The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“Which Is Greater?”
Concurrent, but conflicting realities presently characterize the world in which we live.
“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).
“The whole world lieth in wickedness” (I John 5:19).
Which ts greater, God’s earth filling goodness, or the wickedness of the devil, the flesh, and the presently fallen earthly realm and system? Scripture plainly answers…
“Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world” (I John 4:4).
God and the reality of His presence, involvement, and working always transcend the activities of evil. This does not discount or minimize sin and its horrific consequences in the world, and in human hearts and lives. Nor is God responsible for the wrongs of devils and people. It does mean, however, that amid all, our Heavenly Father “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (James 1:13; Ephesians 1:11). How He does this, we do not know. That He does it is certain, the greatest confirmation being the cross of Calvary.
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23).
Again, which? God or man, “determinate counsel” or “by wicked hands?” The same answer. Both. And the same measure, namely, the Lord’s working infinitely supersedes the evil of His creatures. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even more so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21). The worst evil and the greatest good concurrently happened at Calvary, the latter triumphing by the infinite measure of atonement for sin made possible through Christ’s death, and eternal life for all who believe springing forth from His resurrection (Romans 5:8-11).
The “Which is greater?” question will be with us throughout our earthly lifetime. We acknowledge the reality of evil, reprove it as Scripture commands, and seek to rectify it as opportunity allows (Ephesians 5:11; Galatians 6:1). Even more, however, we attune our hearts to the good that fills the earth, the greater good of God’s presence, involvement, and working He promises in all things. This applies to both our personal lives and our view of others and the world. Proper concern and action when possible will characterize our response to the reality of evil, along with much prayer. However, the primary current of our heart flows with the plainly stated Biblical affirmation of God’s promised goodness that fills the earth. Calvary and the empty tomb that followed ever tell us this, that the “greater is He” truth and reality must serve as that which fulfills the long ago promise of the prophet…
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”
(Isaiah 26:3)
Weekly Memory Verse
The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20:28)
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