enough

In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Hosea 6:2,3

A friend of mine is near death... or possibly just very, very sick... but the doctors don't give him much hope. He's not anywhere near ready to give up. When they asked if he wanted extra measures taken in order to save his life in the event his heart stopped, or he quit breathing, he said "Absolutely! Do whatever's necessary!" He's not ready to leave. He loves life, his family, a good meal with friends... and now so much is in the balance.

I'm not even certain he believes in God.

Sharing his story with my 93 year old father the other day, I told dad my concern- that we'd prayed together, but I wasn't sure of our friends faith. Dad looked at me with a wisdom that comes from a place I've not yet experienced and with a calm, reassuring voice said: "Don't worry if he believes in God. God believes in him."

It's the kind of theology many would consider heresy... we've placed so much of our relationship with The Father into 4 spiritual "laws" or an easy to follow "Roman's Road." We sometimes forget that long before we turned to God, long before we considered the cost of the cross or the celebration of creation... God believed in us. He spoke us into being and when we lived as if we Had no Father, He never, ever forgot that He had children. He pursued us with the loving gift of His Only Son. Like a dad, determined to see his kids succeed in life, He believed in us: He is faithful when we are faithless.

My dad reminded me of that this week. He loves me.

Enough... it's a word pregnant with imagery... "More ice cream?" "No thanks, I've had enough." "Please mom... why can't I?" "Listen, I've had just about enough out of you!" "Just a few more miles to go... can you make it?" "I'm done. Think I've had enough." "Do you need any money?" "I can cover it... I've got enough."

"Enough... is enough."

God comes to us in love... we're near the end, we just don't see it yet, we're near the end every moment of every day... "Today is the day of our salvation." God offers us His Love: He believes in us- He created us- He went to a cross for us- He's prepared a place for us- a whole bunch of everything is all about us... and we embrace the simple joys of life- stare God squarely in The Eye, settle for all we see and feel and say: "No thanks God, think I've got enough."

The prophet Hosea cried out:
In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
I believe it... Today I find hope in the reminder that God believes in us... He believes in me... He believes in my friend, so very near his end and that's enough for me. I can trust God and that's enough... more than enough... enough is enough... together, we can press on to know Him more. He's too good.

I'm praying that you... that my friend... that each of us are fully able to embrace His wonderful Love for healing and redemption. It's enough.

blessings,

Eric