Thoughts of God

[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        25. COMPLETE FORGIVENESS

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:12

        No thought can be morel precious than this - God's thought of mercy to the unrighteous and undeserving. The consciousness of past sin lies like a cold avalanche on many a heart. "How can man be just with God?" "If you, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" "What then shall I do when God rises up? and when he confronts me, what shall I answer him?" These are the solemn questions which, despite of all efforts to silence or evade them, are ever and anon confronting the most indifferent and unconcerned. Blessed be God, He has not left them unanswered. He can bestow pardon on the unrighteous, and bury the remembrance of sin in the depths of oblivion.

        "There is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared." "With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption." By a precious, peerless thought of infinite love, He has "devised ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him." He "spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all." The true anti-typical scape-goat has borne away the burden of imputed sin into a land of forgetfulness - so that on that Great day "when God rises up," "the iniquity of Judah shall be sought for, and shall not be found."

        May I be enabled joyfully to accept this glorious method of salvation, by which, in strict accordance with every attribute of the Divine nature, and every requirement of the Divine law, forgiveness may be dispensed to the chief of sinners. Nothing I could do, or that others could do for me, would prove in any way availing to purchase that salvation. Lebanon itself, with all its cedars piled up for altar and for fuel, and all its flocks for the sacrifice and burned-offering, would have been an insufficient propitiation.

        But this 'precious thought' comes winged with love from the Cross of Calvary - "God is in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing unto men their trespasses." He is as able as He is willing, and as willing as He is able, to save "unto the uttermost." Is it crimson and scarlet sins - some deep, dark, foul blots on the tablet of memory - their terrible remembrance haunting me like specters from the abyss? - God says, 'I will make even these like the spotless snow and the stainless wool.' What is that great mountain of transgression before the true Zerubbabel, the storms of judgment brooding over it? It has become a plain - the work of Jesus has leveled it.

        What is that great cloud, the aggregate of bypast sin, charged with condemnation, spreading itself overhead? Lo! it has melted away - "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions; and, as a cloud, your sins." The Sun of righteousness has shone upon it. His rays, like burning arrows, have dispersed the elements of wrath. There is nothing now seen but the bright azure of a radiant heaven; and a voice is heard, amid the glorious sunshine, uttering the words, "Return unto Me, for I have redeemed you!"

        Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18

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[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        26. MORE THAN PARENTAL LOVE

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me." Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget you. Isaiah 49:14-15

        There are seasons in the experience of many of God's people, when, by reason of outward trials or inward troubles, they feel desolate and desponding. Spiritual comforts are gone. They have little of the hallowed communion they once enjoyed with their heavenly Father - little fervor or filial nearness in prayer - little pleasure in reading the Word or attending the Sanctuary. A chilling blight has passed over their spiritual being. In the bitterness of conscious estrangement from the God of their life, they are led to harbor the secret thought - "The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me."

        God points to the tenderest type of earthly love - the mother with her infant hanging on her breast, or seated by its cradle tending it in sickness. That infant's cry may fail to rouse the hireling from slumber; but with wakeful ear she anticipates its every need. For days and nights she seats herself by the couch of the tiny sufferer - smoothing every dimple in its pillow, and kissing away the hot tears from the fevered cheek.

        Such, says God, is the most touching picture of tender human affection. "Yes," He adds, "they may forget." There may be exceptional cases where a mother may be found untrue to her offspring, and nature prove faithless to her strongest instincts. "Yet I will not forget you!"

        Think of this. If His dealings should at times appear inexplicable, if amid baffling dispensations, we may be led at times to say, with Gideon of old, "If the Lord be with us, why is all this befallen us?" - let us hush the unkind misgiving - by the remembrance, that the affection of the fondest human parent to her offspring is but a feeble shadow compared to that of Him who pities as a father, comforts as a mother, and loves as God alone can do! The earthly parent sees it needful at times, to employ salutary rebuke and discipline. So does our Father in heaven at times consider it necessary to let His tenderest affection to His covenant people take the form of chastisement. But His faithfulness on that account dare not be questioned or impeached. He chastens us because He loves us. The time will come when all that is now dark and perplexing will be explained and vindicated. "What a day is before us," writes one who has the glowing wish fulfilled, "when we shall be able to adore His faithfulness, without the teaching of it by a crossed will and disappointed prospects!"

