The Precipice

Great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psalm 86:13

Eminent geologist Professor Louis Agassiz used to conduct research by being lowered over a precipice in a basket. The men who lowered him would weigh the professor before every trip to make sure they had the strength to bring him back up. One day, however, they lowered him farther than he had ever gone before, until all the rope was let out. When it came time to pull him up, the men were unable to do so because they had failed to account for the length and weight of the rope itself. The professor had to wait on the precipice until additional help arrived.

Every time we refuse to submit to God, we lower ourselves further and further over the precipice of sin and rebellion, and it becomes more and more difficult to climb back up. Fortunately, the rope of God’s mercy is long enough to reach us even in our deepest sin.

If you have bought into the lie that by submitting to God you will miss out on life, understand this: true blessing comes from total submission to the one and only person who desires to bless you beyond measure. Like the father waiting with open arms to receive his long-lost son, your heavenly Father waits for you with arms full of grace and a life full of blessing.

The degree of blessing enjoyed by any man will correspond exactly with the completeness of God’s victory over him.

A. W. TOZER