If you were to ask the average person (who claims to believe in the true and living GOD who is manifested in the Bible) to describe HIM in one word, I would venture to say that the majority of them would respond with the word “love”. Now to be sure the Bible does indeed say that “GOD is love”. We would in no wise seek to deny that fact nor do we have any desire to diminish the import of it. Yet the fact that GOD is love, that HE is full of mercy unto all who call upon HIM, or that HE is the glorious SAVIOR of sinners, could not in fact be of any value at all apart from the revelation that the true and living GOD is primarily and foundationally ABSOLUTE.
There is no equivocation in the Bible as to the SUPREME and IMMUTABLE nature of that ONE whose will shall be done in Earth as it is in the heavens. GOD’s purpose and will cannot in anywise be overturned, altered, nor even questioned by any of HIS creation. HE is in direct control of all things which come to pass and there is no power in heaven, earth, or hell which has not arisen as a result of HIS own power, and none which can continue, increase, or diminish apart from HIS decreed purpose for their existence. The LORD testified of HIMSELF saying “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isa 45:6-7)
The prevalent view (which has no basis in scripture) is that evil exists in the world in opposition to GOD. The concept of dual forces, one of good and one of evil, which are continually at one another’s throats is part and parcel of man’s carnal mind and reason and his ignorance of SPIRITUAL TRUTH. The scripture is quite plain in declaring that all things, even the wickedness of men, serve the very purpose of GOD in accomplishing HIS desire. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” (Psa 76:10)
The Psalmist said that the “heathen rage” and “imagine vain things” (see Psa 2:1) yet this only serves to bring honor to GOD as HE laughs at them in derision and mocks when their calamity cometh, (see Psa.2:4; Prov.1:26) for even their rebellion does but set the stage for the demonstration of HIS glory in the work of the redemption of HIS elect and HIS manifestation of CHRIST as the reigning KING before whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psa 2:6)
Modern theology (if it can be called that) presents GOD as a somewhat apologetic and tepid figure who is just trying to do what is best for HIS creation but who is constantly thwarted in those efforts by mean old men and a character known as Satan or the Devil. HE is presented as one whose hands are tied by the free will of the men (which HE created from the dust) who they say can easily prevent HIM from accomplishing HIS desire.
No man who has ever had one glimmer of LIGHT concerning the character and power of the GOD who has described HIMSELF in the pages of Holy Writ could perceive HIM as anything less than an ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGN. HE says of HIMSELF in Isaiah’s prophecy, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa 46:9-11)
I grow so weary of hearing men who claim to be preachers of the gospel of the glory of the blessed GOD, timidly speak of HIS sovereign glory and predestined purpose, as if they are fearful to intimidate men or give them the wrong impression of who the GOD of heaven and earth is. In so doing they do in fact do exactly that. A man is a fool who is not intimidated as he considers standing before the face of a HOLY GOD who will not “clear the guilty” nor at all “acquit the wicked”. (see Ex.34:7; Nah.1:3) And he is equally a fool who believes that GOD’s will and purpose can be altered by anything which the creature might perform or even propose.
Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful king which the world had ever seen at the time of his reign in Babylon. He held the power of life and death in his hands and presided over a vast kingdom which was unrivaled. Yet in the LORD’s own time and according to HIS predestined purpose HE caused Nebuchadnezzar to dwell in the field and eat grass like an ox, until “seven times” had passed (likely seven years). At the end of this time, which the LORD ordained to demonstrate to Nebuchadnezzar his own frailty, HE caused Nebuchadnezzar’s reason to return unto him and to declare HIS absolute glory, in the clearest of declarations, “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Dan 4:34-35)
It is amazing that the LORD was pleased to set forth this most glorious description of HIS absolute SOVEREIGNTY by the lips of the very king which HE ordained to destroy the temple and bring the nation of Israel into captivity. HIS hand is not shortened to save by many or by few and HE will accomplish HIS purpose in the earth in the exact order which HE designs as well as by the hands which HE is pleased to ordain whether they be the hand of the wicked or the feet of the RIGHTEOUS. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isa 53:10-11) “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom 10:15)
The preaching of the gospel is not primarily for the purpose of “saving souls” as is so widely taught in the current day. Rather the primary purpose of the declaration of that message which the LORD has been pleased to send into the Earth is to bring glory to HIS NAME as the “MOST HIGH GOD”. The fashion in which HE would make that glory known is by sending JESUS CHRIST into the world, born of a woman and made in the likeness of sinful flesh. This is first declared in the New Testament (though prophesied in the Old) when the angel appeared to Joseph and told him of the birth of this ONE. He declared HIS NAME which heretofore was not fully known. “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Mat 1:20-21) The NAME JESUS literally means “JEHOVAH is SALVATION”. This is that name before which all shall bow and give homage. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Php 2:9-11)
mam