        Go, burdened one, fearlessly on. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." That loving eye never slumbers - that wakeful vigilance is never suspended. Do not dishonor God by unbelieving distrust of His word and ways. Look back on the past - trace His footprints of love - the unmistakable tokens of His presence and supporting grace - let these be encouragements for the present and pledges for the future. The dearest earthly friend may forget you - distance may sever - memory may fail - the mind may become a blank - the old familiar greetings may be met only by an unconscious gaze - Death may have already, and at some time will, put his impressive seal on the most sacred interchanges of human affection - "YET I will not forget you!"

        Yet I still belong to You; You are holding my right hand. Psalm 73:23

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[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        27. DEATH VANQUISHED

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from My eyes. Hosea 13:14

        Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15

        In the first of these "precious thoughts," God is represented in a past eternity as looking down the vista of the future. He sees a captive world doomed to destruction; its perishing millions laden with fetters moving onwards to death and the grave. He hears their cry. It stirs the thoughts and longings of His divine heart. "I will ransom them," He exclaims, "from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death!" Nor was this a mere passing thought, a transient emotion, akin to the human pity which is evoked for the moment by some spectacle of pain or distress. Many generous and benevolent "thoughts" of man have never been embodied in deed. Many noble resolves die away with the hour which gave them birth - "that very day his thoughts perish."

        But what God "thought" He did. He gave the costliest proof which Omnipotence could give, of the reality and intensity of these thoughts. The ransom-price He paid to "redeem from death" was the blood of His own - His only Son. By the doing and dying of Jesus, Death has now become to the believer a vanquished foe - no, the hour of dissolution is in reality the commencement - the birthday of a nobler life. It is the dropping of the flower to let the fruit expand - the bursting of the prison-bars to lead the soul out to gladsome light and freedom. We can look forward with triumphant hope and joy to that hour, when the eternal 'thought' in all its sublime magnitude shall be fulfilled - buried myriads starting from their graves - their every chain broken - the king of terrors dethroned and uncrowned - and the triumphant song of the risen dead ascending, "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

        Reader, the time of your death is a solemn moment - when about to enter the realities of the eternal spirit-world. But precious is that moment in the sight and in the thoughts of God! You may possibly then be removed from the loving thoughts of others. Cherished voices may be separated by distance when the last enemy overtakes you. But there will be divine thoughts and a divine Presence which cannot be away. When words can no longer be heard - when too weak to listen, too feeble to speak - one joyous and blessed assurance will be yours - "My God thinks of me!"

        As an earthly father's tenderest thoughts are on his dying child, so is it with our Heavenly Father. The life of His people, indeed, is lovingly watched over and cherished by Him; but specially "precious in the sight of the Lord" is their death. An earthly father's most joyous thoughts are in the prospect of welcoming his long absent child once more to his dwelling - precious and joyous also in the sight of the Lord, as each member of His ransomed family stands on the heavenly threshold, ready to enter the Eternal Home - the adopted child - the cherished heir, ready to take possession of the Everlasting Inheritance!

        Or, is it the death of some member of the household of faith who is near and dear to you? precious also is their death in the sight of the Lord. Their pillow is smoothed by Divine hands - "So He gives His beloved sleep." They may now be precious only in your memory, but they are precious in God's "sight." Yes! in His full vision and fruition "the beloved of the Lord shall dwell safely."

        Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise You! Psalm 63:3

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[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        28. CONTRASTED DEALINGS

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. Isaiah 55:7-8

        The precious thought of this verse is "the exceeding riches of God's grace" - the contrast between His judgments and His kindnesses. The forsaking is "for a small moment," the gathering is "with great mercies." The hidden face is "but for a moment," and "in a little wrath" - the "mercy" is accompanied "with everlasting kindness." Judgment is His strange work. Strong to smite, He is stronger still to save.

