Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Men are by nature in rebellion
to God and only pay lip service to worshiping Him as long as
it's advantageous to them or fits their ideas of what is proper.
The natural man loves the religion of his own choosing and adores
the God of his imagination. He considers himself and others
as worthy of God's love and certainly could not fall down in worship
before one who might hate him and have ordained him unto destruction.
I remember an interchange with a man several years ago when
a friend of mine was discussing with him as to whether or not
there would be any babies in hell. This man was vehemently
certain that there could be no possibility of such due to what
he perceived was the innocence of a child. My friend was equally
certain that there was no such thing as an innocent human being
in the sight of a holy God, and that the only way any human being,
regardless of age, could escape hell would be by the imputed
righteousness of Christ bestowed according to the mercy of God.
The discussion ended where the man stood up and angrily declared,
I wouldn't serve a God who would send babies to hell. Now the
fact is that none of us knows whether or not there will be
infants in hell, and we actually think probably there won't be.
But the man who worships at the footstool of an absolute God
will not accuse God of unrighteousness if he sees fit to send some there.
because he knows that Paul's testimony is true. What shall
we say then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I'll have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
Nay, but, O man, who art thou that replyest against God? Shall
the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made
me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay Of the same
lump to make one vessel unto honour And another unto dishonour?
Job testified that he would worship God even if the Lord saw fit
to destroy him, as he said, Though he slay me, yet will I trust
in him. The Jews who listened to the
Lord's words concerning the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the leper
became angry because they realized that he was teaching them that
the Lord chooses whom he will to show mercy to and does not
do so on the basis of anything having to do with a man's status,
religion, birth, or human choice. Both this widow of Zarephath
and Naaman were Gentiles. The Jews didn't mind the doctrine
of election as long as they alone were included in it. But when
the Lord revealed that God's mercy is visited upon whom He
will, regardless of human endeavor or status, they became angry.
Does this not demonstrate the Lord's purpose when He declared,
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance? Yet
there were many widows in Israel at the same time who were equally
in need. Yet the Lord sent His prophet
to this Gentile woman who dwelt in a city known for wickedness
and thus demonstrated his disdain for the acceptable religion of
men. The Lord commanded this widow to feed the prophet, even
though she didn't know he was coming or who he was when he
got there. In fact, she did everything in
her power to avoid feeding the prophet. Yet unbeknownst to her,
the Spirit of God constrained her heart by His Word, and she
was compelled to do the exact will of God. And I will bring
the blind by a way that they knew not. I will lead them in
paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before
them and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them
and not forsake them." She continually faced an empty barrel of meal
and a dry cruise of oil. But true to the prophet's words,
they never failed, nor was she ever bereft of sufficient provision
to fulfill the commandment of God. The Lord supplies His people
faithfully, but in such fashion that they know the only reason
that they are sustained is that His grace is sufficient. But
as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on His name, which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God. "'Twas not that I did choose
thee, for, Lord, that could not be. This heart would still refuse
thee, hadst thou not chosen me. Thou from the sin that stained
me hast died to set me free. From old thou hast ordained me
to live on high with thee. "'Twas sovereign mercy called
me and taught my opening mind the world had else enthralled
me, to heavenly glories blind. My heart owns none before thee,
for thy rich grace I thirst, this knowing, if I love thee,
thou must have loved me first. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.