Friday, October 22, 2010

"Anticipated Lives" Part 3

Finally, we consider God's perfect foreknowledge of our lives concerning the difficulties, heartaches, and heartbreaks He allows and/or determines.

Nothing happens in the universe that is not either the determinate or permissive will of our Lord. "He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). Of course, this does not mean that God is responsible for sin and evil. No blacker darkness of heart and mind exists than to suggest that He causes sin in any manner.

"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:13).
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man" (James 1:13).

In this context, those painful and difficult things that happen to us as the result of others' sins were not directly determined by God. They were allowed, however, and He perfectly fits them into His purpose in our lives. Furthermore, our Lord Himself leads us down certain paths of hardship for a variety of purposes, according to His loving wisdom. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29). We must therefore accept the truth that our Lord is always in some manner involved in the challenges of life. And, in terms of our present consideration, He always knows ahead of time the trouble that's coming.

Born again believers in the Lord Jesus have entrusted both time and eternity to One who perfectly anticipates the "trouble that's coming." Our Lord is therefore prepared to be whatever we will ever need Him to be in every challenge we will ever face. As the Psalmist declared, God is "a very present help in trouble" because He is present in the trouble by the time we get to it. No dilemma is beyond His wisdom. No lack is beyond His supply. No loss is beyond His redemption. And no heartache or even heartache is beyond His comfort. Certainly He works according to His wisdom rather than our own, and we must accept His provisions in whatever manner and timing He sees fit. Nevertheless, we can trust that the Heavenly Father who knows our past, present, and future as if they were but one moment is ready to be whatever we will need Him to be.

Recently I found myself pondering a particular difficulty we faced. I was tempted to worry, but then the truth we presently consider presented itself to my mind. From eternity past, God had seen and foreseen the challenge I considered, and He has promised to be the supply to every need. Great peace filled my heart, and of course, the faithfulness of our Lord proved more than adequate to meet and overcome the challenge. Perfect foreknowledge, perfect wisdom, perfect ability, and perfect willingness unite in the heart of the Lord Jesus, enabling Him to always be ready to fulfill the assurance declared by the Apostle Paul...

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
(Ephesians 3:20-21)

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