One of the constant themes which resonates throughout the scriptures is the continued provision which the LORD is pleased to make for HIS children. We see this first manifested (in type) as HE put Adam into the idyllic setting of the Garden which HE planted in Eden. Even after Adam’s transgression against HIS precept, the LORD clothed him and Eve with coats of skins. HE was under no obligation to do so, and could (probably should, as men would judge) have left the both of them to fend for themselves and perish in their rebellion. Yet great is HIS mercy towards the sons of men in general and most specifically to those whom HE has loved from the beginning.
David speaks of this TRUTH, saying, “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” (Psa 86:12-13) Now it is indeed true that David writes of his own experience, yet his tongue is that a of a ready writer who speaks of the blessings which are appointed to fall upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by imputation to be applied to all who are found hidden in the bosom of CHRIST. “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.” (Psa 45:1-2) Every blessing which accrues to the elect is theirs because of the FATHER’s approval of HIS SON’s righteousness, and they are seen in HIM as worthy of such blessing. Left to themselves they would surely perish along with those vessels of wrath fitted for destruction.
This is the very epitome of grace and our mind hearkens to Zechariah’s description of the Kingdom of GOD and our ZERUBBABEL who is its ARCHITECT and BUILDER. “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.” (Zech 4:6-9)
Religious men are convinced that they can go about earning GOD’s favor and blessing by the activities of their mind and body. They believe that their obedience to HIS precepts and their devotion therein will cause the blessing of GOD to come upon them. Thus, they spend much time seeking to stir men up to various levels of zeal and commitment in supposedly serving GOD. They are blissfully unaware that the blessing of GOD is that which brings about true zeal and commitment rather than vice versa. Paul declares this quite plainly saying, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Php 2:12-13) “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Rom 9:16) This has been true from the beginning, “The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.” (1Ki 8:57-58)
The sweet consolation of the sons of GOD is that HE will never leave them to their own devices, except that HE might instruct them, even as HE did with Job and Peter, via Satan’s sifting. Yet it is unceasing mercy towards the sons of GOD that prompts HIS faithful chastening. “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb 13:5-6) “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” (Psa 141:5) “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; (i.e., as it might seem to those being exercised to discern good and evil) but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” (Isa 54:7-10)
It cannot be overemphasized that all of the promises, which the sons of GOD enjoy the fruits of, were first given to CHRIST, and they enjoy those fruits because they are chosen in HIM. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Gal 3:16) “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:29) “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” (Eph 5:30)
These promises are continual and cannot be overturned or abandoned because CHRIST is the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2Cor 1:20-22) “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb 6:17-20)
It has pleased HIM to send messengers into the earth to proclaim the glory of HIS grace, revealed in JESUS CHRIST, unto the vast regions of the world. For HE has a people of every kindred, tribe, and tongue scattered throughout the Earth, and HE will call them all according the purpose of HIS grace. It is HE who blesses both the MESSAGE and the messengers. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isa 52:7) “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)
Jonah learned, the hard way, that when a man is sent with this message, he will deliver it and all the powers in Earth or hell (even the free will of men) cannot prevent it nor diminish the purpose of HIM who sends it to accomplish that which HE determines.
We see this clearly demonstrated in the early days of the New Testament church as Peter and other of the apostles declared this message in an unstoppable fashion. When they were warned to be silent, they preached still. When they were imprisoned, they were set free in order that they may proclaim this GOOD NEWS. When they were threatened with death, they “ceased not” to magnify the NAME of CHRIST according to the purpose of GOD. This was not done in their power, but rather in that of HIM that sent them. Peter declared this purpose on the day of Pentecost, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39) This is a work which shall be carried out until the end of the age. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev 22:16-17) Do you hear HIS voice?
mam