THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #2 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)

NECESSARY CONCLUSIONS

Several conclusions should become increasingly obvious to us. (1) The rule of God cannot be ultimately confirmed by a review of circumstance. The revealed purpose of God, together with "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Eph. 1:17) will confirm that "the Lord reigns!" Often, circumstance appears to contradict this reality. (2) The rule of God cannot be exploited for personal advantage. God is not our servant, and men do greatly err in approaching Him as though this were the case. (3) We gain individual benefit from the sovereignty of God to the degree that we are absorbed in His "good and acceptable and perfect will" -- and no more. Those who stand aloof from God can only theorize about His power, and will never gain eternal advantage from His sovereignty. There are no exceptions to these principles.

CORRUPTED VIEWS

It is unfortunate that truth is subjected to apparent human corruption. It is not that the truth itself is corrupted. Neither men nor demons can alter the truth of God. They can, however, so distort it in the minds of men that it becomes inaccessible to them. Of this type of condition, Isaiah said, "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter" (Isa 59:14). Jeremiah said, "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth" (Jer 7:28). A most serious condition, indeed. When men tamper with the Word of the Living God, they push it beyond the reach of men, and bring the condemnation of God upon themselves. The more foundational the teaching, the more aggressive Satan is to corrupt it. Such is the case with the fact of God's sovereignty. Being a cornerstone of sound theology, our adversary is particularly eager to distort it in our understanding. All doctrinal distortion must be seen as originating with our adversary, the devil. It is only as men, to some degree, subject themselves to the devil that they can be snared by his doctrinal perversions.

Determinism

This view of God's Sovereignty has been very prominent in the religious world. It perceives God as working His will independently of means, and apart from human involvement. Radical views present salvation as the result of Divine fiat. God simply causes people to be saved without their volition entering into the process. Willingness is thus seen as the result of being subdued by God's power. Divine determination is perceived as the sole cause behind His work. God IS Sovereign, and does "according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth" (Dan 4:35). That Sovereignty, however, is combined with grace, tenderness, and searching the entire world to find someone whose heart is perfect toward Him (2 Chron 16:9). He employs means, like the Word, the Gospel, the Spirit, the blood, preachers, chastening, etc. God exercises His sovereignty within the perimeter of Divine wisdom.

Miracle Mongery

Mongery involves the promotion of something undesirable. By "miracle mongery" I do not mean that supernatural workings are not to be desired. Rather, I speak of the INORDINATE desire for such workings, particularly for personal advantage, and independently of God's will, as revealed in Christ. Those enamored of such an approach consider God's sovereignty to be devoted to the alteration of unfavorable circumstance, ranging from personal illness to national and global disturbances. I realize I am on very sensitive ground here. However, it is imperative that God's sovereignty be seen as primarily relating to His will and purpose. The will of God does not center in human need. Were that the case, there would be no human need. In such a scenaroi, Abel would not have been murdered. The prophets would not have been killed. John the Baptist would not have been beheaded. James would not have been killed. Paul and Silas would not have been imprisoned . . . . etc. The alteration of temporal human circumstance is NOT the objective of God's sovereignty. No one should be offended by this, or imagine that it is a statement against deliverance, healing, or other forms of Divine intervention. Emphatically, that is NOT what I am saying. However, when personal advantage is chosen over the will of God, men enter a danger zone.

-- TOMORROW: SCRIPTURAL AFFIRMATIONS --