Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
Sometimes I think we can be so wrapped up in ourselves we are as a fish that doesn't even know it's wet. We flatter ourselves that Jesus died to make us comfortable in our after life. We fool ourselves into thinking that the universe revolves around us. We were so important! So important that God Himself would endure such contradiction just for us!
Hebrews 12:2 "For the joy set before Him, (He) endured the cross." What was that joy? "Well, my salvation, of course!" And wherefore? "So I wouldn't have to suffer in hell!" Subtle, isn't it? Are you wet?
An Indian had made a monk some moccasins. The good friar was trying them out, and when upbraided by the Father Superior, said, "But Father, they are very comfortable!"
"Brother! You did not join this monastery to be comfortable!"
We belittle the purpose of God by assuming our comfort to be of primary importance. God did not foreordain your comfort before the foundation of the world. It was Christ and His glory.
It is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (note: not our pleasure or comfort!). Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.We can view God like tourists view a lion in a zoo. From the safety of our own little perspective, God can seem quite safe, but we forget, He is not a tame lion. We, my friend, are of little consequence! The fruit in our lives is so that He might enjoy it, that He might consume it, for He deserves it. He is worthy.
We begin to understand when we can say, like the horse to the lion, "Sir, you are so beautiful, I'd rather be eaten by you than fed by anybody else."
Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. We are for His consumption.
Song of Solomon 5:16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
