Written by Al Goff Saturday, 03 September 2005 00:00
Resources - Articles
After being told to stay in the safety of the yard by their parents, a brother and sister curiously wander into the street and are immediately struck by a car. In the hospital, the now unconscious children are cared for by doctors and nurses scrambling to repair and stabilize the little broken bodies. Grief stricken and fearful parents linger in the waiting room, struggling to believe - struggling to hope that they would see their children alive again. Their concern is natural. They are linked by a bond of love and loyalty to their children that exceeds the strength of any glue found on the planet.
After being told to stay in the safety of the confines of God’s word, Adam and Eve disobeyed and the whole world was crippled. Covenants, laws, and prophets scrambled to reestablish life. Israel was to be a “holy people” (Ex. 22:31), but because they rebelled and turned their backs on God, they became like an unfaithful wife who chased after the love of other men (Hos. 1).
As a result, their head was injured and their heart afflicted. “From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil” (Is. 1:6). And yet, as a grief stricken parent, God wanted life for His child. As a husband who remembered His promise – his wedding vows, he pursued His wife with a willingness to forgive and reconcile. He will say to them, “I betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion” (Hos. 2:19).
After being told stay in Jesus’ love (Jn. 15:9-10), you wandered away and were injured and disfigured - almost beyond recognition. You look so different. Hardly anyone can tell that you were ever a Christian – that you once humbly announced at your baptism “Jesus is Lord.” In the hospital called your church, the pastors and elders and Sunday School teachers scramble to give you spiritual medicine and cover you with prayer. Some of you think you are well, but that is because you did not look in the mirror. Grief stricken, the Spirit of God hovers, hoping to see you alive again. He wants to see revival of your heart. God’s concern is natural to Him. His concern in Hebrew is called “hesed,” which means divine loyalty, lovingkindness, mercy, and grace. You are linked to God’s heart by a bond of love and loyalty that exceeds the strength of any glue found on the planet (Rom. 8:31-39). Now that you know how God feels about you and your brothers and sisters in Christ, be godly. Practice “hesed.”
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