"No amount of planning, no skills or specs or spreadsheets, can stop a force that moves the planet." - TIME Magazine's Nancy Gibbs on the March 11th Japan earthquake.
If a part of this created world is able to move the very planet from which it gains its power, how much more power will the Creator of this universe have to shake it to its very foundations? And if humans are helpless before even the natural forces of this world, why do we assume we will somehow be able to contend with this mighty God when He Himself moves the planet?
We are hopelessly frail; we can't even convince our own hearts to beat one more vial of life-giving blood into our bodies. And though we pride ourselves on a supposed goodness that separates us from other species, we can't truly care for one another. No, we are too enraptured by the fleeting beauty of that which satisfies our selfish desires to even consider the needs or wishes of others.
Of what can we boast? What accomplishment have we to offer a Creator?
Who are we before Him who formed the mountains and placed every celestial body exactly where it belongs?
Who are we to cry out to this God that He is not worth our mere acknowledgment of His deity?
Who are we that we refuse to bow in total submission to this King over all kings?
Just as a tsunami causes entire cities to crumble under its sheer force and a fiery sunset strips us of our ability to find words, so will our God bring all people to their knees by His beauty and might. When that day comes, He will bring justice upon the earth, to condemn those who have not known and honored Him as Lord. But He will also be merciful to those who have believed in His revelation and salvation through Jesus Christ, moved to obedience out of a love for Him.
"We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:9
"This is love for God: to obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome." - 1 John 5:3
"The first and foremost [command] is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:28-31
God, forgive us for our pride. You are Lord over all.
No comments:
Post a Comment