Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. We have quite often been
accused by some of being too preoccupied with the subject
of predestination, since we quite often mention it in our comments
on the scripture. The reality is that while we
are not reluctant to mention the issue of predestination,
we are only interested in it insofar as the mention of it
brings glory to the one who is the predestinator of all things. I have discovered that most people
are not opposed to predestination itself. They're just in rebellion
against the one who does the predestinating. For instance,
many preachers teach that once a man accepts Christ, lets the
Lord in his heart, or makes a decision, then that man's destiny in heaven
is forever assured based on something he has done. In other words,
they believe that man has it within his own power to predestinate
himself to eternal glory. They are quite comfortable with
this arrangement and go about trying to give men assurance
that if they will do the same thing, they too can determine
their own destiny. Yet these same blind guides will
rise up in anger against any who would quote the scriptures
which say that God Almighty determines the destiny of all men. They
find more comfort in believing that man is his own predestinator
than they do in the fact that the God of all grace is that
one who determines the end from the beginning and has ordained
some to eternal life. Paul knew what was in the heart
of men when he said, nay, but O man, who art thou that replies
against God? All of man's problems stem from
his natural inclination to disobey and disrespect the Lord of Glory. Yet those who have been brought
down to a place of repentance and are acquainted with their
own helplessness to deliver themselves from the bondage of sin and the
curse attached to it must and shall rejoice that their destiny
is determined by Him who is the Savior of sinners. Unless a man
thinks that it is within his own power to save himself, how
can he not rejoice that the God of mercy has determined to save
a certain and absolute number of sinners? Has he left any of
this to chance? Is it possible that some of those
for whom Christ shed his blood shall perish? Can the will and
purpose of God be thwarted? Was David wrong when he said,
But our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased? Can we in any wise comfort those who have fled for refuge
to this great rock and weary land, if there is any doubt that
he is the determiner of all things? If he is not the predestinator
of those who are in Christ, then who can say that some of those
which were given to him from the foundation of the world might
not perish? Away with such nonsense. Let
all of those whose care is cast upon him who is the balm of Gilead
and the great physician know of assurity that he who has called
us is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. The Lord
made a promise when he said, My sheep hear my voice, I know
them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal
life, and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. This promise shall indeed stand
forever, because He alone is the predestinator. Keep silence,
all created things, and wait your Maker's nod. My soul stands
trembling while she sings the honors of her God. Life, death,
and hell, and worlds unknown hang on His firm decree. He sits
on no precarious throne, nor borrows leave to be. Chained
to his throne, a volume lies with all the fates of men, with
every angel's form and size drawn by the eternal pen. His providence
unfolds the book and makes his counsel shine, each opening leaf
and every stroke fulfills some deep design. Here he exalts neglected
worms to scepters and a crown, and there the following page
he turns and treads the monarch down. When a man has been shown
his own inner inability to deliver himself from sin and its resultant
destruction, only then can he begin to appreciate the sovereign
purpose of God in redemption. We love him because he first
loved us. Our enjoyment of his mercy and
any obedience which we demonstrate is the result of his blessing
and not the cause of it. We do not pray in order to receive
a blessing, but the fact that he has moved us to pray is the
result of his blessing. The fact that we love His Word
and the brethren is a result of His mercy bestowed on us and
is never the cause of His blessing to us. He is the predestinator
of all that He has predestined, and we will glory in Him. Work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God
which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do you worship the true and living
God? For a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts,
Send an email to forthepoor at windstream dot net.