devalued Currency 

Man operates with the devalued currency of time and has only accomplished 969 years of continuous living on the earth through the person of Methuselah (Gen 5: 27) - no one has broken the 1000 year mark. And yet for God one thousand years is but yesterday - and then not all of yesterday, but the night part of yesterday. Man's lifespan has been so reduced that (70 years on average - verse 10) to break the 100 mark is considered newsworthy in our day. In the big scheme of things our years are but a sigh (verse 9). And therein lies our big problem - time runs out on us.

Micro-Management

The severe shortage of funds makes spending a very guarded thing in my life; I must operate within a micro-managed budget that will allow me to have funds to last until the next pay day.  Time must be similarly managed so it is not entirely expended before we come to the other time cycle; namely to the time when after the first resurrection we will either live eternally or die.  What Good News  that God has a plan to switch our time currency from limited time to the limitless ages of eternity.  But conditions apply....

Consecration

Lord, thank you for this wonderful plan of Salvation.  I am interested to switch currencies and begin to live as a kingdom child for the limited time I have left here on this earth.  Grant this request according to Your own desire for us we pray, In Jess' name, amen.

(To read and/or listen to Psalm 90 and to read other related blogs, please click here.)

Nevertheless...

(This reading is based on Psalm 89, read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists)

"Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail." Ps. 89: 33

If you have ever stood guilty before a parent, a school principal, a committee, your boss, a judge then you probably can appreciate the value of a word such as "Nevertheless...." (Ps. 89: 33). It may not have been that word in particular, but a synonym of it (however, notwithstanding, but, although...) that provided a pivot on which the scale of justice was miraculously swung in the direction of mercy. And how spontaneously then were the words of verse 1 apt to flow from our lips: "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever...."

                                           

Psalm 89 is a chapter that is rife with hope - even when it is that we face God's judgement. Verse 33 is the point where a clause is provided that whereas we're guilty and worthy of punishment, God's mercy and lovingkindness raise an objection, and secures a favourable ruling in our behalf.

Today I gladly add my voice to the litany of praise being ascended to God for all his marvellous works among the children of men. Truly I can say, "Without Him I could do nothing, without Him I'd surely fail, without Him I would be drifting, like a ship without a sail...." All praise and honour be to You, Lord God almighty!

To read and/or listen to Psalm 89 and to read other related blogs, please click here.

Whispering in His Ear

(This reading is based on Psalm 86 and is read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of SDA)

The image of seeing someone bowing an ear to another's mouth conveys the idea of collegiality and trust, and in other contexts intimacy, empathy, sensitivity, and care. It says, "I'm interested in what you have to say; you're important to me." This is a picture that is probably no better captured than through the image of a father listening to his child who has some concerns.

David has every confidence that his heavenly Father is more than willing to listen to his concerns, so he says, "Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me," (Psalm 86: 1).  It is God's desire that we have such a confidence too, because He wants to listen to our laments - so He can soothe our sorrows, bathe our bruises, and heal our hurts.  God wants to give us the peace of His forgiveness and free us from the burden of guilt caused by our senseless sinning, our wanton wasting of His resources, and our deliberate denial of His right to be our Lord and God... our Heavenly Father.

                 

The story Jesus tells in Luke 15 of the rebellious/wasteful son and the loving father, is really the story of God and man.  It's the story of how God vested human beings with power of choice (represented by the goods the son claimed), and we wasted that precious resource to purchase a ticket down the path of sin and rebellion against God.  But God does not close the door on us.  Instead, He's anxiously waiting for the day we'll return home (poor and dejected).  And like David we may start out by saying, "Bow down your ear to me... for I am poor and needy."  And when He bows, which is what He most anxiously wants to do, we may then say, "Father, I have sinned...." Luke 15: 21.

Incidentally, He'll also listen to the "prodigal son" who never left home - if only he'll really talk to Him. I don't know which of the sons you are today... either way, your Father... our Father is waiting.

To read and/or listen to Psalm 86 and to read other related blogs, please click here.