In the Beginning
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)…and her. He fashioned her soul just so, planted in her the seeds of His purposes for her life, imprinted on her heart a love of laughter and sweet songs that would bring her to tears, gifted her with talents and abilities that she would use to comfort and encourage, and predisposed her to enjoy salty chips and dark chocolate. He "knew the plans He had for her, plans to prosper her and not to harm her, plans to give her a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) "All the days ordained for her were written in His book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16b) And then He held her by His side until just the right moment…
The day came -- when her story would be begin. He released her into the world He had created. And He freed her spirit to choose…oh, the dazzling beauty of the stuff of the world! The delights of lesser loves robed in charm and fun! The pretenses of knowledge and privilege! So many fountains from which to drink and so many piles of excess and indulgence to run her hands through! Just so many intoxicating pleasures!
And He waited…would she remember the One Who had created her? Would she ever see through the veils of deceit to the heart of the Truth? Would she ever long for that place of being held by His side once again? He knew the answer…but did she?
Day after day, she savored the freedom to explore, to experience, to enjoy! There was so much…but in her freedom, she had abandoned the One Who gives liberty. The sparkle of the world slowly tarnished, grew mundane and dull. The hope of the world's brand of love was revealed as fleeting, fickle, cruel. Knowing things and people turned hollow and empty.
Weary, desperate, clinging to a vine of hope -- the song of her creation was whispered to her soul by that sweet Spirit. And she knew that she had abused the precious gift of freedom. And she missed Him Who had fashioned her and felt the emptiness of purpose unfulfilled. Too ashamed to lift her head, knowing she was the one who had wandered from Love, crushed by guilt, shocked by her own callous heart, she dared to call to Him in a tiny, humble voice…not really expecting a response.
But God is not like man. He pursues us with an everlasting love. Like a father waiting for his lost son to return, "while we are still a long way off, He sees us and is filled with compassion for us; He runs to us, throws His arms around us, and kisses us." (Luke 15:20b) And while she had been held by His side through the ages of time, waiting for her story to begin, He had been busy preparing for the day she would remember Him. He knew she would choose self over Him -- for a while. And He knew that the temporal pleasures she would enjoy would come at great cost. And He was willing to ransom His beloved -- and His Son was all in, too. "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)
And Who should hear her faint plea for rescue? But "the Glorious One, Who lifted up her head." (Psalm 3:3b) He "set her feet on a rock and gave her a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:2b) He gave her His Word, "a lamp to her feet and a light for her path." (Psalm 119:105) He promised her He would "go with her; He would never leave her nor forsake her." (Deuteronomy 31:6b) And He assured her of His presence in her life until her life should return to Him again, saying, "Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He Who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)
And each day is a journey of faith -- good times come, struggles weigh her down, her own selfishness trips her steps, delight and joy surprise her, the storms threaten, the rainbows remind. Life comes a drop at a time, and in the end, the river of her life leads her home. "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." (Psalm 116:7)
The day came -- when her story would be begin. He released her into the world He had created. And He freed her spirit to choose…oh, the dazzling beauty of the stuff of the world! The delights of lesser loves robed in charm and fun! The pretenses of knowledge and privilege! So many fountains from which to drink and so many piles of excess and indulgence to run her hands through! Just so many intoxicating pleasures!
And He waited…would she remember the One Who had created her? Would she ever see through the veils of deceit to the heart of the Truth? Would she ever long for that place of being held by His side once again? He knew the answer…but did she?
Day after day, she savored the freedom to explore, to experience, to enjoy! There was so much…but in her freedom, she had abandoned the One Who gives liberty. The sparkle of the world slowly tarnished, grew mundane and dull. The hope of the world's brand of love was revealed as fleeting, fickle, cruel. Knowing things and people turned hollow and empty.
Weary, desperate, clinging to a vine of hope -- the song of her creation was whispered to her soul by that sweet Spirit. And she knew that she had abused the precious gift of freedom. And she missed Him Who had fashioned her and felt the emptiness of purpose unfulfilled. Too ashamed to lift her head, knowing she was the one who had wandered from Love, crushed by guilt, shocked by her own callous heart, she dared to call to Him in a tiny, humble voice…not really expecting a response.
But God is not like man. He pursues us with an everlasting love. Like a father waiting for his lost son to return, "while we are still a long way off, He sees us and is filled with compassion for us; He runs to us, throws His arms around us, and kisses us." (Luke 15:20b) And while she had been held by His side through the ages of time, waiting for her story to begin, He had been busy preparing for the day she would remember Him. He knew she would choose self over Him -- for a while. And He knew that the temporal pleasures she would enjoy would come at great cost. And He was willing to ransom His beloved -- and His Son was all in, too. "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)
And Who should hear her faint plea for rescue? But "the Glorious One, Who lifted up her head." (Psalm 3:3b) He "set her feet on a rock and gave her a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:2b) He gave her His Word, "a lamp to her feet and a light for her path." (Psalm 119:105) He promised her He would "go with her; He would never leave her nor forsake her." (Deuteronomy 31:6b) And He assured her of His presence in her life until her life should return to Him again, saying, "Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He Who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)
And each day is a journey of faith -- good times come, struggles weigh her down, her own selfishness trips her steps, delight and joy surprise her, the storms threaten, the rainbows remind. Life comes a drop at a time, and in the end, the river of her life leads her home. "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." (Psalm 116:7)
