Post details: You are powerless to cancel God's love.

06/02/06

You are powerless to cancel God's love.

A couple of years ago, I was watching "Pirates of the Caribbean" at the theater, when the Spirit awakened me during one scene in particular.

A young girl was being forced to walk the plank off a pirate ship, and the captain of the pirate ship put things to a halt: "Wait, we can't just throw away something so beautiful!" He blurted, and for a moment the whole ship was silent. A glimpse of the young maiden's expression revealed a glimmer of hope, as-if there was a chance that she was too beautiful to be killed by the pirates. Then the captain continued and dealt an abusive blow to her ego, and dashed away any glimmer of hope that she might have: "I'll be requiring that dress before you die."

The ship erupted in laugher.

What the captain was saying was that the dress was more valuable then the girl. On the scale of importance a garment meant more to the pirate then her soul ... so lets keep the dress, but get rid of the person wearing it ..

Pretty low blow. I can't think of a worse insult.

But, this is the exact duplication of what happened at the death of the Lord Jesus:

John 19:23-24 (NIV)
[[[23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." ]]]

In other words, they were saying that this Person ... this "King of the Jews" ... has no value, but His garments have value. The man had less value in their eyes then one outfit, and they mocking let it be known so that the Lord could hear their evaluation of Him - as worthless.

Now, that is a pretty low blow!

But, what is interesting is the Lord Jesus' remarks about the insulting guards that were drawing lots for his cloak:

Luke 23:34 (NIV)
[[[Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.]]]

You see, the more they sinned against Him, the more it revealed about His love ... they could not out-sin His love.

You see, God is inseparable from His love, for it is written: "God IS love!"

If it said that 'God HAS love,' then He could run out of love and still be God. But it says that 'God IS love,' which means that for Him to fall short of Love is for Him to fall short of being God. This is impossible.

Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
[[[37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither DEATH nor LIFE, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.]]]

"Neither DEATH nor LIFE."
"nor any powers."

That is what it says.
"neither angels nor demons."

When you can figure out something that you are capable that does not fall under the category of "death" nor "life," then you can have something to be worried about ... for only that which isn't part of death nor life can "cancel God's love."

Guess what? You cannot cancel God's love, because everything that you do is either part of death, or part of life and both death and life are powerless to cancel God's love.

In short, God is so forgiving that even the deepest abuse and senseless slaughter of His own Son, does nothing but pour out more and more forgiveness from Him. His forgiveness is like a gushing well, that has no bound, becoming even a river of unmeasurable width and the deepest depth .. flowing continually and for all time ... ever-increasing as it flows.

You are just going to have to rest in that.

Here is exactly how to rest ... say "thank you."

It is that easy.

Comments:

Comment from: dorsey [Visitor] · http://www.dorseymarshall.com
Excellent thoughts, bro. Awesome images of forgiveness pouring out.


Um, having said that, my OCD is kicking in and I have to be the jerk who points out (but not smugly) that it was "Pirates of the Caribbean," not "Treasure Island."
Permalink 06/02/06 @ 02:13
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Thanks my brother ... I knew that didn't sound right. I fixed the reference to the movie. Thanks again,
Trent
Permalink 06/02/06 @ 02:19
Comment from: Pam [Member]
Hey Trent,

Thanks for this. I'm currently facing a situation in my life in which I need to 'be' love in order to endure. Pray for me, that I will remain in that perfect resting place that Jesus might be that perfect love and forgiveness through me despite any pain that my human feelings and personal needs may exact in me.

Pam
Permalink 06/02/06 @ 11:24
Comment from: Bria [Visitor]
Glad to have found you again, Trent! I'll be checking in now and again!
Permalink 06/04/06 @ 01:42
Comment from: Princess_isa [Visitor]
HMMMMM...Trent...you talk about the mocking guards...ur quite the mocker urself...you have put some snotty answers on my questions in yahoo. I understand ur revelation of grace but I also see a deep arrogance in you and a quick willingness to offend " lawheads " for the sake of grace. The Lord didnt give you grace to mock others publicly and to mock their limited knowledge of Him.They are worshipping Him in their own ways He didnt tell you to bring them to grace by mocking their worship.. Do you remember how Joseph wouldnt put Mary away publicly because he was a righteous man ? You arent doing that. I put my testimonies on yahoo to glorify Him-not " brag " as you accuse...We are commanded to do that. Bless u...Shira
Permalink 06/07/06 @ 13:23
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Princess Shira,

I did not accuse. I asked a question (which of course was as public as everything else on Yahoo.)

