The Knowledge of God # 1

 The Knowledge of God # 1

God is omniscient, He knows everything; everything possible, everything actual; all events and all creatures, of the past, present and the future. He is perfectly acquainted with every detail in the life of every being in Heaven, on earth, and in hell. "He knows what is in the darkness" (Daniel 2:22). Nothing escapes His notice, nothing can be hidden from Him, nothing is forgotten by Him. Well may we say with the Psalmist, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Psalm 139:6).

God's knowledge is perfect. He never errs, never changes, never overlooks anything. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13). Yes, such is the God "with whom we have to do!"

"You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord" (Psalm 139:2-4). What a wondrous Being is the God of Scripture! Each of His glorious attributes should render Him honorable in our esteem before Him. Yet how little do we meditate upon this divine perfection! Is it because the very thought of it fills us with uneasiness?

How solemn is this fact: nothing can be concealed from God! "For I know the things that come into your mind, everyone of them" (Ezekiel 11:5). Though He is invisible to us, we are not to Him. Neither the darkness of night, the closest curtains, nor the deepest dungeon can hide any sinner from the eyes of Omniscience.

The trees of the garden were not able to conceal our first parents. No human eye beheld Cain murder his brother, but his Maker witnessed his crime. Sarah might laugh derisively in the seclusion of her tent, yet was it heard by Jehovah. Achan stole a wedge of gold and carefully hid it in the earth, but God brought it to light. David was at much pains to cover up his wickedness, but before long the all-seeing God sent one of His servants to say to him, "You are the man!" And to writer and reader is also said, "Be sure your sin will find out out!" (Numbers 32:23).

Men would strip Deity of His omniscience if they could! What a proof that "the carnal mind is enmity against God! (Romans 8:7). The wicked do as naturally hate this divine perfection, as much as theyare naturally compelled to acknowledge it. They wish there might be no Witness of their sins, no Searcher of their hearts, no Judge of their deeds. They seek to banish such a God from their thoughts! "They do not consider that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before Me!" (Hosea 7:2). How solemn is Psalm 90:8! Good reason has every Christ-rejecter for trembling before it: "You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.

But to the believer, the fact of God's omniscience is a truth fraught with much comfort.

In times of perplexity, he says with Job, "But He knows the way that I take." It may be profoundly mysterious to me, quite incomprehensible to my thoughts, but "He knows!"

In times of weariness and weakness believers assure themselves, "He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14).

In times of doubt and suspicion they appeal to this very attribute, saying, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23, 24).

In times of sad failure, when our actions have belied our hearts, when our deeds have repudiated our devotion,and the searching question comes to us, "Do you love Me?", we say, as Peter did, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You" (John 21:17).

The omniscience of God is an encouragement to prayer. There is no cause for fearing that the petitions of the righteous will not be heard, or that their sighs and tears shall escape the notice of God - since He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)

An Appeal To Reason And Faith # 2

 An Appeal To Reason And Faith # 2

In order to calm your mind in trouble, to compose your spirits under losses and crosses, remember that God acts in infinite wisdom. His plan, according to which He governs the world, and manages the affairs of every individual - is the perfection of wisdom. It will admit of no improvement. To alter it - would be to injure it. Whatever God does - He purposes to do; and whatever God purposed to do - is infinitely wise and good.

God's motives are just and gracious. God always has a reason for what He does - though He may not reveal it. Whatever He does - is prompted by His justice and grace. He is just to all - but gloriously gracious to His own people. Whatever God has purposed to do, or permit - is worthy of Himself. We often act unworthily, and repent of doing it, feeling ashamed of it; but God never does anything, or permits anything - which is unworthy of His nature and character. We may not see this now, for His work is not finished, His plan is not fully carried out; and until it is, "it is the glory of God to conceal a thing!" But He has told us for our comfort, "You do not realize now what I am doing - but later you will understand."

