Lessons Learned by Looking Back

            Looking back, way back, I can see the overall landscape I walked through more clearly than I could when I was stumbling through dark days in a fog of worry, which I nurtured as though it was a treasure. Think of the famous picture of two pairs of footprints in the sand, changing to one pair illustrating those times when instead of walking with you, He carried you through the worst times while you were unaware. Now I can see His footprints next to mine.

            Throughout my life, I managed from time to time to get a new glimpse of this great God who created me. Each new insight seems to overwhelm me for a time. Until I get used to this new kernel of knowledge. Before long, I seem to file away that new aspect of my Holy Father, and too often begin waiting expectantly for another crumb to drop from His table. In a way, it's as though I'm climbing a ladder, except I tend to doze off instead of reaching the next level.

            On looking back, I can see myself slumbering through daily life on autopilot when I should have been eagerly looking for the Lord’s next revelation and praising Him for the blessings already filed away.

            When I actually take time to inventory the riches provided by His love, my eyes are filled with images proving His provision, His power, His passion for His creations: a bird in spring bringing food to her hatchings, a bee who somehow knows to collect pollen from a flower which results in honey, a busy ant working in concert with its army as an example to me to be more industrious. All these things remind me of His loving care and make me feel safe in His arms. I’m comfortable and familiar with this God.

            Other images remind me of His great power and my heart thuds in my chest to see signs of God’s power: a mighty waterfall roaring over a cliff, a lightning streak burning anything it touches, crashing thunder vibrating in the pit of my stomach, a tsunami (thankfully experienced only through a film), the nothingness left behind a tornado, the comets whizzing through space toward earth which He diverts and saves our world while we cruise through our day unaware of the dangers swept away from our path.

            And yet most days I go through my day, barely remembering to say hello to my Heavenly Father and forgetting, ignoring the great punishment this same God could bring to me (which I deserve) and the horrific punishment Jesus suffered so I may escape my fate.

            I startle in horror when I am suddenly aware of Almighty God. How dare I ignore His presence, His ownership of this world and its inhabitants? I comprehend anew this God controls my very existence, my next breath of air, and His great love is equaled by His standard of perfection. How can I daily live as though ignoring Him is an option?  Our next world, whether a palace in His presence or locked away forever in an eternal fiery darkness, will depend on whether we honor and obey, or turn away from His hand reaching to bring us to safety.



            He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be 

           exalted in the earth."                                       Psalm 46:10 New American Standard


            Notice He doesn't say exalted "by My people", He's talking about all of us on that day, believers

            or not prior to Judgment Day. He is a fierce God, an awesome. fearsome God to those who 

            don't answer His call. Ready or not, it's coming!

    
            It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every 

           tongue will acknowledge God.                      Romans 14:11, New American Standard

    
          He says give me your heart now; waiting for Judgment Day will be too late! Hosanna to the 

          God of All There is!