Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Time is the creation of
Almighty God. He is not subject to it in any
way. He is eternal, immortal, and invisible. He has neither
beginning nor end. In fact, when He revealed Himself
to Moses, He identified Himself as I AM THAT I AM. He is not
in any way hindered, aided, or otherwise affected by the passing
of time. The scripture says we spend our
years as a tale that is told. Since God is the one who orders
our steps, this indicates that he surveys his creation in the
same fashion as an artist might admire an intricate oil painting
that he has just finished. There are no surprises or situations
which may arise which require him to make alternate plans.
He is not running around like a circus performer trying to
keep a bunch of plates spinning on poles. There is no shadow
of turning with him. He changes not. We believe that
the true and living God is an absolute sovereign. As such,
He must be the predestinator of all things, or else some things
would have to be left to chance, which would necessitate the plate-spinning
exercise we just mentioned. Because of this belief, we are
sometimes accused of being fatalists. Now if by that description our
accusers mean that we believe all things must and shall happen
exactly according to the will and purpose of the living God,
then we are most happy to accept that designation. If, however,
they mean by that that we think some force outside of the Almighty's
will and purpose is determining the outcome of events, or that
we always know what His will is ahead of time, or that we
think that by believing this truth we are excusing ourselves
of the responsibility of our actions, Then we reject such
a name and call it anathema. We are creatures of time and
not eternity. We cannot dare to imagine that
we can know what the intention of God is before He reveals it.
But we are sure that His will is manifested in the unfolding
of events in the earth. Who can stay His hand or say
unto Him, What doest thou? Those who reject the notion of
the absolute sovereignty of God often do so because they cannot,
in their human reason and ability, conceive of the awesome display
of intricate design that is necessary for such a thing to be true.
We are the first to confess that we cannot conceive of it either,
but we bow at the feet of Him who is beyond our understanding.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. Human reason has not brought
us here, but rather revelation, which causes us to tremble at
the mention of His name. As Job of old, we are brought
down upon our faces and made to confess, I have heard of thee
by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore
I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. We are creatures
of time and space, and everything we do, we do according to our
will. We are not robots or inanimate
creatures without desires or designs. When we sin or disobey
the commands of God, we do so out of choice and purpose. Some
who claim to be predestinarians sadly fall into the error we
have just described in attributing their disobedience to God's purpose
in order to excuse its wickedness or to absolve themselves of accountability. Now, there are actually very
few who do this to any great extent, but it's not unheard
of. God's purpose will be done, but we are surely accountable
for our actions. Judas is a good example of a
man predestinated to an end, yet accountable for his actions.
Pharaoh is another example that comes to mind. Because we have
difficulty reconciling these concepts in our minds does not
overturn the truthfulness of the doctrine. You do what you
do because you want to. Now is the time to repent and
believe the gospel. Now is the time to listen to
the Son who speaks. Now is the time to recognize
that righteousness is not of the law, but by Christ. Now is
the time to awake from our slumber. The day of the Lord is at hand.
Now is the time to supply the needs of the brethren. Now is
the time to be aware that judgment must begin at the house of God.
Now is the time to make your calling and election sure. We
cannot know what tomorrow holds, but we can indeed know who holds
tomorrow. Even so, faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, thou hast
faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy
works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest
that there is one God, thou doest well. The devils also believe
and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead? Do you believe in a Savior who
hopes to save some people, or one who has saved His people?
Our times are in His hand. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.