Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Anyone can read the Bible and
see the wonders of nature, but few are given grace to behold
the glory of its author. Anyone can be exposed to the
preaching of the gospel, but few are given grace to behold
the subject of that gospel. In fact, this is the very reason
that Paul says, God is pleased to remain hidden. For after that,
in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. It
is demonstrated also in the Lord's rejoicing in the work of the
Father. In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank Thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight. He is clearly
not a God who is trying to get men to notice Him and somehow
frustrated in that quest. Rather, He is so resplendent
in His holiness and glory that it is impossible for a man to
see Him as He is. This makes his determination
to show mercy to some all the more glorious when one considers
that it is impossible for any of his creatures to approach
him apart from the bestowal of that sovereign mercy. That he
would condescend to help any is profoundly remarkable and
is designed to stir up the thankfulness of those who are made to know
the depths and experience of that mercy. It is with this knowledge
in mind that Paul writes with amazement, For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. The same creative power that
was demonstrated in the creation of the heavens is necessarily
displayed in the creation of life and light in the children
of God, who were reborn by His Spirit as new creatures. He commanded
the light to shine when the sun first sparkled and emitted its
light, but the light did not originate from the sun, but the
sun received its light from him who said, let there be light,
and there was light. This then is the message which
we have heard of him and declare unto you, that God is light and
in him is no darkness at all. In the same fashion, He has shined
in our hearts and given us light, if indeed we be those who behold
Jesus Christ as that one who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature. For by Him were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created by Him and for Him. And he is before
all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.
The world looks at him and has but a passing interest, content
with loaves and fishes, but those who have been given eyes to see
him as he is must fall down and worship him in adoring wonder.
Thus Peter testified, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the
words of eternal life. The glory which could in no wise
be looked upon by men, he has been pleased to reveal in utter
clarity in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have looked
on him and lived, as he declared unto Philip, He that hath seen
me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, Show
us the Father? No man hath seen God at any time.
The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,
he hath declared him. All that the children of God
could ever need to know about the Eternal God has been set
forth before us in Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him, which is
the head of all principality and power. He has not only been
pleased to reveal to us His glory, but to make provisions for us
to enjoy His presence forever. Year in Christ Jesus, who of
God has made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification
and redemption, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son. whom he hath appointed heir of
all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who being the brightness
of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding
all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty
on high, being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Those who have
seen him face to face delight in the prospect of spending eternity
praising his name and rejoicing in his glory, for he has been
pleased to reveal himself to them as the God of all glory
and praise. After this I beheld in low a
great multitude which no man could number of all nations and
kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and cried
with a loud voice saying, salvation to our God which sitteth upon
the throne and unto the land. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.