Out Of Control?

"O, but didn't the people elect them?"  God says in Psalm 33:10:  The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples."

Providence is not just an archaic word or capitol of Rhode Island, but vital to apprehending God's nature.

Ben Franklin observed:  "I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more I see that God governs in the affairs of men."  There are no flukes, as they say.  Has everything gone haywire? Everything seems topsy-turvy in the culture nowadays!    Is the world spinning out of control?  Has the devil taken control, or does he have free reign to do his will?  When one reads the daily news he may be inclined to believe this and be pessimistic.  What we say in Christendom is that God does indeed "orchestrate" history and that it is "His story."

Even though it seems like man is in control,  God is in control--He rules:  "Dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations," (Psa. 22:28).  How is this possible?  There is no cast of the die out of His control (cf. Prov. 16:33); He controls the heart of the king (Prov. 21:1);  "People's lives are not there own; it is not for them to direct their steps," says Jeremiah in chapter 10, verse 23.   John Wesley read the paper to "find out what God was doing in His world."  "He's got the whole world in His hands," the famous hymn declares.  Hasn't anyone heard of the providence of God that the Puritans so often made reference to and a city in Rhode Island is named after?    It means that God is ultimately in control and is working out everything according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11).

I have heard it said that God doesn't "micromanage" the universe, but has taken a chance in giving man a so-called "free will."  Believe me, He has every molecule in the cosmos under His direction and there are no "maverick molecules" either.  Nothing has gone awry in God's economy.  Some erroneously think of God as a "do-nothing" king like the sovereign of Great Britain who reigns but does not rule--a mere figurehead and head of state in name only.  But God does rule over everything and is "Lord of all."  Even Satan cannot thwart God or do anything without His permission.  Yes, God is so much in control that we cannot resist His will (cf. Rom. 9:19).

God is not frustrated by His creatures (Jer. 10:23).  God is absolutely sovereign and it is not limited by our freedom, contrary to what Rome teaches. We cannot limit God, or He wouldn't be God.  "For who can resist His will? (Rom. 9:19).  "He stands alone, who can oppose Him?  He does whatever He pleases," says Job.  "Our God is in the heavens and He does whatsoever He wills."   Daniel says, "Who can resist Him? Who can say to God, 'What are you doing?"   He is our judge, we are not His judge.  We are accountable to Him and not vice versa.  God didn't explain Himself to Job, but made Job answer to Him, and it is likewise with us.

 I like Isa. 46:10 which says, "I will accomplish all my purpose...."  God will accomplish His plan per Isa. 14:24,27.  Remember, God took the most despicable act and dastardly deed ever committed and accomplished our salvation through it-God's "deliberate plan and foreknowledge" (cf. Acts 2:23, 4:28).  There is no such thing as luck (which is dumb), fate, (which is impersonal), or fortune (which is blind)--God is not any of those.  Providence is God's answer to what we refer to as happenstance, which is just an evasion of reality.

Wycliffe's tenet was that "everything comes to pass of necessity."  We are talking about the decretive or hidden will of God (not His perceptive will which is in the Bible for us to obey) which is none of our business and we don't know it till it happens.  ("The secret things belong to the LORD, our God..," according to Deut. 29:29).  Yes, God can turn the most diabolical event into a blessing--look at Joseph who said,  "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good,"  (Gen. 50:20).  "All things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose,"  (Rom. 8:28).  Every cloud has a silver lining in God's eyes; our trials and tribulations are Father-filtered, so to speak.

However, we are not to resign ourselves to some blind fate or what Islam calls kismet and sing with Doris Day, "Que sera, sera, what will be, will be."  In summary, there is no Plan B and God has no backup plan; we are not interrupting His plan--even the fall of Adam was known to God and had been planned what to do. (A good verse to remember God's absolute sovereignty by is Isa. 37:26, "Have you not heard?  Long ago I ordained it.   In days of old I planned it, now I have brought it to pass...." See also Isa. 14:24,27)   Soli Deo Gloria!

Are You A Stoic?

Stoicism:  Founded in the third century B.C.  by Zeno of Citium, who believed God permeated the cosmos which was the absolute reason.  The cosmos was governed by the laws of cause and effect and there was no genuine free will. Virtue and acceptance of or resignation fate were the highest goals.  We call this forbearance and fortitude.  Socrates resignation to his fate in taking the hemlock was honored as death with dignity.

Famous Stoics were Seneca, tutor to Nero (who ironically participated in an assassination attempt), Prime Minister of the Roman Empire and the greatest of all Stoic philosophers, Quintilian, the great  Roman orator, and the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was a  great writer and author of the classic Meditations, too.  Socrates was very stoical in accepting the proclamation to take his life with hemlock and was revered by virtue of his bold acceptance of this fate.   Stoicism was a Greek philosophy of antiquity that was common in Paul's day and he met some Stoics at Mars Hill in Acts 17 that were curious about what he had to say.   Epictetus, and was known for his philosophy of the "stiff upper lip."  He said that he couldn't escape death but he could escape the fear of it.   (It means more than not showing emotion and not being demonstrative in worship or in tragedy as they tell you to be stoical.)

They believed that there was fate or a plan for everyone and it was our duty to accept it and live with it, whatever it was.  It was all impersonal and one could do nothing to alter that fate.    Stoics believe the universe was governed by the logos which was the mind and will of God that kept the stars and planets in their places and in their appointed tracks.  Therefore, the universe was not a chaos, but orderly. If the universe didn't have order, science would be impossible!   The logos also had a plan and purpose for everyone.

