The Father's Heart

A poll was taken, a few years back, which asked the respondents to designate the most pleasing phrases they ever hear. The pollsters then compiled the data, and reduced the answers to the top three. Here they are:

I love you.
You’re forgiven.
Supper’s ready.

Surprised? Do those three simple sentences do anything for you? Actually, they aren’t really all that simple. One requires an open heart (love won’t flow from a closed one); one requires a big heart (forgiveness takes up a lot of room – it has to swallow up anger, selfishness, and pride); and one requires a working heart (preparing a meal is an active response – anyone can say that they love you).

The call of God, the call that echoes through the canyons of time and rolls from horizon to horizon and from pole to pole, offers those sentiments to all who respond.

I love you, says God. So much so that I’d rather die than live without you.

You’re forgiven. What sin? He asks. When He looks at His children, He sees no sin – only the beauty and righteousness of Christ.

Supper’s ready. And what a feast it shall be! The Lord of all the universe has made a way for filthy, sinful humanity to be restored, and we shall celebrate this restoration forever in His presence.

In Ephesians, Paul reminds us that “…we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (2:10). The Greek word translated as “workmanship” here is poiema. This word literally means “that which is made” but has inherent in it the idea of creativity and craftsmanship. In fact, poiema came into English as “poem.” In the beginning, we were created in the image of God, and He declared His work “very good.” Those who are recreated, through faith in Christ, may once again experience that Divine craftsmanship in all of its exquisite perfection. What a privilege, what a delight to be God’s poem! How astounding to begin to grasp that we have been conceived in His mind, created by His Word, and redeemed from our rebellion by the blood of His Son. And soon – soon! – it will be “suppertime!”Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!