THANKFUL

September 28, 2016

How much does God love us? God sent his one and only Son to die for our sins when he knew we hated him and wanted nothing to do with him, yet he sent Jesus anyway—Romans 5:8 (King Jimmy Translation).

While God was busy with creation, He caused Adam, the first man, to take an afternoon nap. He removed one of Adam’s ribs to form the most breathtaking, alluring, exquisite yet most complex, of all his creation—woman. Adam woke from his deep God-induced sleep and rolled over to see the beautiful Eve lying next to him. She gently blinked her beautiful blue eyes, puckered her red lips and whispered, “Hey, Adam.” Scripture recognizes Adam as the originator of the phrase hubba-hubba-hubba and the first man to hold in his stomach around a woman. Man has never been the same since.

Three weeks later, Adam had only three items on his side of the bathroom vanity: a toothbrush, a hair brush, and a razor, which he used only once since Eve liked that “rugged” look on him.

On the other hand, Eve’s side was crowded with 317 items ranging from “Coppershine 4” wrinkle-removing foundation to corn pads to a hydraulically-operated eyelash curler. Adam recognized only four items.

Adam was comfortable in flip-flops or a pair of well-worn sneakers. His favorite shirt was an old Texas A&M sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off. He wondered why Eve needed thirty-one pairs of shoes, sixteen pairs of open-toe sandals, nine pairs of flip-flops, and a climate controlled closet.

Eve worried herself sick that she may have forgotten to invite someone to her baby shower for their first child, Cain. Adam didn’t understand her concerns over the guest list since no other people existed on the Earth at that time.

I’m sure I can speak for most guys. The most daunting challenge we guys face is: “We don’t understand women!”

Women like that.

From Adam, to kings and emperors, to modern politicians, man’s attempts to understand women have caused us to throw our hands up in frustration. The poster-child for the “I’m-a-Male-and-I’m-Stupid-Around-Women” theorem has to be King Solomon. His 700 wives and 300 concubines turned his wisdom upside-down. Forgetting an anniversary or a birthday found Solomon regularly sleeping on the couch. His worst nightmares came true when his mothers-in-law came to live with them.

When God created us in his image, he trusted us with logic and reasoning skills. Even with these God-like powers, it’s ludicrous to think we can understand everything. I’ve heard some well-meaning folks say they would not use anything they do not understand. They claim not to do anything that they don’t know all the ins-and-outs of, yet I see them using a computer or driving a car. I guess Bill Gates calls them for advice, and they sit on the board of directors for a major car manufacturer.

Many things I do understand.

My background in construction equipment and oil field / power generation gave me a broad understanding of mechanical and hydraulic systems. I learned the laws of electricity after hundreds of jolts and countless shocks, which depending on the voltage, either curled my hair or straightened my speech.

We may possess vast knowledge in a particular field, such as medicine or mathematics, but the ultimate knowledge belongs to God. Occasionally, he allows us to stumble upon something that mankind hails as an astonishing breakthrough regarding some facet of his creation, only to show us how little we know in the first place.

I love women. My mother was a woman. My sister is a woman. Mrs. Aggie is a woman. In my maleness, I may never understand women. But after many years, one thing I finally understood: in God’ sight, I was a sinner, separated from God, and I could not save myself. I needed a Savior. I understood that I did not deserve His amazing grace, but He extended His love and forgiveness to me anyway.

Why? And why me?

I will never understand why He loves someone as messed up as me. Other things I may never understand. I do not understand the unfathomable depths of God’s love.

Why did Jesus willingly give up the glories of Heaven to come to Earth as a flesh-and-blood human being to save man and reconcile him back to God?

In spite of His love, I don’t understand why, like a dumb sheep, I wander off from time to time, yet He is always patient to bring me back in line.

I don’t understand why He would trust someone as flawed like me with His message of forgiveness and salvation to share with others in my world? The human side of my soul commands me to do things to earn God’s love. God’s spirit tells me my good deeds are nice but do not earn His love. God loved me before I could love Him (Romans 5:8).

One thing I understand perfectly—His grace is amazing indeed!

Lord, when we get an inkling of understanding about Your amazing love, we are overwhelmed. Thank You for Your patience in loving us when we were unable, or unwilling, to love you in return.

Stay close to Jesus

Jimmy

Adam didn’t understand how running to the grocery store at 11:00 p.m. to get chocolate completely changed Eve’s mood and made her happy again. I don’t understand either, but I’m glad it works.

Jimmy Eskew © 2016