I have walked sandy beaches all my
life. I practically grew up on a
beach. The Lord has always used a beach
to blow away the cobwebs in my brain, and clear out the spiritual wax in my
ears. Somehow he speaks louder when I’m walking through sand
and surf. Recently, he did so again,
this time as I pondered the following verse:
life. I practically grew up on a
beach. The Lord has always used a beach
to blow away the cobwebs in my brain, and clear out the spiritual wax in my
ears. Somehow he speaks louder when I’m walking through sand
and surf. Recently, he did so again,
this time as I pondered the following verse:
He
was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the
last times for your sake…
was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the
last times for your sake…
1
Peter 1:20.
Peter 1:20.
Think about what Peter is saying. God knew from Genesis 1:1, in
the beginning, before the world, as we know it even existed, that there would
be a Peg Forrest. He knew, even before
he created me, and planted me as a seed in my mother’s uterus, that I would
need a Savior-Rescuer-Redeemer-Lord. Back then, he had already begun to grieve
over me. Back then (how long ago was
the beginning?), he made a plan, for Peggy’s sake; and he
probably grieved again, knowing what that plan would entail. I mattered,
but lest you think this is just a case of spiritual narcissism, so did you.
the beginning, before the world, as we know it even existed, that there would
be a Peg Forrest. He knew, even before
he created me, and planted me as a seed in my mother’s uterus, that I would
need a Savior-Rescuer-Redeemer-Lord. Back then, he had already begun to grieve
over me. Back then (how long ago was
the beginning?), he made a plan, for Peggy’s sake; and he
probably grieved again, knowing what that plan would entail. I mattered,
but lest you think this is just a case of spiritual narcissism, so did you.
Lest you think that this blows me up with pride, now try to wrap
you mind around the following. What began
as a little beach-walk, quickly turned to a theology lesson. As I looked at the sand, The Lord reminded me
of his promise to Abraham; the promise that said, “Your descendants shall
be as the sand along the seashore.”
(See Genesis 22:16-18) I am one
of those descendants. No, I’m not
Jewish, but as a believer in Christ, I qualify by adoption. I’m a grain of
sand.
you mind around the following. What began
as a little beach-walk, quickly turned to a theology lesson. As I looked at the sand, The Lord reminded me
of his promise to Abraham; the promise that said, “Your descendants shall
be as the sand along the seashore.”
(See Genesis 22:16-18) I am one
of those descendants. No, I’m not
Jewish, but as a believer in Christ, I qualify by adoption. I’m a grain of
sand.
Ever picked up just a grain of sand? It’s teeny. It’s hard to
distinguish from any other grain of sand. As a result, it’s easily lost…easily
washed away…easily tossed about by the wind. It’s insignificant and
worthless. It’s annoying (especially when it gets under your fingernail, or
between your toes). Oh, and, we can’t forget, it’s DIRTY! But, for the sake of a grain of
sand, The Lord saw, knew by name, and LOVED…Jesus, God the Son,
incarnated himself. On my behalf, he chose to give up his rights as God, humble himself, and take the nature of a servant, so he could die. Honestly, I’m
bowled over by the grain-of-sand-theology.
distinguish from any other grain of sand. As a result, it’s easily lost…easily
washed away…easily tossed about by the wind. It’s insignificant and
worthless. It’s annoying (especially when it gets under your fingernail, or
between your toes). Oh, and, we can’t forget, it’s DIRTY! But, for the sake of a grain of
sand, The Lord saw, knew by name, and LOVED…Jesus, God the Son,
incarnated himself. On my behalf, he chose to give up his rights as God, humble himself, and take the nature of a servant, so he could die. Honestly, I’m
bowled over by the grain-of-sand-theology.
Do you see it? Right there, on the tip of my finger…that one little grain represents me. You’re in there, too…
What does that theology change in me? It so makes me want to get over myself. I’m humbled. AND, while it changes my identity
from insignificant and worthless, and raises my value; it does so
much more in me. I have to quote
the words from a book I just finished, because this quote GREATLY resonated
in me: “If you see the gospel only as a proposition
that you believe, that reshapes your identity, you can easily slip into a kind
of gospel narcissism where “Jesus for me” just makes you touchy. (If this is so), you’ve never moved on from
Jesus’s death for you to your death for others.
Jesus is only good for your self-image, but he hasn’t mastered your
life. He doesn’t own you.” (Paul Miller, A Loving Life)
from insignificant and worthless, and raises my value; it does so
much more in me. I have to quote
the words from a book I just finished, because this quote GREATLY resonated
in me: “If you see the gospel only as a proposition
that you believe, that reshapes your identity, you can easily slip into a kind
of gospel narcissism where “Jesus for me” just makes you touchy. (If this is so), you’ve never moved on from
Jesus’s death for you to your death for others.
Jesus is only good for your self-image, but he hasn’t mastered your
life. He doesn’t own you.” (Paul Miller, A Loving Life)
This is the change my grain-of-sand-theology is producing in me –
a greater desire to die to self, to humble myself, and to love as Jesus loved. It’ll be a process, but I know it has taken
seed in the soil of my heart, and maybe, just maybe, begun to sprout.
a greater desire to die to self, to humble myself, and to love as Jesus loved. It’ll be a process, but I know it has taken
seed in the soil of my heart, and maybe, just maybe, begun to sprout.
Now, I highly recommend finding a sandy beach somewhere, taking a walk, and pondering the for your sake of Peter’s words…
Jesus love changes everything!
