God has weight.
Jeremiah 10:10-13 “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”
He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: “And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries.””
Maybe you can already testify of this, but I want everyone to know that a true God encounter can be both heavy AND also liberating!
Heavy, as a sinful person in a sinful world meeting the holy God. — We are met with the weight of wrath, without the blood of Jesus being shed on the cross on our behalf. We are met with judgement against our corruption with a penalty of justice and death (Romans6:23), unless God’s mercy intercedes, and we thankfully learn in God’s word that He has.
Isaiah 53:5 “But He [Christ] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
Our God is gracious and has sent a savior so that He can commune with His creation as a Father of holy image bearers, as He did in the perfect beginning. — God created the world for His glory, and we fell from His plan, but because of our redeemer Jesus Christ we do not have to remain in this state of division rather we can abide in His remarkable love.
Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.””
Remember however that our God’s love will always be true, pure and holy, and as prodigal’s returning to the Kingdom of God, there are laws of love and caring commands that we are not yet conformed to… Still we’re given a responsibility as ambassadors of Christ to learn and understand (I Thessalonians 4:3, II Timothy 2:19-21) as a testimony for other lost sheep/ and as an evidence of spiritual regeneration against our spiritual enemy who sought our downfall.
I Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
Liberation lives however, as our God, who has authority to do all things, chooses even in His callings to not leave us to fulfill them alone! — God goes behind (Isaiah52:12) and before us, making a way! Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.””
And our Lord has walked among us and demonstrated how to navigate and fulfill the will of God:
• Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
• Jesus: Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
• Luke 11:2-4 “So [Jesus] said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.””
And God has also sent a helper through Christ!
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I [Jesus] said to you.”
So we are fully covered by the work of God’s faithful hand! Fully forgiven, fully graced to grow in sanctification and promised redemption by the finished work of Christ, if we have repented and now trust in Him!:
• Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
• Romans 8:14-15 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.””
• Luke 23:42-43 “Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.””
So now, where is our focus when our adversary seeks to outweigh us with lies and attacks from the perishing world?
While we indeed have received a newfound, solemn call from God, because of His nature and promises in actuality it is an opportunity to witness and marvel at the victory we have in Him! — God will set your gaze upon Him again and again if you are a redeemed believer; and as your focus is redirected to Christ, you can be sure find more and more of His relieving righteousness and favor upon you.
We can discover the everlasting glorious love of God, which has power to lift every other burden, and enjoy freedom!
II Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Thus, enjoy the weight of glory, as the true weight of glory is BEAUTIFUL!
Romans 8:18-19 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”
I Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.””
🌤 Psalms 8:3-4 “[God] When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”
Behold our creator!:
“How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small. (Psalm 104:24-25)
Christ “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16)
“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:5-6)
““Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:25-31)
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.” (Psalm 148:7-10)
“And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”” (Revelation 7:14-17)
““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”” (Revelation 21:3-5)