Tuesday, July 17, 2018

“Ways Past Finding Out”

(Thanks to my friend Tom W. for inspiration on this own)

"Ways Past Finding Out"

    God is so intimately involved in His creation that "He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).  This involves the physical universe, which operates according to laws and processes established by its Creator.  Our Lord's working also includes two races of conscious beings - angels and humans - possessed of freedom to operate in accordance with the will of God, or not.  This involves far more mystery due to our finite understanding, and requires a greater measure of Biblically inspired and assured faith.

    "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

    How does our Heavenly Father coordinate and fulfill His "eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" amid the trillions of angelic and human choices that respond both well and poorly to Him? (Ephesians 3:11).  Many attribute the answer to fatalism.  "Que sera, sera" they suggest, "what will be, will be."  Such a notion does not align with Scripture, of course, and denotes a weak and low view of a God who must directly determine all things in order to ensure the fulfillment of His ultimate intention in Christ.  The Bible rather reveals a real freedom, with real consequences, exercised by angels and humans who can either respond faithfully or unfaithfully to their Maker.  The latter response leads to disaster in God's creation, while the former results in glory to God and benefit to both races of creatures.  Scripture declares that the Lord works His purposes along both volitional tracks that conflict in countless ways, but which nevertheless provide a unified path that inevitably leads to the fulfillment of God's ultimate purpose.  This view of the Lord leads to awed and amazed wonder, and the worship that led the Apostle Paul to pen one of the great doxologies of Scripture:

    "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  Or who hath been His counselor?  Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?  For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).

    How does the Lord do what He does?  We can know a little of the answer, as provided by the Bible.  We can know more, as we walk with the Lord in the light of His Person and Word.  We cannot, however, know all.  Nor can we ever learn more than the most modest portion of Truth regarding the "unsearchable judgments" and "ways past finding out."  A real God made a real universe and real beings possessed of the consciousness to respond or rebel.  Real consequences resulted, and continue to bless and batter the Lord's creation.  He works nevertheless, incessantly coordinating all things according to an ultimate purpose that will be fulfilled despite the countless moments when fallen beings disregard His will.  A weaker, less wise God could never do this, nor would He be worthy of Paul's doxology.  Or of our own, which should result whenever we remember and perceive the Hand that so deftly works to reveal the glory of the Lord Jesus as the Redeemer of both hearts and His creation.  This moment provides such opportunity, and let us join the prophet and the Psalmist in awe and wonder…

"Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11).
"Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered!"
 (Psalm 40:5)

Weekly Memory Verse
    "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16).
   

No comments: