The sweetest sound that a lost
sinner can hear is a message of the absolute reign of the
Redeemer King in the earth. How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation,
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. Only those who remain
as rebels against God and His King shall refuse to worship
at His footstool whenever His triumphs are proclaimed. This
is a unifying message for all of the sons of God. The religion
of this world is satisfied with the declaration of a God who
is subservient to the free will of men. Those who declare this
weak-kneed deity have not been acquainted with the God of the
Bible, who answers to none and declares the end from the beginning.
He will accomplish His purpose in the earth, and not one event
will transpire therein which is not in keeping with that purpose
and unto His glory. He is to be feared as one whom
scripture describes as a consuming fire, whose will cannot be thwarted,
nor even one of those whom his soul loveth could ever perish
or be removed from his presence. He is God, and there is none
else. One of the most glorious revelations
that is brought to the awareness of those who are given eyes to
see and a heart to call upon his name is that he will show
mercy. Now those who are intent on robbing
him of glory tell us that his mercy is extended in response
to something which men do. This would be no mercy at all,
but rather the payment of a debt or a conditional reward bestowed
on those who possess some ability to either approach him or earn
his favor. Yet he said to Moses, I will
proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and will be gracious
to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will
show mercy. His mercy is his prerogative,
and it is because he shows mercy that any man should ever call
out to him. The man who is awakened by the
Spirit of God to flee from the wrath to come demonstrates the
goodness of the Lord in calling his people out of darkness and
into the glorious light. I believe it is impossible to
find a true believer in Christ who does not attribute all of
his deliverance to the mercy of God, quite apart from anything
of worth found in himself. Can a man who contends that his
own faith has brought salvation unto him give God glory? No,
indeed, those who are made the recipients of God's mercy confess
that He alone has saved them from certain destruction, knowing
that in their flesh dwells no good thing. Still, there are
those who insist that a man can choose to be saved whenever he
wants. Such are blind guides who are
unacquainted with the sovereign prerogative of God to show mercy
to whom He wills. They have no knowledge of the
depths of the depravity of the heart of man who will not seek
after God, neither can he know His ways or desire His glory. The God of our salvation is a
terrible God. He is that One who is mighty
to save. What good news is brought to
those who sit in darkness that our God reigneth? He is that
one who has obtained eternal redemption. If he were not a
terrible God, then he would need to wait upon others. Yet his
own arm has brought salvation unto himself and thus his people. Oh, what hope and expectation
is brought to those who tremble before him as they behold his
mighty power, his ability, and his willingness to show mercy.
We read of this terrible God that he is the king over all
the earth. The import of declaring him as
king is primarily centered on his reign as the redeemer king
who has come to fulfill the purpose of his father. The establishment
of the kingdom of Christ in the earth is a manifestation of that
salvation which he has purchased with his own blood on Calvary's
tree. He is the savior and deliverer
of the subjects of his kingdom who are one in the same with
the objects of his redemptive work. Who else but he who is
a terrible God can guarantee that he shall accomplish exactly
what he set out to do? For he must reign till he hath
put all enemies under his feet. He is indeed a terrible God who
shall lose none of his own.