The World - Some Final Thoughts (Three Of Three)

I have a number of favorite Bible passages. Below are two.

John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And John 17
9 ....I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

I was walking to work this morning. It was cold, and snow flakes swirled in the light breeze. The first winter day. And as I walked I thought about these two Bible passages. They are perplexing. These are passages that sometimes haunt me, sometimes stalk me. Passages, however, that always, in the end, fill me with the wonder that is God.

And as I was thinking of these verses and the comments of Albert Barnes and John Gill, I started to hear Handel's Messiah, quiet at first, then building to its full, God-praising glory.

and He shall reign for ever and ever
King of Kings, Lord of Lords

And then, the music in my head subsided, and the perplexing thoughts of God and this world drifted away.

And I thought: I'm afraid this is just not going to be a day of brilliant, theological insights or conclusions. The cold wind blew on my face, and I smiled....