How Terrible Is Our God?
Focus: Psalms 47:1-2 - KJV
1. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
Hebrews 10:26-31
God is King over all the earth. As loving and caring as He is, yet, He is a terrible God. God is loving and sheds the light of His countenance over all the earth. But upon all His love and care, sons of men tend to treat Him shabbily with their stiff-neckedness. Which is why, everywhere there is found stiff opposition and recalcitrance to the things of God, He may be forced to withdraw the light of His countenance. No wonder we find Him allowing rain in two places and none in the middle place. When He withdraws the light of His countenance from a people, they are released to have a taste of darkness which is found in weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth. Those in the light observe from afar the travails of those in darkness who had been their tormentors and are moved to give glory to God for ransoming them from the powers of the evil one. God is not wicked. No. But He moves near those who move near Him. We move near Him by obedience to His word. If after all He did for us through Christ, we have knowledge of the truth and subsequently jettison Him, He is not obliged to retain the light of His countenance over any such. When observers see them, they see their devastation and posit that God is terrible. No wonder it is written that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living (terrible) God. It is not God that is terrible. It is the recalcitrance of man that throws him into the hands of the one he prefers whose enterprise is known only in destruction.
Beloved, the light of the countenance of God is sweet. Yes, the enemy will try every possible means to lure one out of it. But remaining faithful is where the joy is. Once drawn out of the light, joy becomes lost. Recall the story of the ten virgins and particularly the five foolish ones. Once the bride decides to step out and fails to return speedily before the groom arrives, there will be devastation of sorts. No one takes the benefit of God from darkness. There is darkness outside and there lies the dogs. Let nothing draw you away from His light and love.
SOLUTION: If sinners entice you, do not consent. Sin appears sweet; but the end result is calamitous. Stay away from sin and sinners. Stand with Christ in obedience to the end.
Father, I don’t want to ever offend you again. Help me by your Spirit that I may never fall into darkness again in Jesus’ name. Please do not let the devil gain me into destruction in Jesus’ name. Whenever the devil approaches with his deception or tribulation to draw me out of your light, do help me to resist him steadfastly that I may continue to be in you to the very end in Jesus’ name.
