"...having predestined us
to adoption as sons
by Jesus Christ
to Himself,
according to the
good pleasure
of His will....
having made known
to us the mystery
of His will,
according to His
good pleasure which
He purposed in
Himself.
Ephesians 1:5;9
To the God who controls nations we give admittance that to control nations necessitates control over individuals. It is hard for man to admit God's control over every aspect of life, yet, we must give Him that control if we are to admit His Sovereignty. Even more difficult is to admit that God's Providence extends into every circumstances of every man's life, i.e., his birth, life, and death; that those aspects of man are ordered by God. The circumstances of life whether a person be weak or strong, whether he be rich or poor, whether he has many or few talents, the length of one's life are not determined by chance, or that these attributes and aspects of life are to be left up to an unintelligent force; rather they are controlled by the Will of God: "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up" (1 Samuel 2:6-7). You may cavil and object vehemently that you have the control over your life, that you plan your steps; this is true, as will be shown, but, it is by the direction and control of God that His purpose to have a holy people for His name is to be accomplished and that by His direction, He is overseeing the work that is to be done until the time comes to bring to conclusion this sinful world. We must give God, if we are to believe that the Scriptures are inspired, control and direction for our lives: "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). God is either our absolute ruler or He is not, there is not in-between position on this subject, He is or He is not! God is the judge and ruler of the universe, all is under His control, that is His Providence because God is Sovereign: "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another" (Psalm 75:6-7). King David admitted that God is control when he cried out and states: "You are my God" (Psalm 31:14b). King David knew that God was in charge of his life and the times of his life: "My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies" (Psalm 31:15). Luke in writing to Theophilus as found in the book of Acts records: "And He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings" (Acts 17:26). It must be noted that God "preappointed" "times" for man, therefore under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit Luke agrees with the Old Testament writers, that God in His Providence controls the actions of individuals.
Well, you may exclaim, that may be true, but how does that control extend to our free acts? What about man's bad acts, not just their good acts, does He control both? Yes! God extends His control, His Providence over the free acts of man and to the external circumstances. Ezra will give proof of that fact: "Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:27). Do we not pray the Lord's prayer and admit that we are humbled at the fact that our lives are in the hands of God? "And do not lead us into temptation (who is being led? Man! who is doing the leading? God!) But deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). It is clear that we are asking God to deliver us, and that because we know that we cannot remove ourselves from the power of Satan without God intervening. This prayer should be recited every day, this prayer will aid us in our remembrance of our God and that He is in control.
The promises and blessing, even the threatening found in the Word of God have as their assumption that God is in absolute control. The Bible is filled, not just the Lord's prayer, rather the Bible as a whole, with prayers that are founded on this assumption. It is God that works in them to will and to do according to His good pleasure. How can we have that assurance? How can we have both free will and that God is in control of our lives? All one must do is ask Joseph. His brothers thought to do evil, but God intended it for good (Genesis 50:20). To be in the will of God means that we must become devoted to God, to His Son Jesus Christ. We must absorb His Word, and that by daily reading of it, and, by attending a Bible preaching church, not just some "feel good" church were most sermons are allegorical, or have the meaning that the pastor wishes to speak about to the congregation. Prayer, reading, taking time to ponder His Word, then to apply what we learn from His Word in our lives. That is how God control's and allow His Providence to effectuated in our lives and that to our good.
Therefore you shall
love the LORD
your God, and keep
His charge, His statutes,
His judgments, and
His commandments
always.
Deuteronomy 11:1
The LORD will open to You His good treasure
Richard L. Crumb
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