From: Ben Kelley
Subject: I can't imagine!
Our imagination is a marvelous
thing. All of us have one, although some may say of another, "he/she has
no imagination at all." One's imagination may be described
as: "wild, strange, bizarre, limited, vivid, colorful, etc., etc."
When one imagines something, they have been able to form a mental image of,
or as we sometimes say, "see in their mind's eye," things that are
impossible to physically see at that time. This inability to see with
physical sight may be due to such things as, that thing is: (1) not present within the range of
vision, (2) just a concept at the time, (3) beyond one's
ability to comprehend, or mentally "grasp." Although some imaginations are
"limited," others seem to have no bounds; they can "stretch" and
"conceive" of things that seem totally impossible to others. Many
"imaginings" through the centuries have been deemed, "impossible!" at
the time, by conventional knowledge,
but have later been proven to be real, or at least,
"possible." Yes, imagination is the "ability" to "see" the
"unseen."
You may think, "why,
that could be a definition of "faith!" Faith, though,
is not limited to what we "can only imagine," as
the contemporary Christian song says of the
singer's "grasp" of Heaven. One of the things I sometimes speak to
God in prayer is, "Lord, you are beyond even what I can
imagine!" (in fact, that prayer statement was what prompted this
message) I do believe all of His Word is
true, but I cannot truly imagine many of the things it says, no matter how hard I
try.
My faith reaches far beyond what I can imagine. If I were to only
believe what I could conceive in my mind (imagine), then I would not accept
quite a bit of His Word. No, God, and some of His promises and statements
of fact, are too far beyond my ability to
imagine. Even the farthest stretch of my imagination
can't grasp such things as:
(1) HE never had a "beginning"; HE always was, is, and will
be. Before anything existed, HE always was and
always had been.
(2) Although HE is everywhere in all of the universe at all
times, HE exists independently of, and apart from, everything there is, was, or
will be.
(3) Absolutely nothing that does/did/will exist,
does/did/will apart from His creating it and
sustaining it. Nothing.
(4) HE knows, completely and
intimately, everything about everything. And HE
always has and will.
(5) HE is in absolute total control of all things at
all times.
(6) There is nothing HE does not see at all times, from the
"insides" of the smallest particle, to the "outer limit" of the physical and
spiritual realm, in the blinding light of the brightest star, or the
darkest dark of the deepest depth.
(7) I, and every believer, will exist forever and
ever, with Him.
(8) Heaven, where the most "precious" metals and stones are
used as building materials.
(9) All who do not place their trust in Him will exist
forever and ever, apart from Him.
(10) Hell, and the eternal Lake of
Fire.
(11) HE loves me, though HE knows every single thought,
word, and deed connected to me.
These are just a few of the
things I can't imagine, and yet; I know they
are more real than anything I can
see. Beloved, don't try to limit God to what you
can imagine. HE won't fit! Praise His Holy
Name!
Ben