beside the point

fundamental truth

OK, ok. I know, I haven't posted anything in a while? Who knew anyone would care?

There really hasn't been much going on in my life worth posting about lately. Same old boring routine. But last night I went to a concert put on by my old roomate Bo Warren to promote the release of his new CD. The show was great and the music is awesome. You should check out his site and buy some CDs (shameless advertising... Bo, I'll be expecting my cut...).

But, I digress. He was talking between songs about God's love for us and how it's not just something He says, but it's truth. That started me thinking. Maybe this won't be profound to anyone but me, but it hit me that God's love for me and for you IS THE fundamental truth. I suppose I knew this, but from time to time, God reminds me of things like this, often when I need to hear them most.

When you think about things that we take for granted as truth - the law of gravity is a good example, we just TRUST that stuff will fall down - this may or may not be one that occurs to you. But it IS fundamental truth. It is simply because it is. God's love is not just something He says, or even something He shows (though He does both over and over again), but it just...well..IS.

It is part of His nature. It is part of who He is. And those other truths...they could all fall by the wayside. Gravity could one day just...NOT WORK. The sun could not rise. But God CAN'T stop loving us. OK, I can see it coming a mile away, "I thought that God could do anything. So He CAN stop loving us if He chooses." That's a tough one, but I have to disagree.

I'm not sure I can explain it (in fact, I pretty sure that I can't) but in this case, God can't. It's the old, "Can God make a rock so big He can't move it?" question. But, however it works, God can't go against His nature. He IS truth, He IS holiness, and He IS love.

It's not just that He demonstrates these things. He IS them. My head hurts just trying to wrap itself around that idea. But at the same time it's very comforting - in fact more comforting than anything I've ever heard - to know that it's true. That there is an absolute, fundamental truth in life. God IS. He is love, truth, holiness, righteousness...His character is unchanging. I know we say that in church, but think about it for a second. Just let it wash over your brain. Soak in the implications.

We live in a world where there isn't much you can't take at face value and depend on. People you look up to suddenly do something that takes them down a notch in your eyes. Even your best friend can disappoint you. Planes fy into buildings and things that you though would NEVER happen do. After a while, you start to wonder if you can really say that ANYTHING is set in stone. "What if I wake up in the morning and the sky ISN'T blue?" In the midst of all that uncertainty, it's nice to have something certain.

I don't know if I've made my point exactly right or not. I hope I have. I hope that I've painted a picture of a God who NEVER changes who He is. A God who you can trust is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and eighteen gajillion (I think that's 547 zeros...) years from now. That makes me smile and it helps me sleep.

Some of you smart folks out there, chime in and share your thoughts...

posted by Bryan @ 6:28 PM