“I Can Only Imagine” His Grace
We've all heard it before: "You shall not take the name of the LORD
your God in vain." (Exod 20:7) It seems pretty clear, doesn't it?
You can't say the "g-d" thing or you'll be swabbing toilets
in purgatory for an extra millennium or two. But is that really all it's
about? Or is there something more to that Second Commandment?
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
At the very root of the Second Commandment is the understanding that we
must absolutely respect God. He is our Father -- the creator of everything.
And we should hold Him in reverence and awe.
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
The
group MercyMe, in their song "I Can Only Imagine," sums it up
pretty well. We can only imagine what it will be like to stand face-to-face
with God. If we really stop to think about it, most of us would feel a
little overwhelmed at the idea.
Why, then, are people so nonchalant about using His name to curse? Don't
they respect the Lord unless He's standing right in front of them?
The Inside Counts
Not all of us speak blasphemy so easily. But that does not mean we don't
break the Second Commandment in other ways. Cursing out loud is not the
only way to disrespect the Lord, for He is the God of our minds and hearts
as well.
Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus?
Or in awe of you be still?
When our thoughts are full of hatred or blame against God, Jesus, the Church, Mary and the Saints, or sacred things, then we are breaking the commandment. We are holding blasphemy in our hearts, which is in some ways worse than the person who curses aloud out of habit.\
Will I stand in your presence?
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
God knows our hearts. He knows what's on the inside. We should sing His
praises from the mountaintops and spread his Good News throughout the
world... but even when we love Him in silence, He hears.
Invoking God's Honor
Just as He hears what we say in our hearts, God also knows when our hearts
don't match our words. If I swear an oath without intending to follow
through on it, and I have used the Lord's name, then I have committed
a grave sin.
Even if my intent is not blasphemy and I hold nothing against God in my
heart, the fact that I have misused his name is a sign of terrible disrespect.
To use God's name in emphasizing a promise is to call upon the divine
truthfulness of God. And when we knowingly break that promise, we are
basically making God out to be a liar!
I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
We can only imagine what it would be like to stand in God's presence. But we can't forget that God is around us every day. We need to love Him and respect Him, both in our hearts and through our words. And hopefully, someday, we won't have to imagine anymore.
– Brandon Jubar
FAITHteen Home | About FAITHteen | FAITH Magazine | Sign-up for FAITHteen
[ Premiere
Issue | Issue
#2 | Issue #3
| Issue #4 |
Issue #5 | Issue
#6 ]
[ Issue #7 |
Issue #8 | Issue
#9 | Issue #10
| Issue #11
| Issue #12
| Issue#13 ]