Writings by Barri Cae Mallin

Far Beyond All Comparison

Tuesday 25 November 2003 - 13:52:16

Our public libraries must be one of the only places left on the face of the earth, where one can get items for free. One can enter empty-handed, and walk out with numerous books, videotapes and CDs - all free! Untold treasures are hidden in the bookstacks and media files.

Cyrus, king of Medo-Persia knew about treasures. He overthrew Babylon in 539 BC and freed the Jews from exile so that they could return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4). In so doing, he was God's shepherd. Even though Cyrus did not know God, God still spoke to him.

I will give you the treasures of darkness,
and hidden wealth of secret places,
In order that you may know that it is I,
the LORD, the God of Israel,
who calls you by your name . Isaiah 45:3

Have you ever had to wait for medical test results? or had to wait to learn if a loved one survived surgery? Have you ever had to wait to learn if you got the job you so badly needed? or the loan to go to school? Have you ever learned the truth about a spouse who had been unfaithful, or a child getting arrested.

We all go through times of darkness, in Hebrew the word is cho-shek. Our soul becomes troubled; it is as though God is hiding from answering our prayers. A sense of aloneness and foreboding overtakes our soul, we feel alone.

Yet it is in this darkness, this cho-shek, that there are treasures (in Hebrew the word is otze-rote). Otze-rote, treasures are there, there is hidden wealth in the secret places. God's mercies, His comforts are real, yet we must enter in.

A library and a Bible are only good when they are open and used. There are many treasures in the library; there are endless treasures in the Bible, and they are all to be found in the secret place that you go to meet with God. Hidden wealth is in the secret place.

"But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God,
and not from ourselves;

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed but not despairing;
persecuted but not forsaken;
struck down but not destroyed;

Always carrying about in the body
the dying of Yeshua Jesus,
that the life of Yeshua Jesus
may be manifested in our body." 2 Corin 4:7-10

For momentary light affliction is producing for us
An eternal weight of glory
far beyond all comparison.
2 Corin 4:17

Copyright © Barri Cae Mallin.