The least we can do is to submit; we ought to approve and acquiesce. True, many things are very painful to flesh and blood, and are very trying to faith and patience; but we have only to give God time to explain Himself - and all will be made clear and plain. Then we shall see why it was that we were: robbed of our property, bereaved of our children, separated from our friends, deprived of our health, and persecuted by the world. "The day shall reveal it!" And we shall see what we now profess to believe, that God is too wise to err - and too good to be unkind.!

Oh, Christian, you should prefer God's wisdom, way, and work - to your own! Whatever He does - He does well! In all He does - He keeps your good and His own glory in view! And, therefore, when you are displeased with any of His dispensations, He asks you, "Should it be according to your mind?"

Unconverted sinner, God has devised and revealed a way of salvation, in which He can save you, and if you submit, He will save you - but only in His own way, which is entirely of free grace. Your own works count for nothing, neither your prayers, nor tears, nor efforts - will count at all in the matter; it is all of grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Against this, your proud heart will rise; to it, you will perhaps raise many objections - but if you do, God's question to you is, "Should it be according to your mind!" Whose will is to be consulted - the will of the Saviour - or of those who need to be saved by Him?

He has devised a way in infinite wisdom, He has determined to save in that way, though it cost Him the life of His only begotten Son, and He is willing and able to save unto the uttermost, all who come unto God by Him. Are you anxious to be saved by Him? to be delivered from the wrath to come, to be entitled to and prepared for heaven? If so, God is willing to save you, and to you He says at this moment, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - and you shall be saved!" "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him!"

"Should I do just as you imagine - ought I to consult your whims? Should it be according to your mind?" (Job 34:33).

~James Smith~

(The End)

An Appeal to Reason and Faith # 1

 An Appeal to Reason and Faith # 1

By Elihu, God asks Job: "Should I do just as you imagine - ought I to consult your whims? Should it be according to your mind?" (Job 34:33).

Poor Job found his trial too great for his patience, and he complained, he fretted himself, he reflected badly on God's dealings with him, and stumbled at the dispensations of Divine Providence. How often, how very often - do we do the same! We complain - when we ought to be grateful; we fret - when we ought to praise. We reflect badly on God's ways - when we ought to condemn ourselves; and we stumble at divine providences - when we ought to be resting on the promises.

Complain! What can a sinner have to complain of - who is out of fhell? Fret! What can a believer have to fret about - whose heaven is secure? Reflect badly on God's dealings! What, when all His ways are mercy and truth - to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies? Stumble at divine providences! What should stumble us, who are assured that all things shall work together for our good?

With such conduct God may well be displeased! For such conduct God may well chastise us. But He condescends to reason with us. He appeals to our sense of right. He makes us reprove and correct ourselves. He asks US: "Should I do just as you imagine - ought I to consult your whims? Should it be according to your mind?

To what does this apply? To God's dealings with us as individuals. Should the Most High God consult us - before He gives, or takes, works, or suspends His operations? Are we to be consulted as to the way in which He will lead us home, or the means by which He will prepare us for the joys which are at His right hand? If the Lord promises to do us good by all things - is He to consult us as to how He shall work, or by whom, or by what He shall accomplish His purposes?

It will apply, also, to God's dealings with others. It may be our friends, or our foes; our relatives or strangers; the Church, or the world. God has taken the management of His world, and every individual in it; of the Church, and every believer that composes it - into His own hand! He says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. I will work, and who shall hinder Me?" Yes, who has a right to question Him, or to find fault with Him? Do you claim such a right? From whence did you derive it? How do you vindicate it? Things may be done that baffle your reason, perplex your mind, confound your judgment, and grieve your heart - but may they not be right for all that? May they not be the wisest and the best? "Should it be according to your mind?"

But, why do you think thus?

Are you wiser than God? His wisdom is infinite. Is it possible that you can imagine yourself capable of devising a wiser plan, or of executing God's plan in a more judicious manner? But if not, "Should it be according to your mind?"

