I Am Glad That HE Sees My Ways, Before HE Heals Me.

Therefore I will flee to my one Refuge! 
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"I have seen his ways, and will 
heal him!" Isaiah 57:18

I am glad that HE sees my ways, 

before HE heals me. It is a great 

satisfaction to feel that there is ONE 

WHO comprehends perfectly the worst 

of my nature and my conduct. 

I am concealed to a certain extent 

even from my nearest human friends. 

The disclosure would be too terrible--

it would force the most forbearing 

and the most forgiving to flee 

from me in horror!

Yet to my heavenly FATHER, everything 

is as clear as the sunlight:
  my self-seeking,
  my pride,
  my envy,
  my loathsome sins!

HE understands . . .
my sevenfold corruption,
my festering leprosy,
my filthiness, and
my idols!

HE reads me through and through. 

No black veil curtains any corner 

of my being from HIS all-seeing eye. 

Yet HE pardons me of all my evil--

and clasps me to HIMSELF!

HE meets the evil King Manasseh, who 

has made the streets of Jerusalem 

run red with innocent blood--

and HE receives HIM to HIS 

household and HIS heart.

HE draws the sinful woman to the SAVIOR'S 

feet in penitential tears, and the SAVIOR 

bids her go in peace.

HE has room and welcome for me, although 

my transgressions, ten thousand times ten 

thousand, are before HIS all-seeing eye! 

There is no stain that tarnishes HIS 

justice when HE so wonderfully forgives; 

for HE has laid my iniquities and all 

their doom on the SON of HIS love! 

I go free with the consent of HIS 

holiness, as well as of HIS grace.

HIS omniscience is penetrating and 

all-inclusive, missing none of my 

shortcomings and none of my sins--

yet HIS compassions are infinite!

Therefore I will flee to my one Refuge! 

Nowhere else am I safe from condemnation. 
Nowhere else am I at home.

   
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GraceGems has published J.R. Miller's helpful short article, 
"Living Victoriously".