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Life and Your |
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It was once stated that the best way
to keep someone's attention is to:
(1) tell him something he didn't know, or
(2) remind him of something he had forgotten.
I hope that through this article you will be able to find interest in one
of these two areas.
What Does God See?
I asked this question once in a gathering
of friends, and the responses received
were to the effect that God sees everything. He knows our hearts and all
about
us; and there is nothing that He doesn't see.
But let's examine three texts of Scriptures
of the Bible and see if there might
be a different answer.
Turn to Proverbs 15:3. It states there:
The eyes of the Lord are
in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.
That seems to be clear enough. Now turn to Job 34:21:
For His eyes are upon the ways of man,
and He seeth all his goings.
For the last introduction text let's examine Job 31:4:
Doth not He see my ways,
and count all my steps?
Job asked the question. but it was his conviction prior to all the trouble
that he
was encountering that, yes, God sees everything, and nothing is hidden from
Him.
What Has God Never Seen?
I want to show you, that even though
this is true, there are still five things that
God has never seen. Let's see what these might be:
1. God has never seen anyone He didn't desire to save.
The Bible teaches that
God is:
...longsuffering to us..., not willing
that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance. 2
Peter 3:9.
Also, in John chapter 3 we read that
God's main interest is the salvation, not
the condemnation, of lost people. Jesus spoke these words to impart comfort
and hope, that even in our darkest times we can be assured that He cares
for
us. It doesn't matter to Him if you are wealthy or poor. Everyone is valuable
in His sight. Your life is worth far more than money or the most costly
possessions. Note what is written:
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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved. John
3:16, 17
Sometimes we are forced to face situations
in life to wonder if anyone cares
or understands our deepest needs. Why not go back and read again John 3:16?
The Lord has a love that can reach beyond all the cares and trials you may
encounter.
2. God has never seen a sickness He could not heal.
In Jeremiah 30:17, can be found this promise:
For I will restore health
unto thee,
and I will heal thee of thy wounds....
From the head to the toes sickness often
comes; and we wonder if there is anyone
who can make us well. You may have heard that the Lord is able to bring
health
to broken lives. This is true, and He longs to restore that which has been
taken
away, but there is a sickness worse than that of the body which is in greater
need
that the Lord often seeks to heal first.
Many illnesses come as a result of unbalanced
reasoning, and habits of living.
If the Lord were to take away the physical pain without bringing to our
attention
the need of help to live and think differently, our renewed life would soon
be
expended again bringing more suffering in its path. Everything God has created
He has put under natural and divine laws. When we obey them happiness and
health can be preserved. Life and health are treasures that should be protected.
We need to look to the Lord, not only to give us renewed physical health,
but
a new life as well. There is nothing He can't restore if we ask Him; and
He is
especially willing to heal the wounded heart that calls out to Him in its
moment
of greatest need.
3. God has never seen a trial He could not provide for.
1 Peter 1:37 states:
That the trial of your faith, being
much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ...
No one likes trials. They are heavy
and seem to prevent our making progress in
life. But what can we do about them?
There is a story told of a family that
was burdened with problems. One night the
man came home and was greeted by his little crippled daughter. His mind
was
filled with the weight of trials as he asked: "Where's Mommy!"
"Upstairs," his daughter replied.
"Good," he said. "I'll just run upstairs and take her this package I brought her."
But his little girl wanted to take it up.
"That's quite impossible," he said.
"No, it's not," she replied.
"I'll carry the package, and you can carry me."
And so it was.
On the way upstairs, her father suddenly
understood a deep spiritual lesson
about trials and how to carry them. When we put everything in God's hands,
He can carry us and our burdens.
Romans 8:28 reminds us:
And we know that all things
work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to His purpose.
Even now the Lord wants you to take
Him at His word, and cast all your cares
upon Him, for he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
4. God has never seen a circumstance He could not change.
It is important for us to realize that
the Lord has everything under His control.
When we trust Him, He will work out all things for the best. The Bible is
full
of examples of people who were surrounded by difficult circumstances. The
most
graphic one that many are familiar with is that of God's leading the children
of
Israel out of Egyptian bondage. (See Exodus 14:3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 15-16, 26-31).
Miracle followed miracle--from slavery to freedom--and now they were on
their
way. No three day sacrifice in the wilderness for them! God planned to put
them
far away from the Egyptian host. He also led the unarmed multitude away
from
the land of the Philistines, lest they become discouraged by threats of
war.
But suddenly God changed their direction,
and guided them toward the sea.
They had only one more day to go, and they would have been far from the
Egyptian border, and its long endured trouble. By this time Pharaoh had
re-grouped his forces and with a grand show of strength was in hot pursuit.
But where was God leading?
It soon became obvious that the people
were to be pinned in by mountains,
the angry army of Pharaoh, and the Red Sea. Had God led them into a trap?
In their great fear the people forgot about the Lord who had led them forth
by mighty miracles and great power. He was able to open up the impossible
path to freedom. In response to their need God then changed their circumstances,
and parted the Red Sea. What had been feared as a path of death, now became
the way to salvation. Remember: He didn't fail the Israelites in their greatest
needs, and He won't fail you either.
5. God has never seen a greater plan for salvation
...than giving Jesus, His only Son to
die for your sins. The Lord came to our
world to pay the price that was required to give you eternal life. He is
no dead
Savior. Death and the grave could not hold Him. He was raised from the tomb
and lives today, preparing a people to live with Him in a new world without
suffering and sorrow. Even now we can make plans to be with the faithful
who
will be waiting to greet Him when He comes in the clouds of heaven with
power
and great glory. God gave His only Son to die for you, so you could become
happy and free from the pain and suffering that sin has brought into the
world.
And all that He requires is for you to surrender your battle against Him
and
follow His directions. He longs to reveal the better way, and only escape,
from
eternal loss and separation from His love and blessings.
Acts 4:12 speaks of Jesus when it says:
Neither is there salvation
in any other:
for there is none other name
under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
Jesus gave up His life so that we wouldn't
have to lose ours.
This was the greatest freewill offering the universe has ever witnessed.
Five important things that
God has never seen!
And, as Paul Harvey would say,
"Now you know the rest of the
story."
What a blessing for us all.
Won't you take some time right now and
consider your life and future?
The Lord does have a plan for every life. He has one for you also.
If you would like to know more about this, or other Bible centered subjects:
Contact us. We will be happy to hear from
you.
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