Sometimes I forget. Well, maybe it’s not so much forget, as it is I lose sight of the magnitude of a truth. It’s kind of like I know Mt. Rainier is big and beautiful, but after it’s been hidden by overcast skies for a period of time and then “shows up” one day amidst clear skies, it can kind of take my breath away. Though I never forgot Mt. Rainier was there, I lost sight of it . . . and the memory has a way of fading . . . and it becomes less spectacular in my mind’s eye . . . but then . . . the sky clears and BAM! . . . there it is . . . queue the awe factor. That’s a feeble attempt at a simple illustration to try convey my experience this morning in God’s Word.

I was set up for the “clouds clearing” by an extended read in Ezekiel . . . particularly the Lord’s words of judgment concerning Tyre, and it’s royal family. And the root of the sin of Tyre is clearly revealed in chapter 28 as the Lord indicts the Prince of Tyre and his father, the King. Of the prince, God’s charge is that “your heart is proud . . . you have said I am a god . . . your heart has become proud in your wealth . . . you make your heart like a god” (28:1-6).

But “the boy” is just a chip off the the ol’ block as he learned it from “the best at being the worst”. You read the charge against the King of Tyre and a chill goes down your back because the pride of the man is modeled directly after the destroyer of men. “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God . . You were an anointed guardian cherub . . . You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you . . .and you sinned . . . your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” (28:11-17).

And it was amidst this dark backdrop of the depths of sin brought on by misplaced self-ego and pride that I turned to 1John 2 . . . and the sky cleared . . . and I beheld afresh the magnificence of another Son . . . and a different King . . .

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1John 2:1-2 ESV)

Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. He is the “atoning sacrifice” (NIV). His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary was fully sufficient to appease the wrath of God. The guilt of sin can be removed from “whosoever believes” as the price has been paid in full.

I hadn’t forgotten that truth . . . it’s just the magnitude and beauty of it hit me afresh this morning. Ezekiel’s prophecy revealed the depths of sin I’m capable of. Ezekiel’s prophecy provided insight to the wrath of God and the degree to which sin will be judged. And then 1John reminded me that Jesus took it upon Himself . . . all of it . . . even “the sins of the whole world.” How powerful is the shed blood of Christ? Pretty!

Awesome! How else do you describe it?

That’s why I need to keep in the Scriptures daily. The clouds of the day-to-day have a way of settling in. The overcast skies of trials and concerns have a way of keeping me from looking up. But then I open up the Word . . . and the Word opens up me . . . and the clouds roll back . . . and BAM! The Son appears . . . and I look up . . . and marvel afresh at the grace of God . . . and wonder anew at the depths of the love of God . . . and the power of the gospel . . . and the awesome nature of the work of Christ on behalf of men and women.

The sky clears. And this sinner-saved-by-graced, after looking up, goes facedown. Queue the awe factor. And with feeble, inadequate words, say, “Thank you, Lord!”