by Gloria Furman
A regular conversation in our home is about what other people are doing at that very moment in different parts of the world.
Our kids ask questions like: “Whose time zones are sleeping right now?” “What are the children in India doing right now?” “Do you think our friends in Scotland are at school?” “Who is having a morning coffee?”
Perhaps the funniest question to date is: “[exasperated sigh] Do any other 5-year-old girls in the world have to go sit in time out right now?”
Talking about things like time zones and geography is a neat educational exercise for the kids.
But it also serves as a timely reminder to me of the steadfast love of the Lord and how his mercy never ends.
I know who God is, but I need to be reminded of who God is every single day.
My heart needs to treasure Jesus, whom God appointed as heir of all things, who created all things, and who upholds the universe by the word of his power (Heb. 1:1-3). The little speck that I’m spinning around on amid the vast cosmos is being held together by Christ. It’s good for me to humble myself and remember that even in all of its seemingly unsearchable brilliance the universe is quite the understatement of the Son of God’s radiant glory. No one can fathom the scope of his greatness. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33; see also Job 26, Ps. 145:3).
In my moments of frustration, pride, and apathy it serves me well to remember that Jesus has been given all authority over everything (Ps. 8:6, Matt. 28:18, Eph. 1:22). Everything was created through him and for him (Col. 1:16). There is no thing or situation or circumstance that is more powerful than he is.
Meditating on God’s character gives rise to great hope even in times of terrible trials. The occasion for the prophet Jeremiah’s grief was Babylon’s merciless destruction of Jerusalem. In the midst of unspeakable horror Jeremiah found cause for hope because of who God is:
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” (Lam. 3:21-23).
God’s love is steadfast and his mercies never end. It’s always morning somewhere!
The greatest demonstration of love that God has shown us is that he sent his Son Jesus to die in our place on the cross for our sins (Rom. 5:8). Although we were dead in our sins, God, being rich in mercy, loved us with such a great love that made us alive together with Christ by grace through faith (Eph. 2:4-8).
No matter how much time we spend considering the brilliance of the gospel and the perfect character of the eternal Godhead, we’ll never reach the end. Perhaps this is one reason why eternity is so long!
Even so, it’s good to work hard to consider the implications of the gospel and God’s character. Here are a few that have been on my mind recently:
- God’s grace to me in Christ is greater than any frustration that threatens to unravel me. Because Jesus is upholding the universe with his word then I can trust him with any no-good, very-bad day.
- God’s grace to me in Christ trumps my prideful self-delusion of I’ve-got-everything-under-control. Because Jesus has authority over all things then I can joyfully humble myself under his merciful rule and serve him forever.
- God’s grace to me in Christ awakens my calloused, lethargic soul. Because Jesus’ greatness is unsearchable then he is able to revive my lukewarm affections for him as I seek his face.
Dwelling on the wonders of God’s love toward me—a sinner—reminds me that I have no ground for boasting except in the cross of Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14). These meditations serve to fuel my worship of Jesus, and inherent in that worship is a joy-driven telling of his faithfulness to all generations (Ps. 89:1).
Maybe your day has just started, or it’s well under way, or it’s over and you’re “in the time zones that are sleeping right now.” No matter what time it is, it’s a good time to give thanks to God for his rich mercies that are ever-new to us through Jesus Christ and share your joy with all who will listen.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Gloria (@gloriafurman) is mostly from Texas. In 2008 she moved to the Middle East with her husband Dave to plant Redeemer Church of Dubai. They have three fun kiddos and Gloria enjoys serving the ladies in her community as a doula. Gloria really misses pumpkin lattes (especially this time of year) and she is the author of Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home (Crossway 2013).
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What wonderful truth! Thanks for this, Gloria. It was wonderful to read in my time zone before bed.
I love that you noted your time zone, Trillia.