        What an encouragement to every backslider to return! - that he will be met, not with coldness, rebuke, reserve, or distance - but with a forgiving welcome. That gospel picture of the father receiving the lost prodigal may be regarded as the representation of the Lord's thoughts embodied in acts. He gives the kiss, the robe, the ring, the feast. There is not a frown on that Father's brow - all the erring past is buried in everlasting oblivion.

        "This is not the manner of men, O Lord God!" Man's love, how easily cooled - easily diverted - like the ray of light, refracted and broken, or dimmed and obscured by the passing cloud. But "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." He knows no alteration - He is without shadow of turning. It is in spiritual as in natural things. As we ourselves cast our own shadows - intercepting the beams of the sun; so, it is not God, but our own sin which projects the shadow in the pathway of the spiritual life. Moreover, the forsaking on His part, is only apparent. The sun shines brightly as ever behind these temporary intervening clouds. The stone or impeding rock obstructs the flow of the great river "for a moment." But it is only "for a moment;" and it rolls on deep and still as before, in its full volume of "everlasting kindness."

        Be it mine, if the flow be arrested, to search out and remove the obstruction - if God's face be hidden, to discover the intervening clouds - if the spiritual life be languishing, to trace out the secret of the sorrowful declension - whether it be neglected privilege, or omitted duty, or secret sin, or tampered with temptation, or engrossing worldliness. "I will say unto God my Rock, why have You forgotten me; why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"

        Oh how little it takes to soil the windows of the soul, and to dim and blur the spiritual landscape! How small the worm needed to wither and blight the gourd of our spiritual joys! How little it takes to rust the key of prayer, clip the wings of faith, chill the warmth of love, and shut us out from the loving ear of God. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."

        As it is "the Lord the Redeemer," who speaks in our motto-verse, to Him I must look for grace and strength - for restoration and revival. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." "Will you not revive us O Lord?"

        Then we will never forsake You again. Revive us so we can call on Your name once more. Psalm 80:18

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[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        29. GUIDANCE IN THE DARK

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known - I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

        There are times when God's dealings with His people are perplexing - His thoughts very deep - His ways past finding out - when the present is full of anxiety, the future full of difficulty. Their condition is that of blind men groping at noontime - the whole of life a mazy labyrinth, of which they have lost the guiding thread. Their path seems shut up. Pharaoh is behind, and the raging Red Sea in front - their feeling is - "We are entangled; the wilderness has shut us in."

        Or they may be confounded in solving some question of duty. The employment and destiny of a lifetime may depend on a moment's choice. They may feel the responsibility of deciding between rival and competing claims; trembling and fearful lest some selfish, carnal, unworthy motive may mingle in the decision, and yet experiencing a painful inability to decide what is best.

        Perplexed or desponding one! amid these your anxious, wavering, undecided thoughts, be this your comfort - God's thoughts are upon you. He is the leader of the blind. "Speak," says He, "to the children of Israel, that they go forward." At the crisis-hour of difficulty or trial He will appear to all His seeking, trusting people, and vouchsafe guidance or deliverance - not, perhaps, what they expect, but what He knows to be best for them. At the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to his disciple - walking upon the sea. "They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

        Rely on the God of the pillar-cloud. He will bring you, as He did His Israel, "through the flood on foot." "Be still," is His tender rebuke to the distrustful soul, "and know that I am God." How it would disarm life of many of its anxieties, and take the sting from many perplexities, if we were careful to listen to His voice (the expression and utterance of His 'precious thoughts') - "This is the way; walk in it." "A wondrous way - a tender way - but, with all its humiliations, THE right way." - (Evans)

        Yes, believe it - "All the paths of the Lord [and this present dark and perplexing path of yours, whatever it be, is one of them] are mercy and truth to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." Confide in no fallible guidance. Be this your lofty resolve - "In the Lord I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" Regard every new turn in existence as a wise, provident "thought" of your heavenly Father. Make it your earnest prayer in the words of Nehemiah - "Think upon me, my God, for good."

