‘Take the World, But Give Me Jesus’
Some time ago this thought came to me while I was praying and it was strongly re-enforced again in my mind on a more recent morning. It was - - ‘Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our lives and prayers can reflect the very heart of God, in the beauty of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit Who is Himself the Almighty Power within us’. This Resurrection Life will develop and flourish in us as we co-operate with God by obedience in His glorious purpose (Romans 28-29) to work all things together to conform us to the image of His beloved Son. This is the Reality of God incarnate, God Himself in human flesh and can be increasingly (Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13) worked in us until it reaches glorious fullness when (1 John 3:2) we see Jesus. When we can actually look into His love-filled eyes and fall prostrate at His nail-pierced feet. But right now, as we yield everything to Him, the full rich life of Jesus slowly and surely will invade every part of us.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I think of the of the condescension of our Sovereign Transcendent God to confer on us the holy, royal privilege of intimacy with Him, and all because - - - our KING has nail-pierced hands and feet. By faith I feel His nail-pierced hand lovingly resting on my head.
Years ago, we sang this chorus – ‘Take the World, But Give Me Jesus’. In this present time COVID-19 has taken our world with a totally unexpected global crippling and violent assault. Is it possible that one of the reasons God allowed COVID, was to awaken His Church and carnal Christians? In the midst of disease, earthquakes, landslides, volcanos, everywhere upheaval, disintegration and confusion - - - do we maintain our confidence and peace in the ONLY CONSTANT? I Am (Malachi 3:6) the Lord, I change not. Do we really know WHO He is?
In the beginning (Genesis 1:1) God created. If He didn’t create it, it doesn’t exist. Evil was not created and evil could not exist without goodness and holiness. Every vile, filthy, self-righteous evil in thought, word and deed is a perversion of existing holy, good and pure, God-given thoughts, words and deeds. Take time for wonder because of WHO it is, WHO is our God and Saviour. He always was, He always is, He the Almighty, Transcendent, Sovereign Controller of the universe. Nothing – ever – anywhere – is beyond His absolute Mastery. He never forgets, is never surprised, never caught off-guard, never taken unawares. He always knows long beforehand because He always knew. Where Satan is permitted to operate, where human choice is permitted to be exercised, it is only where God has allowed limited freedom in limited areas for a limited time. Even time itself is limited.
No person, no power, no disaster, nothing can hinder, lessen or usurp His absolute authority - - can challenge, interrupt, weaken or diminish His limitless powers - - can dim, cloud, blur His all-the-time and everywhere all-seeing, - - can take from or add to His constant endless all-knowing. There is nothing for Him to learn. He is the true Source of all wisdom and knowledge.
Just think about this for a couple of minutes. Before the earth was formed – God already knew the exact time and date of when you would be born, where you’d live, which schools you’d attend, where you’d work and the changing amount of your wages, if and whom you’d marry, plus every past, present and future detail about you. He also knows what you would or would not do if certain circumstances presented themselves. Plus every detail, every thought, word and deed during your lifespan on earth.
This is just a glimpse through a finite curtain at the unknowable totality of our infinite God. Yet even this limited view is too big for my mind to grasp. But not too big for my heart to believe and rest securely in Him. As I meditate on God, I am overwhelmed by the privilege of relationship and communion with Jehovah, Adonai. It is beyond human understanding but it is ours to rejoice in and cherish supremely in holy worship and adoration.
While we can have peace (Philippians 4:6-7) no matter what disaster threatens, we must continue to pray for our darkening world and the people who are suffocating under the COVID landslides. The heart of God and the compassion of Jesus will fuel our prayers and for all our praying we will have this rock-solid assurance. What the Lord has planned (Isaiah 14:24) will come to pass and what He has purposed so it shall stand. The dominating factor in our prayers and our security is not personal or world conditions but (Daniel 4:34, Isaiah 46:9-10) the Sovereignty of our all-wise God. We can confidently go on with (Hebrews 10:22) our hearts full of assurance because we know (Isaiah 46:9-10, Ezekiel 22:14) that whatever God says is exactly what He will do.