“HE IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY”

As I look around me, at the world, my city, my nation, there is such sorrow and woe.  We hear of suicides, men taking their own lives, as they perceive they have no hope.  We hear of cancer and great sorrow in peoples’ lives.  People are despondent, lost and alone.  My heart breaks for the “lost” of this world.  I want to tell the world about the “Altogether Lovely One.”

“His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely.  This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem” Song of Solomon 5:16.

Our Lord Jesus, the “Altogether Lovely One” stands at the crossroads of our lives, calling, pleading for a lost world.  He is calling for you, my dear friends.  This “Lovely One” is the one who bore all our sorrows on the cruel cross of Calvary, shed His precious blood for my sins, for your sins.  He is Glorious in His resurrection and sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high, praying and interceding for a lost world, a world He came to save.  Listen to the words of Charles Spurgeon as he wrote of this “Altogether Lovely One.”

f we had time to think over this subject, we should say of our Lord that He is lovely in every office.  He is the most admirable Priest, and King, and Prophet that ever yet exercised the office.  He is a lovely Shepherd of a chosen flock, a lovely Friend, lovely Husband, a lovely Brother:  He is admirable in every position that He occupies for our sakes.

Our Lord’s loveliness appears in every condition:  in the manger, or in the temple; by the well, or on the sea; in the garden, or on the cross; in the tomb, or in the resurrection; in His first, or in His second coming.  He is not as the herb which flowers only at one season; or as the tree, which loses its leaves in winter; or as the moon, which waxes and wanes; or as the sea, which ebbs and flows.  In every condition, and at every time,” He is altogether lovely.”  (Charles F. Spurgeon)

He was there before the world was created.  This “Altogether Lovely One” was there at the beginning of time.  He is the great I AM of the burning bush in Exodus 3.  He is “The Word” in John 1:1-5.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him noting was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

He came to this earth, shining in the darkness, and the world did not understand or accept His light.  And He shines in your darkest hours, my friend.  He is there in the midst of your storm, walking on the water.  This “Altogether Lovely One” is there in the midst of your sin and sorrow and your lost hope.  He shines through the darkest of nights, when it seems that all is lost.

“The LORD is high above all the nations, His glory above the heavens.  Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?  He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes –with the princes of His people”  Psalm 113:4-8.

This “Altogether Lovely One” is higher than all the nations and their plans, and His glory shines even beyond the heavens.  But our Lord humbles Himself to see all that is going on in the heavens and the earth.  In other words, He is very much aware of the struggles that you are going through, as He is aware of the hearts of men.  And He longs to lift you up, even if you feel that you are in an “ash heap.”  Even if you feel you are the lowest of the low.  He wants to lift you up right now, at this moment.  He wants to seat you with Him in heavenly places, as the Apostle Paul shares in Ephesians  1:3.

And this “Altogether Lovely One” is our soon coming King.  And He will come in all His glory and beauty to gather His loved ones home.  Our minds cannot comprehend the glory of this King until we see His lovely face in all its beauty.  Will you be ready?  He could come at any time.  And He is not willing that any would perish or miss His coming.  His Word also says He is coming as a thief in the night,

1 Thessalonians  5:1-3: “ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.

Please don’t miss Him.  We live in that time, my friend, when the world is looking for peace.  We hear it in the news constantly.  So, again I plead with you out there.  Be ready, for we do not know when our Lord is coming, but He tells us to watch and wait.  Right now is the time for salvation.  Just call upon Him, my friends.  He will come into your heart and bring you peace and hope and joy, and faith in knowing that when He does come you will go to be with Him.  And we do not know what a day will bring.  Are you ready for eternity?  Don’t put off the most important decision of your life.  Our lives are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.  Please be ready and don’t put off the Holy Spirit’s conviction in your heart, listen to His pleading and give it all to Him, He is waiting and He loves you so much, this “Altogether Lovely One.”

In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon