God's Thought Are Higher Than Yours
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV).
Stop! Think! Can you recall what you were thinking about a few moments ago? Perhaps you thought about what you will have for lunch, or how you will approach your next meeting, or even how you will respond to an email you've just received. As humans, we think about our plans, our worries, our friends and family and once in a while we think about the wider world and its many troubles. Our thoughts are often limited to us and the things that directly affect us. Have you ever asked what does God think about? In a sense, no one can really answer that question, for who knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 2:11, NIV).
The passage above not only show us that God thinks, it also shows us that His thoughts are not like our thoughts and His ways are not like our ways. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. A quick google search shows that the distance between the Earth and the Sun is in the region of 147 billion meters. The share scale of that is too staggering for human minds to comprehend, yet God is far higher than the Sun.
When I think of height, the first thing that pops into my mind is perspective. God's perspective is far higher than ours. We are limited in what we can see, grasp and understand. When you stand on top of a mountain, your perspective is different from when you are at the base of the mountain. You see farther at the top, but loose the detail you can see when you are at ground level. Just think with me for a moment. When astronauts look down on Earth from the Moon, they can see a globe, perhaps as small as a football, yet that's where almost eight billion of us live. In big and small countries, with road networks, mountains, valleys, oceans and seas. They can't see anyone, they can't really make out trees or notice any movement. They loose the detail. But God, He can look down on the Sun and the Earth and see not just the big picture but the minute detail of every step that every creature on earth takes. More than that, He knows every thought before they are fully formed in our minds.
He gives orders to the morning every morning, so that night turns to dawn and we have days, weeks, months and years to count. He watches over the mountain goats as they give birth. Though they are prey for lions, so the lion's hunger is satisfied, yet He ensures the mountain goats do not go extinct. He provides food for them both. He is interested in His creation, both great and small, and maintains the perfect equilibrium on which the Earth spins around its orbit. Above all, He watches over the ways of the pinnacle of His creation - Man. He is working for our good. He is thinking about us. He is eager to bless, protect and draw us close. In the grand scheme of things, we are rather insignificant, yet He makes us significant. Our worth does not come from what we own or what we've achieved, it comes from the value He places on us. He made us in His image, so we made delight in Him and give Him the glory that is duly His.
He is as far as He is near. He has a universal perspective, yet He does not miss any detail. Even the hairs on our heads are numbered and He knows every single one of us from our first breathe to our very last. He knows us altogether. No wonder David said "you know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them: they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:2-6, 17-18, NLT).
God is thinking of you! That's why at the start of that passage in Isaiah, an everlasting invitation is extended to you. "
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." (Isaiah 55:1, NIV). That invitation is still open right now. He knows the future, He knows how to get you out of the troubles you are in. If the trouble you are about to enter right now will position you for His blessings in the future, He will lead you into it and protect you while it lasts. If the trouble is as a result of your carelessness and ignorance, He knows how to comfort you in it, and eventually lead you out of it. He knows EVERYTHING! He knows the way to eternal life. Let's all surrender to God's superior knowledge, His superior way is the best way. Why settle for less when you can have the backing of the Almighty God.
Whatever you are going through right now, why not praise and worship Him, and encourage yourself with this song...