Johan SlabbertPhoto: Johan Slabbert
As we flew to Japan, the flight radar indicated our path over the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan between two of the highest peaks on the earth, Nanga Parbat (8126 m), the ninth-highest to the west, and K2 (8611 m) the second highest to the east. Flying over these mountain ranges in the middle of the night, you just realise how small and insignificant a human being is against the grandeur of the mountains and the darkness of the night. Just a little speck of dust considering the vast expanses of the cosmos.
The thought comes to mind, what becomes of me when I die? Will there be nothing left? Will this small consciousness that resides in me be snuffed out forever and become part of an eternal darkness?
I believe Isaiah contemplated these same things. As he thought of the immensity of the sea, the expanse of the night sky, the stars, and the dimensions of the mountains. However, when he compared all of creation to YAHWEH, he concluded that all of it was like nothing in the hand of the God of creation. Isaiah wrote: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? (Isaiah 40:12)”
Isaiah realised that, even if it were possible that the vast mountain ranges could be shaken or removed, the same would never happen to YAHWEH’s unfailing love for his beloved. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10).
Am I able to conclude, that as a very finite and seemingly insignificant human being, to have any significance or value? Yes, in Christ I can do so. For the Christian believer, we can know that we have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every conceivable spiritual blessing in Christ! For God, the Father chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4).
Christian, you have to realise the incredible measure of the love of God the Father has demonstrated for you in Christ. Vastly more than the immensity of the mountains, the distant stretches of the star fields of the cosmos. Your name has been entered into the Book of Life of the Lamb before the foundation of the world. The Lamb who was slain to turn the Father’s wrath away from your sin and rebellion and unwillingness to worship God. It is a done deal. The redemption, justification, and adoption have been completed. Nothing can ever separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Your name has been entered in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Sadly, the converse is also true. If your name is not found to be written in the Book of Life of the Lamb from before the creation of the world, that means that Christ the Lamb was not slain for you. You remain a worshipper of the beast and God’s wrath remains on you.
Anyone who has ears to hear, let him or her hear this message and turn from their evil ways and live. ‘Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17).’