Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters devotional...

Lord, when I shrink thy place to fill

And think my way is better still,

Please mold and bend and break me 'till

My heart and life are in thy will.

- Elvin Stoltzfus

Meeting God - Read Matthew 25:31-46

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3:16

Someday we will meet God.  We will stand before the eternal One, who is so incomprehensibly mighty that He spoke everything into existence except mankind.  Man He formed from the dust and breathed into him the breath of life.  Knowing that Adam and Eve would sin, God bared His holy arm before the foundation of the world to bring about man's salvation.  He planned the sacrifice of His only begotten Son to provide the forgiveness of sin.

God also gave man an Instruction Book, and sent His Holy Spirit to shine His divine illumination upon its pages.  He provided the avenue of prayer so that even in our imperfection, we might commune with Him in His holiness.  God left nothing undone, neglected no detail, and spared no effort to reconcile us unworthy mortals to Himself.

So how will it be to stand before His throne when life on earth is over?  Will God be a kind of jolly grandfather who laughs and waves us through to glory?  "You messed up a few times, but on the whole, you tried to be a good fellow."  Or will He be a harsh Judge glaring from beneath heavy brows?  "I cannot bear the looks of you, I never have liked you, and I do not want you in Heaven."

No, these images do not match what the Bible reveals about the character of God.  But God is obviously serious about Project Creation.  His holiness will not be compromised;  His justice will not waver.  His authority will not be diminished nor His purposes altered.  We too must be serious about life if we are to hear those all-important words of commendation when we meet God: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

 - Gary Miller - Pantego, NC