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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

 

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Christadelphian Bible Studies


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2. No Limit


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The sun is one great hydrogen bomb some ninety odd million miles away from the earth. Light from the sun and all the stars travels to the earth at 186,000 miles a second and some of the light reaching the earth today began its journey to earth when Adam was in the garden of Eden. We can hardly begin to understand these staggering facts; but we can be sure of one thing:

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Psalm 19:1.

You will perhaps recall those words from your reading at the end of the first letter. Just think about that. The immensity, the unfailing power, the precision of times and tides, the grandeur of the jeweled sky teach us something about God.

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." Isaiah 40:28.

God is Almighty. His power is inexhaustible. He holds all things in his mighty hand and nothing escapes his control.

"To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?" Isaiah 40:18.

Obviously there is no one with whom we can compare him. He is the Creator. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Before everything God was. He is "from everlasting to everlasting." This is the God of the Bible. A supreme and unwearying person.

Our earth and all creation did not come into being by some gigantic accident uncontrolled by anything other than blind and purposeless chance. There is no comfort in that. Rather let us gather up the strength of the great, simple assuring declarations of the Bible the word which the Creator himself has given to us:

"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited." Isaiah 45:18.

There is purpose behind these things and the purpose is the will of God. That is what the Bible wants to tell us. We have no need to worry about our earth; it is in God's safe hands. It will not collide with any of its neighbours. God has planned it as a gracious home for men. But, when you come to think of it, there is comfort in this. We can lean upon this knowledge and trust the Hand behind all things. We have moved a step nearer to God in thinking like that. We are going in the right direction. Only fools move away from the unconquerable power of God. Wise men draw near:

"O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 0 come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Psalm 95:1-6.

Whenever you are lonely in this wide world (and who is not lonely at some time or other?) then take heart; God is as near you as your own breath. If ever you become afraid wondering whether or not all the world is moving to a complete destruction; then remember the world and all that is in it belong to God.

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing he is Lord of heaven and earth . . . giveth to all life and breath and all things . . . that they should seek the Lord, if happily they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from every one of us; for in him we live, move and have our being." Acts 17:24-28.

We may not be able to trust men; but we can trust God. Indeed we depend upon Him for life and everything. The sooner we acknowledge that, the better it will be for our character. The spirit of dependence upon God is a most rewarding experience.

Perhaps we have some difficulty in understanding how God can be everywhere at once. Let us not pretend that anyone really understands this. How can a fish comprehend geometry? or a mouse the mysteries of nuclear physics? How then can men who are made of dust understand the ways of the infinite God of heaven? There is no way unless God speaks to us in language we can understand. This He has done in the Bible. That is what the Bible is for; for our instruction and learning. When God tells us something about himself therefore it is well that we take heed. Make a note of this:

"'By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Psalm 33:6.

Did you notice that? Heaven and earth were made by a word. God can speak and it is done. God said: "Let there be light; and there was light." (Genesis 1:3). This is something we can never prove in the absolute sense but it forms part of the simple and beautiful pattern of the knowledge God gives us of himself. He can speak and his will is done. Is it possible to see this a little more clearly? Yes, if we are willing. Look at this --

"And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light."

God's Spirit moved: God said: it was done. The means whereby God performs his work is his Spirit, his eternal power. This Spirit, which is God's energy, God's overflowing, creative, sustaining force, is present everywhere. That is what Paul meant when he wrote: "in him we live and move and have our being." It is what Jesus understood when he said: "Are not two sparrows sold for one farthing? and not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Everything happens within the field of God's knowledge and power. Nothing escapes or can escape his notice. Wherever we are, God is. This filled one of the writers of the Old Testament with surpassing wonder:

"O Lord thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off . . . such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" Psalm 139:1-7.

God's spirit is in all places and by it he knows, he keeps us alive and works his will. It is therefore no surprise to us to learn that the very same Spirit, God's direct energy, was the means whereby Bible writers received their messages from God, spoke them to the people and set them down in writing. Let one of these writers tell us about it:

"The sweet psalmist of Israel said, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." 2 Samuel 23:2.

That is the secret behind the Bible. The word is from God. God who made the stars has spoken to us. Every true prophet, every true writer of Scripture, was driven along, like a ship with the wind in her sails, by this same impelling Holy Spirit of God:

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16.

Do you see the mystery revealed? God's limitless power, reaching through all space yet centered in God himself, is the motive force of Creation and the influence by which the Bible has come to us. No wonder the Bible is such a marvel!

Now we must stop and have a little private meditation. Read over this letter once more. You will find it worthwhile. Lay special emphasis on the quotations from the Bible. And, by the way, what about opening the book for yourself: Of course you will. It is putting a key in the lock of the universe and opening the door to the mind of God. Be careful though. Approach with humility and with prayer:

"Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool ... for all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Isaiah 66:1-2.

Lord God, grant me a humble heart sufficient to believe thee and to know that thou are everywhere present by thy Spirit.

Now read for yourself the following Scriptures: Psalm 139 and Luke 12:73-40. You will find them helpful. Take it seriously and think about God some part of every day. You will be happy the nearer you are to him.

Next page Where Did You Come From?

 


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