Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, June 21, 2015
Based Upon Job 11:7-8; Isaiah 55:8-9; Isaiah 46:9-10
“Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?” (Job 11:7–8).
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” (Isaiah 46:9–10, NLT).
Today’s devotional thought is somewhat difficult, in that I am at a loss for where to even begin. We are discussing Almighty God here! As Moses recorded Job’s thoughts on this, it is true that searching or attempting to interpret the Almighty is staggering. Human beings had attempted to reach into the heavens with our ingenuity at the Tower of Babel, yet in our pride, the Lord was compelled to destroy those efforts and confuse our languages. Somewhat due to our curiosity and pursuit of increasing knowledge in the modern times, we have built incredible flying machines that swiftly carry us into outer space. And whatever far reaches the mighty machines have not yet approached, we have built high-powered telescopes to attempt to penetrate the expanse. Yet, whether by physically searching or philosophically attempting to interpret, we fall miserably short of our goal—to find out God. However, our God has beckoned that we seek Him, and has promised that we will indeed find Him, if we seek Him (His face in humble submission) with all our hearts.
While God’s thoughts, ways, character, and even His very essence are higher than our highest abilities to perform or fathom, He has given us a way to peer into His glory through Bible prophecy. He distinguishes Himself from all false gods, which have been crafted by human hands and devilish imaginations. He said that only He is God. He said that there is none like Him. Well, what is one of the ways that you distinguish yourself, God? He said that only He can declare the end from the beginning. Only He can do absolutely whatever He wishes, with absolutely no impediments to His plans. Only to Him are the events of every age like an open book. How is this possible? Notice what the Scriptures say: “For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15). Did you get that? God inhabits (abides in, sets up His dwelling in, encamps in) eternity. There never has been, nor ever will be a time where God does not dwell. Therefore, anything that will happen is as present to Him as you are presently experiencing this devotional thought. Nothing at all is a secret to Him. All is ever revealed to Him, and to whom He chooses to reveal it. False gods, feeble philosophical and pseudo-scientific constructs must all bow before the presence of the One who makes eternity His home.
Part of the beauty of all that we have said is that not only does God distinguish Himself as the only Revealer of future events, but His eternal essence is also key to our forgiveness and cleansing. He, who simultaneously experiences all time forever, is ever present to forgive our sins, past, present, or future, if per chance we should stumble. Therefore, if we accept His perfect plans for our lives, we can have the privilege of boldness in the Day of Judgment, because we have no sins that are hidden from Him, and He can blot out all our transgressions. What a mighty God we serve! Amen.
