I am sitting here looking at some pictures of outer space and feeling extremely insignificant. It seems that human efforts to see the end of the universe are destined to failure because the farther we see the more we see. It just doesn’t stop. I am most uncomfortable feeling the way I do. My ego wants to be reassured that I am not just an accident in time and soon will not matter, that is assuming that I matter now.
I have a remedy for this feeling of inconsequentiality. Ephesians 1 in the Message is the most splendid cure for my inferiority complex. “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)”
A billion earth years before there was an earth to tabulate our time God knew us! He made provision for us to be part of His family. The very idea flushes away my despondency and fills me with “He loves ME. He wants ME!” One of my students last evening told of being in several foster homes as a child. Finally one day a family kept her. Not only did they keep her they gave her their last name and a room of her own and a birthday party and best of all. They gave her love.
Oh yes. Oh yes. This is the best. We matter.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 13, 2015
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org