The everlasting way stands in contrast to the offensive way that David asks God to search for in him. Whereas the offensive way is painful and idolatrous, the everlasting way makes whole, brings health and follows the true God.
Other words to describe everlasting are a "long duration, antiquity, futurity." When I put that concept together with the idea of way, I see a worn path that stretches out all the way from the past to all the way in the future. You can't see a beginning and you can't see an end. But there is a path, meaning others have walked there before you, giving this path significance and substance.
I approached this last line with some sadness, knowing that the Lenten season is almost over. I have really needed this time to dig down deep and let God expose darkness. I am coming out of Lent a changed person. My heart yearns to stay close to God in this way.
But just because the Lenten season is closing in five days does not mean that the being searched and known by God has to stop. In fact, it should never stop because the heart is deceitful above all else and needs to be exposed.
But there are two types of exposure.
One brings humiliation, and the other brings healing. Without the celebration of Easter and remembering that God is not only with us, but for us, there would be no hope in Lent. Without this hope, all we would be is an exposed, humiliated, open- wounded, smelly heap of a humanity. But Sunday we remember that it is because of the death and resurrection of Jesus that we don't have to stay on the offensive way. Now, we can be on the everlasting way.
Yes, we are exposed, but our Savior binds our bleeding wounds. Yes, we are exposed, but our Savior washes us, cleaning us of all filth, and dresses us in white. Yes, we are exposed, but we are lifted to our feet and put onto the everlasting way.
Yes, we are exposed, but now we are made whole.
This is what gives Lent (and being searched by God) its power.
Lent must end in celebration of the risen Lord.
Other words to describe everlasting are a "long duration, antiquity, futurity." When I put that concept together with the idea of way, I see a worn path that stretches out all the way from the past to all the way in the future. You can't see a beginning and you can't see an end. But there is a path, meaning others have walked there before you, giving this path significance and substance.
I approached this last line with some sadness, knowing that the Lenten season is almost over. I have really needed this time to dig down deep and let God expose darkness. I am coming out of Lent a changed person. My heart yearns to stay close to God in this way.
But just because the Lenten season is closing in five days does not mean that the being searched and known by God has to stop. In fact, it should never stop because the heart is deceitful above all else and needs to be exposed.
But there are two types of exposure.
One brings humiliation, and the other brings healing. Without the celebration of Easter and remembering that God is not only with us, but for us, there would be no hope in Lent. Without this hope, all we would be is an exposed, humiliated, open- wounded, smelly heap of a humanity. But Sunday we remember that it is because of the death and resurrection of Jesus that we don't have to stay on the offensive way. Now, we can be on the everlasting way.
Yes, we are exposed, but our Savior binds our bleeding wounds. Yes, we are exposed, but our Savior washes us, cleaning us of all filth, and dresses us in white. Yes, we are exposed, but we are lifted to our feet and put onto the everlasting way.
Yes, we are exposed, but now we are made whole.
This is what gives Lent (and being searched by God) its power.
Lent must end in celebration of the risen Lord.
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