Beth Moore
Chapter 3 (Part 2) "That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him . . . "
I want you to go to the furthest reaches of your intellect and I want you to try to measure excellence with me. I want you to think of the things around you that speak grandeur to you. I want you to think of the wonders of creation. I want you to think of the universal order, which is so magnificent, the natural laws.
They're nothing but the mere works of His hands! Nothing but the merest suggestion of His person! And we have cheapened our walk by going for what He can do for us alone, when the real joy is growing in the knowledge and the wonders of His person!
When my husband Keith and I were in South Africa we wanted to see some giraffes. God was so sweet to show off for me. It's something I am always asking Him to do. I think nothing of saying, "Show off for me! I tell you what, Lord, if You'll show me, if You'll delight me, I promise You I will jump up and down." I truly believe that the more you applaud God, the more He comes in for an encore!
Anyway, as we were out driving through a field we saw one giraffe. And so I applauded God, I said, "Oh, yes! You are so good!" Just then He brought out fifteen more! We were awed by what we saw. Keith and I just sat there and looked at the wonder of God's creativity. Ever think of those little spots on a giraffe? They are amazing.
And then to watch them drink--all the way down like doing the splits. I want to know the mind that thought that up. That is the mind of our God. Oh the wonders of His person!
Now I want you to think to the furthest reaches of the excellence of man. I want you to think artwork for a moment. When is the last time you just stood in front of a work of art and said, "Who did that? Who could do that?" Have you ever seen Michelangelo's work? I mean, who in heaven's name could do that?
I want you to think of the most excellent performance. Somebody just truly gifted. I want you to think of the most excellent musical score. Think for a second; just let Handel's Messiah play in your head for a second.
All of these are the merest suggestions, the tiniest fragments of what Christ has in full. He is the kind of person we will sit across from someday and say. "Tell me something else. Tell me something else. Tell me something else. Tell me something else. Tell me something else. And what do You think when You see that? And how does that make You feel? What are You thinking right now? What were You thinking when You made that? What was on Your mind?"
We will ask questions to the furthest reaches of our imagination.
Do you remember John Nash, the one who was the subject of the film, A Beautiful Mind? He battled schizophrenia throughout his life, yet won the Nobel Peace Prize because he was such a gifted mathematician. Now think, what is it that makes a mind able to think like that? In formulas and equations . . . sheer brilliance!
Do you understand that is the merest suggestion of the wonders of God's person? That Christ Jesus just spoke it, and it was! Not a beautiful mind . . . the beautiful mind.
It is so sad, but we're just not getting it. I say this as the first of offenders and not with condemnation. But we just don't get the true wonder of His person. We just decide enough's enough, and start cruising on the knowledge that we have. We start cruising on that last tank and do not pursue knowing the wonders of His person.
That I may intimately and progressively know the wonders of His person.
You know, as I've watched my girls fall in love with such a pure love, I've thought so much about the Lord Jesus. I have thought, "You know, there's no going back and doing that again. I can't go back and fall in love like that. It's already done. And I didn't do it the way you were supposed to do it."
But I do get to do that one more time. Now matter how old I feel--and see all the wrinkles. Women, you know what I am talking about! I look in the mirror and I think to myself, "Who are you?" Amen? And I ask God, "What have you done with my neck?"
Not too long ago a friend of mine called me and said, "Okay, Beth, I've read everything I can about menopause, and let me just say, there's no good news here." I have found that to be absolutely true! But you know what I love about the Lord Jesus? I feel totally young and beautiful with Him. I do. And so should you!
In Him our youth is renewed, the Scripture says. So see, I get to enjoy that early romance, and so do you. We get to know the intimacy our hearts yearn for because we can know Him, the eternal lover of our souls. That is the wonder of His person!