A New Way of Walking

The sun was just rising as I took this, the morning light creating a lunar like effect on this freshly fallen snow. A spring storm system roaring in overnight swirled the snow with such a forceful winter wind that it felt reminiscent of the end of February. In the morning there was this. A beautiful powder white covering over everything leaving the air crisp and clean in such a manner that only people who have lived in places of extreme cold can truly understand it. There is a brilliance too with this kind of snow, the sun shining on it making it sparkle in such a way that is truly beautiful to behold. I stood in this quiet moment to make sure I took it all in. It's in moments like these that my mind reaches back to pull forward into my thinking how it relates to the truth of God's word. Isaiah 1:18 comes to mind where it says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. White as snow. Well that is something worth thinking on just a little bit more. How quickly in our modern world one can skim over phrases like that without truly pondering them, missing the greater impact of those carefully penned words. I am a firm believer that the world would be a better place if we spent more time this way, being quiet, soaking in the ancient words of God. And yet there is a conundrum that sits here with us while we do this. What I've come to realize about the words of the Bible over the years is that while the word of God is so worthy to explore, for it penetrates the places in us where joints and marrow meet bringing us unexpected life, I don't think I will ever truly understand it. I don't think the human consciousness can really take all of it in, even if you are a Bible scholar, even though that would help quite a lot. There is this thought that remains which I propose to you to thoughtfully consider; maybe we weren't meant to. Maybe that is completely the point, that there will always be a sense of mystery about it, that even while we can read and glean wisdom from it for our lives and when applied appropriately leads to certain results, its depth and fullness, at least in this life, may just escape us. And while we live in a culture that exalts complete understanding of everything before it becomes credible I'm okay in this case with it not. That's not to say that I don't want to know, or can't know more than I do right now because as we follow Jesus we are sure to get more revelation. It's just that having lived awhile on this planet, I understand that this not knowing everything is just part of the deal of this human life as we know it. We just get a snapshot. We simply cannot know everything. What is the purpose of the word of God then if we can't totally comprehend it? To help us turn towards the author of it, to turn our faces towards the His beautiful light and to be captivated by it. I've heard it said that when we read the Bible, it's really the Bible reading us, showing us what we need to see so we can take it out into the world with us. I've found this to be true and that right there is a testimony of the living God who knows us better than we know ourselves. That friends, is deep calling to deep. This is where I start to get obsessed with God, all three persons of Him, when I see that He is reaching back to me when I reach out to Him. When you start seeing that the God of the universe is showing up in your daily life, that's where things get real. It's because of this I want to take in as much of Him as I can. The more time I spend in the Bible, the more I get a feel for what He is really like. His presence comes in my quiet time, and when I am out in the world. He speaks to me through song lyrics or a movie theme, and there are just moments when I can feel a shift and I just know that He is saying something deep, communicating with me. He is continually showing Himself true to me, and there is such life in that. He keeps ringing true. That is real connection friends, real life, and we can all have this because reading the word of God from the Bible leads you not just into conviction for sin, but towards God Himself. And this is the place where our hearts were always meant to start coming alive. This is where we start to shine. We start turn from things that momentarily occupy us to the things of God which satisfy. They are so much better. I just keep coming back for more. I am always finding more life there. Jesus said in John 19:13, "It is finished", meaning that the account of the debt of mankind was paid. Paid in full. Think of that! Ponder that! He made a way for us where there was no way so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life. All sins forgiven. Life everlasting. White as snow. When we get under the shed blood of Jesus that came by the cross we can get close to God without any interference. None. We can have as much of God as we want. What an amazing promise! We all have to start somewhere in our walk with God, not completely understanding, but understanding just enough. There is a freeing kind of beauty in that, a different sense of freedom and joy that we just can't get any other way. We are cared for and loved and wanted just as we are. So take in as much of God as you can. It’s time to lean into hear God’s voice and to be with Him. It will make all the difference. And it’s time to step out into newness. Yesterday is gone and a fresh way from God always lies before us all. We can be brave enough to walk in it. Jesus wants to hold us by our hands to get us out of the barren places in our lives so let's step out. Jesus has gone before us. And I feel like God is saying today, "It's time to get out of the wilderness". 

"So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan." - Joshua 3: 14-17

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."Romans 10:9-10

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." - John 6:29

Keep stretching your hands out to God dear hearts. Pour your heart out like a waterfall to Him. The road has surely been rough, but we are mighty in Him. Praise you Jesus. You did it all.

©2024 Elise Ehrenholz