The characteristics of the Godhead are mutually intelligible. What I mean by that is to say that even though some of them appear to be different on the surface, they all make sense in light of each other and are compatible and complementary. None of them contradicts the rest and all of them are sub-dialects of central characteristics of God such as “God is Love” (1 John 4:16).
An attribute like solitariness is very similar to holiness when applied to God because holiness means set apart as wholly other than and entirely different from the “norm.” Whenever something is uniquely set apart, it also becomes at that moment solitary. When something is solitary, it is no longer like a tree in the forest, but a tree outside the forest, and its vision is vast and far, which reflects God’s ability as sovereign to see and act from a much different perspective than humanity.
God’s holiness, His “wholly other-than-ness” is most distinct in that He is a relational being who enjoys immutable love within the Godhead. Mankind has been relationally dysfunctional since the fall. We struggle between man and man and God and man and are rarely consistent or equitable in showing or sharing love. God is perfectly fulfilled and content within His triune fellowship, never reflecting a hint of friction or dysfunction. He has no need of us within His inner circle of absolute love that makes Him wholly unique and other than us, yet it is exactly because of this holy fellowship that He shows us mercy.
Holy love focuses its attention inwardly and outwardly. Because love is both of these and God is unchanging, it is part of God’s eternal nature to create objects of His love. Though the Godhead is forever happy and complete in the divine rhythm of the love of the Father, Son and Spirit, He also reaches outside Himself to give still more. He delights to show mercy because the nature of love is to give abundantly. Though there is no actual shortfall or need in God, He will always give and create more than He needs because holy love is extravagant beyond measure.
Mercy, then, is an act of one who has no obligation to act on behalf of another, yet still chooses to do so. Mercy is not driven by God’s need, but rather by the overflowing holiness of a God who is free of internal conflict and abundant in complete love. God is the “cup that runs over.” He is more than simply 100% full. He is 100% in overflow. All of His divine characteristics come in extreme measure: He is super-unique and ultra-abundant.
So mercy is the Niagara Falls of God Himself reaching out to His creation through Jesus, whose name is Savior. “God Saves” (AKA “Jesus”) is our most common name for God in the flesh. To save means to rescue. To rescue, in God’s case, is to show mercy, since He has no actual obligation or debt towards mankind. As the One whom the Father sent to save, Jesus is passionate about rescue…which creates a mandate for His people to become rescuers, too.
It is my privilege to work and minister under this rushing, overflowing cascade of God’s mercy. Our mission at Divine Inheritance involves rescuing child soldiers in some of the darkest corners of the earth. It is God’s mercy to us that we can experience the exuberance of heaven in every rescue. I pray that as you read this, you too will pursue a lifestyle of rescue and ride out upon the mighty, thundering waters of God’s mercy.
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