[My wife, daughter, grandson and I traveled across the USA a while back. We noticed a giant Cross on Interstate 40 at Groom, Texas. We decided to stop for lunch where we could view this incredible sight. Ten million people pass by every year and one thousand stop each day. This 190 foot tall (that’s 10 stories high) free standing Cross which took eight months to construct, can be seen from twenty miles away. The closer you get the more amazing the sight of this “emblem” of our freedom. Every piece of this colossal Cross had to fit together when the frame was transported and assembled at the construction site forty miles away. When completed, the cross would weigh 2.5 million pounds. Amazing but, NOT AS AMAZING AS GOD’S LOVE FOR US! God’s love for man and His work at the cross is much bigger than we may realize. When God decided to send His son, He knew how “big” a part the cross would play to end His suffering. HE KNEW WHAT HORRIBLE PERSECUTION AND TORTURE AWAITED HIM BUT DECIDED TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE (HE LOVES US SO MUCH) TO US WITH THIS AWESOME PRESENT. Sadly, there are people, even good church people, who go through their life NEVER REALIZING THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD’S LOVE FOR THEM. They know God is “nice”, but they never really see how big He is because they never get close enough to Him to experience His awesome love. IF OUR “VIEW” OF GOD IS SMALL, OUR EXPERIENCE WITH HIM WILL BE SMALL. We must get close, as close as we can to God so we may experience how awesome He is for ourselves. The Apostle Paul didn’t want the believers that he cared about to miss the awesomeness of the God that they had. In Ephesians 3:16-20, Paul said:]
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may STRENGTHEN YOU WITH POWER through his Spirit…so that Christ may dwell [inhabit, reside] in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, MAY HAVE POWER, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS, TO GRASP [understand, comprehend] HOW WIDE AND LONG AND HIGH AND DEEP IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST, and to know [in an intimate way] this love that surpasses knowledge–that YOU MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US,”
[We will not see God’s greatness by just taking our place at church every time the doors are open. We’ll never see the awesomeness of our Lord by just reading the Bible when we get around to it; by praying general, predictable prayers; by obeying God’s Holy Spirit only when it’s not too hard or too risky. It is possible for us to be around Almighty God for our whole life AND JUST KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE. Let’s throw open the doors of our hearts and tell Him, “LORD, I’VE PLAYED IT SAFE LONG ENOUGH. I’m ready to go for everything you’ve got BY SURRENDERING TO YOU EVERYTHING I’VE GOT.” Let’s tell Him we’re ready to follow Him out of our comfort zone; beyond where it feels safe. Let’s not just believe in Him, LET’S PURSUE HIM WITH EVERYTHING WE’VE GOT. THE CLOSER WE GET, THE MORE AMAZING WE SEE HOW PRECIOUS HIS GIFT IS TO US.]
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that:
WE MUST PURSUE HIM WITH EVERYTHING WE’VE GOT TODAY!
–Bill Stockham