Monday, December 10, 2018

God Makes Everything Beautiful

He has made everything beautiful in its appropriate time.
– Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Seasons change, but God does not. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The moniker, “Altogether Lovely,” ascribed to the Messiah (Song of Solomon 5:16 KJV) first appears a contradiction of terms, compared to the prophet Isaiah’s description: He has no form or majesty that we should look upon him nor appearance that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2).

Consider first the Suffering Savior. Jesus was flogged and bloodied beyond recognition. He was paraded through the streets of Jerusalem, repulsed and reviled by the growing mob. His appearance was so marred by our sin and iniquity that His own Father turned His back on Him. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise His Son (Isaiah 53:10). Why? Everything is made beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Jesus was lovely at the conception of creation, at the bedside of Jairus’ dead daughter returned to life, lovely in the eyes of the Heavenly Father, lovely at the end of a vacant tomb. The Redeemer is still altogether lovely.

Holy Spirit, reveal to me the loveliness of Christ.

Further Reading

• Amos 1:1-3:15
• Revelation 2:1-17
• Psalm 129:1-8
• Proverbs 29:19-20