Big... Little... Big
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
“There is nothing little in God; His steadfast love is like Himself—it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners after great lengths of time and then gives great favors and great privileges and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God.” – C.H. Spurgeon
About 30 years ago, I was scheduled to be an exhibitor at a conference near the Delaware Water Gap where New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York all come together. Since I would be spending long hours sitting behind a table or greeting visitors to our booth, I saw no reason why I shouldn’t make it a Father & Son event and so, I brought our son Matt along with me since he wasn’t yet in school.
From our house in Pennsauken, NJ, Matt and I traveled up Route 130 to the Betsy Ross Bridge, where we crossed the Delaware River. Taking I-95 North, we proceeded for about 15 miles before using the Scudder Falls Bridge to cross back over the Delaware into New Jersey. From there, we took a series of roads – 295, 579, 202, 46, and 94 – before finally merging onto I-80 and crossing the Delaware River for a third time via the Delaware Water Gap Bridge.
When we finally arrived at our motel, a rustic little place along a creek that had an adjacent golf course, Matt proudly announced that we had crossed three bridges on our way there. “Big, little, big” he called them… in that order… and he was right.
To my four-year-old son, any bridge was big, but in comparison to the Betsy Ross and the Delaware Water Gap bridges, the Scudder’s Fall Bridge was indeed small. I was reminded of that trip – and Matt’s insights – when I first read Charles Spurgeon’s quote above.
Just like Spurgeon said, there is nothing small about God. He is big, bigger, and biggest… all wrapped up into one. His love knows no bounds, nor does His holiness. The same goes for His mercy, power, glory, and scores of other positive attributes.
I find great comfort in the knowledge that God far surpasses my limited knowledge and my wildest imagination. Likewise, I can’t wait to spend some Father & Son time with Him in heaven. However, in the meantime, I’ll gladly settle for another trip with Matt… and maybe we’ll get to play some golf this time!
“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” I Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