        Thus, putting your case in His hands, and leaving it there, "He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday." Yours may be a mingled, chequered past - yet too how bright with blessings - how full of remembrances of God's loving thoughts - His gracious interventions - His signal deliverances! Make these an argument and reason for implicit trust in the future - "You have been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation."

        Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord. Psalm 107:43

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[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        30. DIVINE TREASURES

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. Malachi 3:17

        The preceding context tells us of "a book of remembrance" that was "written before Him, for those who feared the Lord, and who thought upon His name." That book of remembrance was a record of the believer's "thoughts" towards God. We have here the wondrous counterpart - God's thoughts towards the believer. Two beautiful pictures of earth and heaven! On earth, His children are gathered together, speaking "often one to another" - of the great and glorious Being they delight to serve. In heaven, He who sees in secret, "hearkens" - and thus records His own gracious thoughts respecting them in the book of life - "They shall be Mine in that day when I make up My jewels," (margin, "My precious treasure.")

        With what eager thoughts - ardent aspirations - do men look forward to the attainment of some cherished hope or prize or treasure, for which, as the case may be, they have wisely or unwisely toiled. The money-seeker for the day when he shall collect and store his coveted heaps. The historian for the day when his hoarded facts - his lettered wisdom - shall be compiled into a volume. The architect for the hour when the last plank of scaffolding shall be removed from the building on which he expects his renown to rest. The sculptor for the last touch being put on the breathing marble, that he may set it among the finished works of his studio.

        The great God, here as elsewhere, is represented as anticipating with complacent joy and satisfaction the day of "the consummation of all things" - the day on which the top stone of His temple shall be brought forth with shouting - when the now compiling volume of remembrance shall be finished - when the now filling treasure-box shall be complete; and He shall display His jewels before an admiring and adoring world. And what does He say is to form, amid these lustrous jewels, His most prized treasure, that on which His eye seems most lovingly and fondly to rest? "They," says He, "they," (My believing people, the trembling band that feared Me and spoke of Me on earth,) "they" on that day "shall be Mine!"

        Oh most precious, most wondrous thought of God! Can it be that He can think of treasuring me - a poor, unworthy, contemptible piece of clay, in His treasure-box now, and at last of setting me a jewel in His crown? Yes! What has He given for that jewel? Estimate its worth by the purchase-price - "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ."

        And, as if this one exquisite figure were not enough, He adds, "And I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serves him." Jewels are precious; but what are they compared to a loved and dutiful son? If jewels were in a burning house, a man would rush to save them. But if the alternative lay between saving them and a precious child, would he for a moment hesitate? I will spare my believing people, says God, as a man would rush, heedless of the flames, to rescue his darling son. When the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, not a hair of their heads shall perish. I will save them with a great salvation. They are Mine now - Mine, justified in Christ, Mine, adopted into My family; Mine they shall be - acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment; yes, Mine forever and ever!

        All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be My children. Rev. 21:7

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[David_james]

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THE THOUGHTS OF GOD
by John MacDuff, 1864
Free from http://www.gracegems.org/
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        31. MOURNING ENDED

        "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        Your sun shall no more go down; neither shall your moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Isaiah 60:20

        We have traced, in previous meditations, God's thoughts towards us from a past eternity - loving us with an everlasting love. We have pondered some of His present thoughts of tenderness, kindness, and sympathy, towards His suffering and sorrowing, His tried and tempted people. But as His thoughts have been from everlasting, so are they to everlasting. "He who loved His people," says a now glorified saint, "out of darkness, loves them into everlasting light."

        It is again the mourner who is the specially benefitted heir to the preciousness of this 'thought of God' regarding a world of glory. Some prized earthly sun has set. Some fond earthly star that has long lighted up the earthly pathway, has been swept from the firmament. "Hush your sorrow!" says He - "dry your tears." These setting suns, and waning moons, and quenched stars, shall reappear as fixed orbs in an unchanging sphere - where the 'loved and lost' shall be loved never to be lost again. Yes, and better still, there will be a nobler light - a peerless Sun - to supersede the need of all earthly luminaries, and lead you to be independent of all - "The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God lights it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

        Other luminaries may still, and doubtless shall still be there, with their cherished radiance. The old hallowed memories of earth will be revived, restored, perpetuated. But the city and the citizens will have no need of them; they will not require the tiny candle, or glimmering starlight, when they have the full blaze of noon. They will not need the feeble rill, when they have the boundless, infinite ocean.