Destiny involves a personal God and as it may be our destiny to become piano virtuosos, it is also our responsibility to practice diligently and faithfully.  It just doesn't just happen automatically.  We should never give up and resign ourselves to the belief that nothing can be done and there is no hope.  Being complacent is when we become so self-satisfied  that we are worse than being  content, but don't see any need or desire to better ourselves or condition:  "Oh, this is my lot in life and I must grin and bear it!"

  What not to be: 

Don't be like Doris Day singing "Que sera, sera, what will be, will be...!"  But rather let Jesus' motto of "Thy will be done!" work for you.  This is resignation and relinquishment to God's will and we must surrender to it as believers; even Jesus had to decide to follow the Father's will to the cross at Gethsemane.   Don't say, "Let the chips fall where they may."  There is no hopeless situation; only people who have given up hope. There are two types of Christians:  those who say, "Thy will be done!" and those to whom God says, "Okay, have it your way!"  We don't want it our way because we will mess it up--"Father knows best," as they say.  It is said that with the hope one can endure anything.   With Christ, we can endure any trial or tribulation with the joy of the Lord.

It is never too late to "get with the program" and to live in God's will,  used for His glory, fulfilling His plan for your life. Though I believe God has a plan for us ("I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future," says Jeremiah in chapter 29, verse 11), it is also our responsibility to make plans and not to just be aimless.  If you aim at nothing, that is what you get in life. Thomas Edison never called his experiments a failure, but an experiment that taught him what didn't work. The Army slogan, "Be All You Can Be!" And the Air Force motto to "Aim High"is good advice and one should be realistic, but also have dreams.  Case in point: If you aim for the presidency and only become a senator you shouldn't call yourself a failure.

An anecdote is told of a great woman of faith in God named Saint Theresa, who said that she was going to build a convent.  They asked her how much she had in resources and she replied 12 pence.  They told her that even Theresa couldn't accomplish much with twelve pence!  She replied that twelve pence, Theresa and God could though!  God promises to supply all we need to do His will according to 2 Cor. 9:8. It may be not how big our faith but how big our God!

Selfish ambition is sin, according to Jer. 45:5 ("Should you then seek great things for yourself?  Seek them not!")  But we are to seek the glory of God and His will for our lives:  ( Jer. 29:11 says, "I know the plans that I have for you....")  That is to say, that God has good intentions for us according to Rom. 8:28 that says, "All things work together for the good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."   N.B. our destiny is ultimately in God's hands ("He controls my destiny"--Job 23:12)-- unlike Ernest Henley's poem Invictus that says we are the "captains of our souls and the masters of our fate. "

To sum up:   The psalmist says,  "My future is in your hands"  (Ps. 31:15).   God wishes us good:  "May he grant you all your desires and fulfill all your plans"  (Ps. 20:40.  But always remember that it says in Romans 8:31,  "If God be for us, who can be against us?"   [All emphasis is mine.]  Soli Deo Gloria!

Are We All A Success?

Modern-day psychology will tell you that self-esteem is vital and the measuring rod to go by and not to worry what people say--it's all subjective and what your own personal goals are, not what society or God says that matters.  I got news:  no one is a success at everything and we are all bound to fail at something, or we just haven't tried enough or been around the block.  Admit it:  you've probably blown it or failed at least once, but that doesn't make you a failure.  Some kids can be failures in high school and be late bloomers and succeed late in life or finally find their niche or calling and talent.  You have no right to call someone a general failure in life, but you could say they are failures at marriage, or raising kids or a business.

Look at Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, who is a success on the gridiron, but a lousy dad.   But maybe they are a spiritual success in being prayer warriors, for instance, that can be a great servant for God.  To whom much is given, much is required;  we don't know what God expects of people--look at the widow who was successful at giving her mite!

Case in point, to get personal:  I was an exceptional success in high school and was considered one of the most likely to succeed (which I am trying to define) and my class would label me a failure now because I live a Veterans Home and have not even achieved the American dream.  But I believe I am in the will of God and all things will work out for the good (Rom. 8:28).  The Bema (Judgment Seat of Christ) will determine my level of success and worthiness and the amount of so-called reward.  You can be a success in the eyes of the world, achieving fame, fortune, and power, but fail and get no reward from God--it's all wood, hay, and stubble.

 If you fail at something, don't label yourself as a failure but that you just experimented at something that wasn't right for you.  You really haven't lived until you failed and if you've never failed, you've probably haven't aimed high enough.  They say in the Air Force to Aim High and that is a good code to live by because if you aim to be president and only become governor you can't be considered a failure, but that you just set your goals too high and should be more realistic.

Let's get specific:  We have to be realistic, like a son who is only 5 foot 3 and wants to be a football player would be discouraged and counseled into something more relative to his abilities and talents and limits.  'Nothing is too hard for [God]!"  "I can do all things [in His will] through Christ who strengthens me."  The key is not to think that you are superman and can succeed at anything, but that you find that which you can succeed and have been called to do and God will bless you.   I do not believe in prosperity theology that being a Christian means you will make a lot of money as a fringe benefit.  But God will bless your endeavors you do in His name and that He has called you to do in His will.    If you do succeed in the eyes of the world, don't let it go to your head but stay humble and give the glory to God.   We are only the vessels of honor used for His glory.

And so success is both subjective and objective. (Objectivity is true regardless of personal opinion or feeling).    Like passing a driving test you can say that you objectively failed.   But how can you say a preacher failed in his sermon without it being just subjective if the people heard him gladly and he got results--what is the criteria?  There are elements of both viewpoints.   A soldier can fail at the firing range but succeed in bivouac or CQ duty or not do so good in basic training but excel at Advanced Individual Training for his specialty at a higher level.  We can't just label people as complete failures, though some may be. In sum:   No one for whom Christ died is a complete failure, or is worthless, but is a vessel of honor for God--Let God be God and do the judging.    Soli Deo Gloria!