God who Descends

Forgiveness is the answer to the child’s dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is again made clean. Dag Hammarskjold

This is more than a child’s dream.  It’s the dream of an entire world, the longing of a created universe.  It is also the promise of all the religions of the world.  That promise comes with conditions though that demand a level of performance from mankind impossible to attain.  Usually it’s described so that it looks possible.  With sustained effort matched by determined grit, man can please the god who is rarely pleased and be one of the few who see the miracle performed in their life.  The rest of us will look on with envy.  Except the reality is the climber falls back to earth and creation groans with despair, the audience dispersed to return to the grind.

Jesus taught the opposite.  It is not man who climbs but God who descends.  The miracle is not rare but freely attained from the river of life that is flowing once again. The enemies have been routed, the armies are in flight and good is preparing to ascend to the throne.  This is the news we have been waiting to hear.  May the King come and soon.

Revelation 2217 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. (NASB)

3 thoughts on “God who Descends

  1. Seems I’ve seen that quote before 🙂 Great one!
    Yes, the secret is this, God descending. It brings to mind that great passage from CS Lewis, where he describes God as diving deep into the “ooze and slime and old decay” and bringing up the glittering thing he had come down to save? Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues that the wonder of the incarnation seizes us and compels us to consider reverently the mystery and wonder of a “descending ascending God.”

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