        God's works and ways, His character and perfections, His wisdom and faithfulness, His ever-present fellowship and love, will form perpetual theme and material for contemplation. The ever-new song of the ransomed will be the old strain of earth - "How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"

        "And the days of your mourning shall be ended." Mourning one, think of this! Weeping days here on earth; joyful days yonder. The muffled harp here; the golden harp yonder. The ocean swept with storm and tempest here; the crystal sea unruffled with one wave yonder. The dew-drops and tear-drops of earthly sorrow, as they sparkle in the radiance of the risen Sun of Eternity, will be so many little mirrors reflecting the glory of God - lustrous witnesses of His faithfulness and love.

        Life may now be to you a dreary winter landscape - its once sunny hollows and green nooks - the crevices of spring and summer - embedded with snow. But a glorious resurrection-time is at hand, when the gladsome announcement shall be made - "The winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds has come." Oh! blessed prospect. In God's light, we shall see light. The unexplained thoughts of the present all made luminous in the glory of that unsetting sun - not one floating cloud discernible on the boundless horizon.

        Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. 1 Cor. 13:12

        The Lord Almighty has sworn this oath: "It will all happen as I have planned. It will come about according to My purposes. Isaiah 14:24

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[nChrist]

The word evil is the most often used translation of the Hebrew word ra‛  râ‛âh. This word though is also used to indicate destruction, that which is "bad", adversity, affliction, or calamity. If we look at this verse more closely though we see that this is not speaking of evil as many would consider it.

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

The first portion of this verse uses light and darkness in complete contrast, opposing each other. The next portion then in the same line of thought uses peace in contrast to evil.

The idea of this portion of scripture is that God is all powerful, He is the creator of all things and therefore has the sovereign right to also destroy it as He so determines.

AMEN and AMEN!

First, Brother David I think this series is beautiful and is worthy of additional Study with our Bibles.

Pastor Roger, I was just thinking about myself. I was created by GOD, and I have done evil. GOD didn't make me do evil. Now I'm a Christian, and I don't want to sin any more, but that certainly doesn't mean that I'm perfect. All Christians have to pray for forgiveness when we sin, but the devil is no longer our MASTER. OUR MASTER IS JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who died for us and took our punishment in HIS OWN HOLY BODY.

This devotional series addresses some big questions but makes some other big questions that are hard to answer. As an example, Why does GOD allow evil? Couldn't GOD destroy the devil any time HE wanted to? YES - GOD is all powerful and can do whatever HE wants to in heaven or on earth. GOD'S WORD tells us that HE will put the devil and all evil in the eternal fires of Hell at HIS appointed time. Some might ask why HE hasn't already done that. This would involve the MIGHT, POWER, MAJESTY, AND WAYS OF GOD that no man can understand fully. We can understand what HE wants us to know and what HE has told us in HIS WORD. BUT, many things are currently beyond our understanding. GOD could speak the devil and his hosts of fallen angels into destruction in a split second, but HE hasn't. Instead, there has been  wars in the heavens between good and evil for much longer than humans have been here. We obviously don't have all of the answers, but our ALL-POWERFUL GOD DOES. As Christians, we should just pray, worship, praise, yield to HIS Will, and know that we have already been rescued from the curse of sin and death. We must remember that the Bible says that one thousand years could be as a day to the LORD. We don't understand this either, but we should believe that GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT are ETERNAL with no beginning and no ending. As Christians, we will be held in the MIGHTY HANDS OF GOD for Eternity, and HE has adopted us as HIS Children - Children of the KING OF KINGS. We were bought with the precious Blood of JESUS CHRIST, and we are HIS Purchased Possessions - but we have also been given an inheritance as Children of the MOST HIGH - ALMIGHTY GOD - THE CREATOR - THE GREAT I AM!

Love In Christ,
Tom

James 1:17 ASV  17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.