I do not know why you are lashing out and recognize that it could be for a number of reasons, but were I to track someone down and "accuse" someone of being a mocker and snotty and arrogant and provocative and not a righteous man ... then it would be not as a way to "bless u" but rather as a gaping need to arrive significantly higher then others even if I must bring everyone down to do so. At least that would be my motivation ... and now you know what I am up to whenever I act as you are acting.

You may use what depravity I have exposed of myself as a lofty perch to judge me. I do not require that you see me as more then those whom you esteem the least. And if it suits you, you may continue to lash out for having asked you those questions. I offer my neck for you to stand on, so that you may rise and I may choke on the dust.

I will not be offended. Tell me what you really think of me, and I assure you if it is not flattering about me, then it is likely true. Just remember that every time you bring me low, it is yourself that gets to be exalted by comparison. So hit me with your best shot, I will not strike back.

Ripening for the harvest,
-Trent
Permalink 06/07/06 @ 13:42
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
To all,

I thought this was ironic: ""Do you remember how Joseph wouldnt put Mary away publicly because he was a righteous man ?""
ironic because the one that wrote it, did so in such an overtly "PUBLIC" way.

Funny how we go to such great lengths to condemn ourselves. May it be a warning to us all, about how easy it is to sling mud and get *ourselves* dirty. We saw off a branch and find that we were sitting on the wrong side of the cut.

Such is the nature of our attacks.
amen.

-Trent
Permalink 06/07/06 @ 14:05
Comment from: Pam [Member]
What was that question, anyway?

When it comes to human beings, there is never a shortage of mud to sling, waller in, and slime one another with. We are a dreadful lot I'm afraid. In any event, it is impossible to open one's mouth and not offend someone. I guess that is why the Bible teaches that even the fool is perceived as wise when he remains quiet. We word-smiths buy ourselves an awful lot of trouble...
Permalink 06/07/06 @ 22:28
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Pam,

LINK

her questions are visible using the above link.
The only one to which I replied (with a question of my own) was the top / most recent question titled: "What do you think about this miracle of Jesus appearing ?"

Since then it has been a bunch of how-dare-you and shame-shame messages on the blog and more through email.

Still looking for that passage that gives anybody the right to cast shame on anybody else ... hmm, it must be in there somewhere in the Bible ...
Right!
ha!
:-)

Ripening,
Trent
Permalink 06/08/06 @ 01:11
Comment from: Sumner Koch [Visitor]
The Unlimited Love of God


Not being as an affectionate person as I would like to be. I know but little of love. But that minute measure makes me shudder to think of anyone I love in eternal torment. God is not limited in His love as I am. Years of reflection have convinced my heart that, if His creatures are tormented in hell, God Himself will be eternally tormented in heaven. This is not the sentimental idea of a man of the world, but the cold, calculated conviction of one who has been in close and constant touch with God’s revelation longer than the ordinary person, who believes in Christ. I know that my love to Him and my admiration have increased unutterably since I have seen that He is not the defeated fiend of Christendom, but is fully able to cope with evil and sin, and bind them all to the chariot wheels of love. “All His attributes, including holiness, and righteousness, serve in the livery of love. “Adored be His name…

Sumner Morrill Koch
Permalink 06/09/06 @ 15:34
Comment from: Pam [Member]
Hey Koch,

That is breath taking.

Pam
Permalink 06/09/06 @ 15:49
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Sumner,

It is nice that you believe that ... as you may have figured out by now ... I believe that scripture makes no room for the notion of "eternal torment."

If you disbelieve "eternal torment' then you have all of scripture on your side.
The choice is eternal life vs death ... not eternal life of pleasure vs eternal life of torment

Even John 3:16 makes this clear.

Ripening for the harvest,
Trent
Permalink 06/12/06 @ 22:45

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