The Perfecting Church

God, the creator and sustainer of all, is a God of justice. Psalm 89:14 declares, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.” From an early age this sense of justice can be seen woven into the fabric of humanity. We’ve all seen and been, small children looking for an adult to judge between us and a friend, and when the verdict was rendered cried out, that’s not fair! Justice is the process of using laws to judge and administer fairness, rightness, reward and punishment. All societies have laws designed to bring order and civility. But God is the judge of all. His rule and reign is over every authority, power, dominion, throne, principality, domain and kingdom. God is the God of justice.

The “fear of the Lord” is not one of His attributes. It’s the effect He has on all who truly encounter His holy presence. Holiness is the quality of God’s character that makes Him higher and superior to everything in the created realm. God’s holiness makes Him other, different, high and lifted up, set apart from all others. It’s the distinction of His holiness, that leaves us drawn to God — in awestruck and reverent fear. Our reverent and awestruck fear of the Lord and His holiness will be the difference maker in our lives now, at the end of this age and for eternity.

God is the creator and sustainer of all creation. Nothing exists whether seen or unseen that originated apart from God. God is love. His love is an all-knowing love. His love is an all-consuming love. His love is a fully committed love. God is good. God defines good. God is the standard for good. If we took all of God’s attributes and rolled them into one word — the one word that would embody all of God’s attributes without compromise would be Good. But the angles in heaven do not cry out sustainer, sustainer, sustainer; they don't cry out love, love, love; nor do the angels in heaven cry out good, good, good. The thing that has all of the heavenly host awestruck without ceasing is God’s holiness. God’s character is best and most accurately described as Holy, Holy Holy.

Looking back at the top news making events of 2011, seven years seems like a lifetime ago. Arab Spring. Protests spread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa fueled by unemployed young people, frustration with longtime leaders and corrupt police — leading to the overthrow of government leaders, in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Osama bin Laden. The mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans was shot and killed by Navy SEALs. Occupy Wall Street. Protesting income inequality and corporate abuse, activists camped out near New York's Wall Street. The movement spread throughout the US and even spilled into other countries. Someone Like You by Adele, Look At Me Now by Chris Brown, You Are More by Tenth Avenue North and I Smile by Kurt Franklin all led the music charts. And TPC held its first public gathering at the Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia, with over 300 people braving torrential downpours to witness the birth of a new part of Jesus’ Church. And here we are in 2018, in the midst of some of the most divided times in our country and the world. In the midst of it all Jesus is crying out to us, just as He has to every generation before — Follow Me. Acknowledge Me. Ask of Me. These commands are timeless and eternal and they are just on time and for this very moment.

God the Father is the source and giver of all the goodness that fills this earth, both seen and unseen. There’s never been one thing good in this earth or any where else in creation at any time in the past, present or future that didn’t originate in God the Father. Apart from God, there wouldn't be anything good. God alone is the source of all good things. “God is good” means — God defines good; God is the source of good; God is the only One good. Unwavering trust in God is rooted in knowing, believing and submitting to this truth.