Are you kinder than God? His loving-kindness to man is declared in His Word, proved by His works, and is gloriously displayed in our salvation by His Son. His loving-kindness is great beyond conception, and tender beyond description. Kinder than God! You - kinder than God? But if not, "Should it be according to your mind?"

Are you holier than God? He is holy in His nature, and holy in His works. He does nothing but what is strictly just, perfectly right, and calculated to produce the greatest good. If you are not more holy, more just, more righteous than God, "Should it be according to your mind?"

Are you better informed than God? Do you know more of the nature, dispositions, and tendencies of His creatures than He does? Can you see the end from the beginning, and the working of all things to bring about the end, fixed by His wisdom and grace - better than He does? He knows the whole and every part, the present and the future, which you do not! Your mind is dark, confused, selfish, unsettled, and often undecided! "Should it be according to your mind?"

~James Smith~

Man's Treatment of God's People # 2

Man's Treatment of God's People # 2

Consequently, that there is salvation in none other - but Jesus; by nothing - beside the perfect work of Jesus. MAN, therefore, must be pardoned as a criminal, for another's sake; must be justified as ungodly, through another's righteousness; must be sanctified as a sinner, through another's agency; must, in a word, be saved as a pauper, wholly and altogether of grace!

Such doctrines, laying as they do, man in the dust, and exalting the Lord alone, were highly offensive to the proud and haughty heart of man, and greatly excited his animosity and disdain. It became necessary, therefore, to suffer for them - or to dilute and accommodate them to the prejudices of the carnal mind. For a time, the former course was pursued, and the preachers and professors were driven out from human society, wandering about in sheep skins, and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; or were cruelly put to death.

But while the Nazarenes suffered, their doctrines spread and prospered; and multitudes became obedient unto the faith. But at length professors began to compromise with the world, to mix the water of human ceremonies - with the wine of gospel ordinances; to mingle the doctrines of the heathen - with the doctrines of Christ; and the result was, the sword of the Spirit lost its edge, and the world gave up its opposition to what was now become another gospel; and the sect that had been spoken against everywhere, with the exception of a few, was swallowed up in a worldly church. The crown was lost, the honor was forfeited, and punishment and rejection followed.

But there were always some who had not defiled their garments, who would not mingle among the heathen, or conform to their ways. Some who cleaved to Jesus, held fast His doctrine, and sought to do Him honor. These were the objects of hatred, not to the heathen only - but to the worldly church, and these have been called to suffer for the truth, more or less.

There are still some, who, like the ancient sect of the Nazarenes, are spoken against everywhere. They will not swim with the stream. They will not compromise their Master's honor, give up their Master's truth, or change their Master's ordinances. According to the light they have - they walk; and they rejoice to exalt the Saviour, humble  the sinner, and proclaim salvation, all of grace. Spoken against they are - they will be; but while they maintain an honest conscience, enjoy the peace of God, and experience the comforts of the Holy Spirit; they can rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer shame for His dear name.

Reader, do YOU belong to this sect? Is there anything in your religion that is distasteful to the world, anything that draws forth its opposition, or excites its contempt? The carnal mind is still enmity against God, and if we are godlike, that enmity will manifest itself against us! If we believe Christ's gospel as it is to be found in His word; if we copy Christ's example, as set before us in the gospel; if we testify against the world, that the works of it are evil, and call upon it to repent, as Christ did, we shall soon be hated by the world! We shall be ranked with those who would turn the world upside down. We shall be called enthusiasts, or hypocrites, or saints, or by some name intended to express contempt.

But if we be reproached for the sake of Christ, happy are we; for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us; on their part he is evil spoken of - but on our part He is glorified. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted!" (2 Timothy 3:12). If, therefore, our religion is palatable to the world, if it awakens no unpleasant remarks, if it calls forth no opposition, if it occasions us no loss in our reputation, or property, or social standing - there is some reason to suspect whether it be genuine and apostolic! One thing is clear, account for it how we may, we do not belong to that sect that is spoken against everywhere.

~James Smith~

(The End)