Fools Rush In

Have you ever heard the saying, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"? Did you realize that this idiom is based on Scripture. No lie. Chan titles his first chapter in Crazy Love "Stop Praying." Are you confused? So was I, but that phrase makes a statement that entices the reader to well, read further. So I did. By the second sentence I realize that Chan was admonishing me to stop praying at God. My God is holy & awesome--why do I dare to foolishly barge in where even the angels cover their faces?

After sharing a stunning presentation of how infinitely vast our universe is, Chan asks why God created such an infinite place that His masterpiece creation (that's you & I) can never truly grasp. "Do you think maybe it was to make us say, "Wow, God is unfathombly big"? Or perhaps God wanted us to see thes pictures so that our response would be, "Who do I think I am?" (26). Give you a hint, go with the second choice. Who am I compared to a God that can hold the entire univers in the palm of His hand? (Psalm 8:3-4) Go ahead, look at the palm of your hand; infinite time and space fits in the space between God's thumb & pinkie finger. And I'll bet He has room enough to spare.

As if that picture of God doesn't blow your mind, Chan reminds us how creative our God is. Every snowflake is infinitely unique to the others it accompanies to the earth. God knows every hair on my head & has a special name for every star in the sky. The illustration that got me? "God didn't have to creat so many kinds of laughter. Think about the different sounds of your friend's laughts--wheezes, snorts, silent, loud obnoxious" (27). Anyone who knows me knows that my laugh (or laughs) definetly showcase God's extensive creativity! Mankind is God's masterpiece. (Psalm 139) He created us to glorify Himself. The problem is, we forget.

Chan closes the chapter by giving short explainations of a few of God's characteristics: God is holy, eternal, all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent), fair, & just (30-34). Chan takes us directly into God's throne room when he references Revelation 4 & Isaiah 6. John & Isaiah saw God & lived. Does that mean anything to you?

As I finished the chapter & answered some rather soul-searching questions in  the workbook I realized something. I've been a fool. All too often I've rushed into the throne room of God, not caring about who He is or being affected by His awesome power, no, I ran in head & hands uplifted expecting God to give me what I wanted. Sad.

Before you leave this post & set out to complete your TO DO list for today, I ask that you take 15 minutes to watch the video below. Just sit back & think about the God who not only created you, but also loved you enough "to give Himself a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45).