I have been noticing a theme lately of what God has been showing me. I love that about God... how He will gently speak a message into my heart through many different ways... "look my child, hear and receive the truths I am giving you. Allow them to go deep into your heart." Sometimes I miss how beautifully He is weaving these themes together. Other times I ponder them and give Him praise for how He is God. He is such a personal God.
The theme lately has been weaved together through mansions. One day during our visit in Florida it was chilly out so we decided to tour the Flager Museum. When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." http://www.flagler.org/
Whitehall was truly majestic, beautiful and grand. While touring Whitehall, God started to show me how He was weaving this theme of mansions together and the truths He was teaching me through it all.
We have been studying Hebrews in our Bible study. We have been visiting the truths that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. Through His death on the cross He has taken away the sins of people forever. Jesus is our perfect high priest who intercedes on our behalf.
I know these truths as they are the basis of my salvation. I know that before God I am seen as clean, forgiven, blameless, spotless, and pure simply because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. This is truth and nothing changes this truth. Yet the question was asked of us- Are you living as cleansed and free of sin? The person who refuses forgiveness and acts guilty is like a homeless person in front of beautiful mansion. They have the key to the mansion yet they choose to continue to live as homeless.
As I walked through the beautiful Flagler mansion I could not imagine being handed the keys and ownership to such a magnificent place yet choosing to live homeless. Yet this is what I do when I refuse to truly accept and live in God's grace. This illustration impacted me greatly as I realized how easy it is for me to wallow in guilt and condemnation when God has already cleansed me clean. I am forgiven and lavished in grace. Will I choose to accept His glorious grace and live as the forgiven daughter of the most High King?
A dear friend gave me the book "Because He Loves Me" by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. There is a story in this book about inheritance. If your parents went to great length to provide you an extensive inheritance how disappointed they would be if you refused to use it. If instead you lived on the streets begging for your next meal. Elyse Fitzpatrick writes, "It wouldn't be an act of love or humility for me to refuse her gift; no, it would be hatred. The joy that she would have experienced in providing for me would be significantly diminished if she saw that I was too self-reliant, unbelieving, or proud to receive it from her. One part of your Father's joy is giving you an inheritance is watching you discover and utilize it. Rather than trying to prove our innate strength to Him, He is most glorified when our weakness teaches us to pursue all He has provided for us. He is glorified and blessed when our life reflects the riches of His grace- the riches that He has "lavished" upon us! (Eph.1:6-8). Too often... we live in doubt and despair, when we've got sure promises given to us that would free and cheer us. Our faithful intercessor, Jesus Christ, has sent the Spirit so that we'll know and enjoy all He has bequeathed to us."
While walking though the Flagler mansion I imagined for a moment what it would be like to be the Lady of such an estate. I could feel my back straightening... proper posture, grace, elegance, and pose. The Lady would walk with grace but authority. The servants of the estate are at her command. She receives guest and knows the proper etiquette at all times....as my mind went down this path I started to think about what it would look like if I lived as the daughter of the Most High King. Because of Christ Jesus, I am adopted by God the Father. I am His daughter. Royalty. I would walk in the authority and power of Christ Jesus. I would walk in confidence. I would walk in the truth that I have significance, beauty, and worth in Christ. I would receive God's grace and extent it to others.... this is only the beginning...
What beautiful and powerful truths to ponder. The truths of identity and inheritance that are woven together through the picture of a mansion.
