Never Lose the Wonder

Norway, is without question, one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited. Everywhere I went was a picture post card. The snow-capped mountains, the glacial rivers, the spectacular waterfalls, the fields ablaze with flowers, the sheer cliff-faced fjords that carve their way through the mountains, all provide a feast for the senses.  As simply a visitor, who may never get the chance to go there again, its natural that I would want to appreciate every glorious scenic opportunity. But, what if I’d been born and raised there? What if I worked every day of my life there? What if one of those specular mountains or waterfalls were right outside my front door? Would I still be as enthralled? No doubt I would still think I lived in a beautiful country, but seeing it 365 days of the year might just cause me to lose a something of its wonder. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said about the stars, “If the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they’re there every night, we barely give them a look.”  Familiarity does sometimes breed contempt.  “The older you get, the more it takes to fill your heart with wonder, and only God is big enough to do that” – Ravi Zacharias

Merry Browne “You know you’re old when you’ve lost all your marvels.”

The Apostle Paul was an extraordinary preacher and teacher. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he spoke profoundly of the glorious truths of the Gospel. The Book of Romans is a masterpiece of Christian theology.  Theologians for centuries have wrestled with some of Pauls forensic revelations of scripture. Paul had a brilliant mind. He was highly intellectual. He had been taught by Gamaliel, a famous Rabbi of that time.  He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a proud Pharisee. Yet he counted it as rubbish, in order to win Christ. (Phil.3:1-8 & Acts 22:1-3)  But he never lost the wonder of the simplicity of the Gospel. He told the Corinthian believers that he feared some of them had their minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (11Cor.11:3)

Sometimes, we too lose the simplicity that is in Christ. The older we become as believers, and the more knowledge we have gained, can, if we are not careful, make us leave behind the simple fact that Christ loves us and died for us. Jesus rebuked the Church at Ephesus because they had left their first love. (Revelation 2:1-4)

A well-known theologian was asked one time, what was the most theological discovery he had ever made?  He replied, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”

“I wish I had never read ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ a man once told its author, Mark Twain. With a scowl, the great humourist asked the reason for such a remark. “So that I could have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time,” came the reply.

Wouldn’t it be great if we read our Bible again, as if it was the first time? 

- Pastor David Goudy