On the 5th or 6th of June 2012 you could have bought yourself a silver shade 14 welding glass so you could see the black disc of the planet Venus crossing the sun for the last time this century. By doing that you could measure how far the sun is from the earth, which is an easier way of calculating the distance than those scientists who in 1761 and 1772 traversed the globe in an attempt to sight this phenomenon from all angles. The distance is 93,000,000 miles which is just right for our earth to function with a temperate climate; not too much heat, not too much cold, not too much rain, depending of course upon where we live. God has made all things in balance which enables mankind to flourish and develop the planet.
Some of the leading scientists of the day have therefore come to the conclusion that our globe did not arise from a big bang but a big God. There are too many apparent coincidences in science to believe that life is accidental or haphazard. Those who reject this philosophy stretch our imagination far beyond sense. We are too wonderfully made and by that miracle contradict fortuitous omega inclinations! 93,000,000 is about right, and when the Spirit said “let there be light,” there was light, and the sun hung in space blessing earth with its warming rays according to God’s formula.
If God got that celestial order right he can also get it right with mankind’s soul and its moral universe? Thus our recreated life can grow upward into the born-again likeness of God who sets in order three dimensional distances which allows our salvation-life to develop to maximum fruition? There is a distance associated with God and man which can be measured by the metaphorical depth of His grace, the width of His mercy and the height of His love. Countless are the scriptural confirmations of this threefold overflowing to us, his children of the Way.
The depth of His grace is revealed by an all embracing acceptance of anybody who calls on His name. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Rom 10:13]. No matter the offence or the depths to which anyone has fallen, He will accept and forgive for eternity. His heart is so deep it is bottomless for the sinner, it can never overflow. Whosoever calls will be saved.
The width of His mercy is so embracing “for you have redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” [Rev 5:9]. Colour is unimportant, for all are welcome in God. His arms stretch around the world reaching all peoples. No one has a longer reach, no one a tighter grip. At times our hold is weak due to trembling faith, but his covenant ensures that He will not lose anyone who trusts in His grace. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” [John 10:28]
The height of His love reaches heaven where he intercedes daily; “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”[Hebrews 7:25]. Christ is in heaven making petition for us; he can get no higher, He is the ultimate authority and help “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” [Heb 2:18]. Further: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,” [Jude 24].
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.
There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.
For the love of God is broader
than the measure of our mind
And the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.
Was there ever kinder shepherd
Half so gentle, half so sweet,
the Saviour who would have us
Come and gather at His feet?
[F.W Faber]
