I forgot to get new listening material yesterday to download on my IPOD so I am stuck here at work riffling through what podcasts I have yet to delve into. I come across a C.H. Spurgeon podcast I subscribed to and am willing to give it a shot. Who is C.H. Spurgeon? Glad you asked.
C.H. Spurgeon, (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892) was a British Reformed preacher who remains highly influential amongst Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the “Prince of Preachers.” He also founded the charity organization now known as Spurgeon’s, that works worldwide with families and children, as well as a famous theological college which after his death was called after him: Spurgeon’s College. His sermons were translated into many languages in his lifetime.
(the podcast I listened to was of someone reading, very well I might add, one of his many fiery sermons)
Wow what was I getting myself into… I was blown away by what he had to say. He examined a passage out of Isaiah 55:8-9 which goes like this.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Spurgeon went on to relate this passage with the story Jesus tells about the prodigal son. So I got to thinking on God’s love. What three words best describe God’s love? To me its these three, God’s extravagant, jealous, and rescuing love. Here is what I mean. In the scriptures God gives examples of his love in many ways, He is constantly trying to get our attention and I think that these three ways are the most prominent throughout His Word. God’s extravagant love is displayed through the parable of the prodigal son. Borrowing from theme’s in one of my Dad’s sermons I see it like this, the story is not about the son, Its the father. The word prodigal more accurately describes him. Here is the definition of prodigal: Pouring forth with fullness or exuberance; bountiful; exceedingly liberal; giving without stint; profuse hospitality, superabundant; excessive; lavish. Don’t these words better describe the Father in the story?
“When (the returning son) was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him…and…said this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” Luke 15:20, 24
This is Jesus’ picture to us of our Holy Father’s extravagant love.
Second, I look at Jesus at the Temple when he enters and sees the abhorrent scene that has taken hold in the house of his father, a place of Worship. Let’s get some context here under the New Covenant we Christ followers believe that the Holy Spirit indwells us and we are the new Temple. At the time of this scene with Jesus entering the Temple of old, the Holy Spirit dwelt in the Holy of Holies, in the Temple which makes this even more abhorrent, dealing money immorally and dishonestly before God in his Temple, It’s a kin to defiling your body today as a believer by overeating, excessive use of alcohol, or immoral sexual acts. There is a Jars of Clay song that captures the jealous love of Jesus at this event:
Love of a Jealous Kind.
i built another temple to a stranger
i gave away my heart to the rushing wind
i set my course to run right into danger
i sought the company of fools instead of friends
you know i’ve been unfaithful
with lovers in lines
while you’re turning over tables
with the rage of a jealous kind
i chose the gallows to the aisle
thought that love would never find
hanging ropes will never keep you
and your love of a jealous kind
love of a jealous kind
tryin’ to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
for solace in the shift of the sinking sand
i’d rather feel the pain all too familiar
than be broken by a lover i don’t understand
’cause i don’t understand
one hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
if i should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
and love that shames the wise
betrays the hearts deceit and lies
and breaks the back of foolish pride
Lastly I see God’s rescuing love in the scene of the Crucifixion where God incarnate is hung on a tree for my sins, and the sins of the world. This death was barbaric, along with the numerous scenes of beatings beforehand. My heart breaks at this image in my mind’s eye. See “The Passion of the Christ” it brings clarity, gravity, and tears.
God’s Love seeks us out. He wants to share with us the Extravagant, the rich and overflowing love that is experienced in perfect communion with Him that only one of His children can enter into.
His love is Jealous. He longs to have the love and attention that we give to our sin and the other idols we set up in our life. He is a Jealous God a passionate God who will fight for our love.
His love rescues. God’s love can rescue us from the deepest and darkest places the soul of mankind can go. It’s a redemptive and rescuing love.
So what does all this have to do with the question “Am I a worm?” I’ll tell you. In that sermon I heard today the speaker kept using term like “wretched sinner” and “fitly people” but one stuck out to me “worm of a sinner” he actually calls his listeners wretched worm of a sinner, now I pause and think, “Am I a Worm?”. No but I am a disobedient son, who was down in the pig pen ready to slop up some pig feed until I remembered I have an extravagant Father, he whipped me in that temple for being a money centered scoundrel, and I was there upon that cross hanging next to a Galilean Jew who said he would welcome me into paradise.
Were you?
