Wonder or wander
One of Isaac’s favorite worship songs is “God of wonders”
The song writer states:
“It's beyond our comprehension really – this notion that the Creator, not just of our world, not just of the Milky Way, but of ALL the galaxies in the universe – wants to share an intimate relationship with each of his children. When I call His name in the night my savior will recognize my voice! 'Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart' (Psalm 37:4). 'The Clouds are the dust of His feet' (Nahum 1:3). 'God of Wonders' is a celebration of unfathomable divine truth and love."
He truly is the God of wonders.
Sometimes God gives us a message so clear so simple...
God of wonder vs. wander
Wonder or wander?
There is only one letter difference between the two and yet the difference can mean life or death. Peace or strife.
When we wonder at God or wonder at the Cross, we have childlike faith.
Jesus said,
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven”
Matthew 19:14
Notice Jesus wisely says:
“Let the little children come to me”
Not let the grown ups come to me...
Of course Jesus loves adults too... but remember, in the eyes of a loving Father we are ALL His children.
Children wonder- A LOT.
Look at a child’s face, especially the eyes, while looking up at clouds, or holding a bug or a flower... Children wonder at the stars or the lights at Christmas... Children wonder at the cozy arms of a grandparent.
Children are happy to be alive, and if they are young enough, they don’t often complain...
Adults are different.
Adults have responsibilities, bills, aches and pains, annoyances, troubles, worries and unforgiveness towards people who may not even be alive anymore...
The hymn “Come thou fount of Every Blessing” explains it perfectly...
“O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.”
So why is it children wonder and grown ups are prone to “wander?”
How can we get back to the place of wonder?
First, we must acknowledge our tendency to wander...
“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6 NKJV
We are prone to wander because we are sinners in need of a Savior. We need to always see the need inside...
We (falsely) think we can handle life on our own...
So just like a child on a boogie board at Huntington beach, he starts at lifeguard 7, and the waves slowly take him shifting further away, almost a mile. Drifting. It happens slowly... but we are all prone to wander so we need to guard against it!
But how?
We need an anchor. An anchor prevents the drift.... The anchor helps us to stay put instead of wandering aimlessly.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Hebrews 6:19
Jesus is our anchor.
This is one reason why I love communion services. The bread and the cup remind me of Christ’s sacrifice, it brings me back to center, it brings me back to my lifeguard tower and keeps me from wandering away from the Good Shepherd.
Remember, all other idols are NOT God.
Children tend to enjoy living in the moment... living in wonder of it all. Grown ups tend to look at yesterday or tomorrow and get grumpy about life.
Christ is the same, yesterday today and forever...
If my eyes are not locked with the Savior, I will wander... it is a fact- Exhibit A - David.
He got his eyes off God and God’s plan and gazed at Bathsheba...
you know the rest...
(2 Samuel 11:1-5)
Wondering or wandering is all about the eye, Jesus and contentment...
What are you looking at?
Look to Jesus. You will not lose your wonder. And if you do... you can simply redirect your gaze to Jesus and be home again.
Guard against a wandering heart.
Don’t focus on things that don’t matter.
Don’t lust after things or people.
Be like a child...
Laugh...
Be silly once in awhile...
Don’t take this life so serious because the God of wonders will come again to take us home...
Enjoy God and His creation...
enjoy simple pleasures like walking barefoot on grass, put your toes in water, walk and breathe in His goodness, forgive someone for breaking your toy or your heart...
Look at roses and smell them, look at the beautiful symmetry of a succulent or spider’s web...
Linger in your devotion time... don’t jump up to do your chores... enjoy Jesus and ask Him to help you never lose the wonder....
