Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Almost everyone who claims to
believe in the God of the Bible, the one true and living God,
would also state that they believe this God is sovereign. Yet most
have varying degrees to which they believe that sovereignty
extends in exercise. Most believe that He is surely
in control of the major events which occur in the heavens and
the earth, especially as it is related to what is often referred
to as the forces of nature. The weakest among them will espouse
his ability to send rain on the just and the unjust, to control
the whirlwind, and cause the earth to continue on its constant
path around the sun. Most will concede that he marks
out the point and time of the death of men. Yet many of them
will question whether or not the calamities, such as the Indonesian
tsunami, or the tragedy at the World Trade Center were actually
a result of his sovereign purpose manifested for men to see, or
the result of some other force which from time to time slips
some things by him, who is seated in the heavens and causes him
consternation in his quest to only do good things. One of the
problems with such a view is that man's definition of good
and that which the Lord sees as good are often at odds with
one another. The most popular concept in the
minds of many today is what I would call functional agnosticism.
An agnostic is one who is not sure that there is a God, and
even if there is, he is not involved in the activities of everyday
life on the earth. The functional agnostic believes
that there is indeed a God, but that he has essentially made
the earth like a wind-up toy, which will go on in a general
direction. and he will make course corrections from time to time
based on the activities of evil forces and the prayers of men
offered up according to their sovereign free will. Yet the
scripture indicates that there are no competing forces of good
and evil, but rather one God, who is, as David said, but our
God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased. Nebuchadnezzar said, he doeth according to his will
in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth,
and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?
Many well-meaning teachers try to make excuses for why evil
exists in a world presided over by a holy God. Yet he makes no
apologies to anyone nor leaves any room for doubt as to why
evil exists in the world. That they may know from the rising
of the sun and from the west that there is none beside me.
I am the Lord and there is none else. I form the light and create
darkness. I make peace and create evil.
I, the Lord, do all these things. The apologizers quickly tell
us that the context of the verse simply means that he causes bad
occurrences to take place from time to time and has nothing
to do with evil insofar as the wicked activities of men and
angels. Yet the Lord says that he declares the end from the
beginning and ordains all things to occur in the earth. Remember
the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none else.
I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the
beginning and from ancient times of things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executed
my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken it. I will
also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also
do it. All actions by men, angels, and
devils are ordained by the one true God to accomplish His purpose,
and in no wise can be found working contrary to it. In the same fashion,
the Lord brought Job to Satan's attention. The Lord used Satan
as a tool to accomplish His purpose of bringing Job to a place of
humility and blessing. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. Surely the wrath of man shall
praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. It
is important that the people of God be reminded of the absolute
sovereignty of God, that they might in turn be reminded of
the mercy of God in dealing with all of those whom he has hid
in the bosom of Christ from before the foundation of the world.
There is absolutely no place for men to glory in anything
except His mercy, which is dispensed according to His sovereign will.
When a man is given the privilege to behold the complete redemption
which is wrought by the shedding of Christ's blood in the behalf
of His elect, then and only then can he fully rejoice in a full
and free salvation which depends in no fashion on the deeds, faith,
or prayers of men. This redemption is not a remedy
for an unforeseen problem, but rather that grand display for
which the world was created. Blessed are they which are called
unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These
are the true sayings of God. All hail King Jesus, mighty Redeemer,
and Lord of lords. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.