I remember many years ago when I was first wrestling with the idea of God, I said to God, “Okay God. I give you until such and such a time. If you don’t do anything by then, I will make a move myself.” The time limit passed. As far as I could see in my flesh God had done nothing. So I made my move and really messed things up.
This was the beginning of my apprehension of the fact that God moves in our lives beyond the range of our human detections. I learned eventually when I totally surrendered to God that He Is able and will move in our behalf—in His own way. I have also learned to stop trying to anticipate how God might work things out. Like, perhaps He will do this, or that. I have come to realize that any way that I determine God might move is a way that I can rest assured that that is not the way He will deal with the situation.
God always does things His way. God’s ways are always ways that we cannot conceive of in our limited finite minds. When Satan influenced Adam and Eve to sin, He thought that He had a victory that God could not reverse because Satan knew that mankind violated God’s law and justice system. He knew that God had to condemn mankind to eternal death, just as he had done to Satan and all of the fallen angels. A sentence yet waiting to be fully carried out; but it will be carried out.
Imagine the pride of Satan when he thought that he had caused the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that He had thwarted God’s plan of establishing His Kingdom by killing His King! Satan didn’t understand the plan of God to establish His Kingdom only after reconciling a believing humanity back unto Himself.
Satan thought he had won. He thought that his planned was better than the plan of God. Satan thought that his victory was assured and he would have the entire human race accompany him in the God’s condemnation. He thought this because he did not have a clue what the plan of God was. He did not realize that not only would God establish His Kingdom in heaven and earth, but that he would redeem a remnant of humanity as His children, and as a bride for Christ His KING! He did not realize that this remnant would be united eternally as the precious ones of Christ, while he, Satan had to endure eternal separation from God: eternal death.
Imagine the horror on Satan’s face when Jesus arose from the grave on the third day. It all hit him like a ton of bricks when He realized that not only did God put on humanity through the incarnation of Christ—which totally took Him by surprise. Who could have imagined that God would have condescended from His great glory to wear human flesh?
When Satan came to realize that God was going to place the righteousness of His own Son in ever believer, and that He would add the name of every believer to the flawless and righteous account of His Son, as if it were their own account, He knew that God had snatched his ill conceived victory from his filthy hands.
We don’t always know what God is doing. If we did we would probably get in the way. God will always reveal to the righteous what He is doing at the appropriate time: at a time of His choosing. In the mean time we must just totally surrender to God, knowing that He knows what He is doing even though we don’t. As long as we know and trust that God is doing His thing, we can rest and live in the peace and joy of the Lord as we continue to walk with Him and watch how He works things out when he reveals his results to us.
I have learned through much stress and anxiety that God has got my back. So as I examine each day now, I remind myself that “I am where God wants me to be today: at this vey moment I am where I am supposed to be.” I don’t have to understand why. I just thank God that He is in charge. I am honored to be used of God however He sees fit. That is how much I trust Him. At this point in my life, I accept where I am, and am glad that God allows me to be an instrument of His hand.
Today He may use me to draw a picture of life for someone. Tomorrow he may have me write a song of life for someone. The day after that he may have me to just hold someone’s hand. What ever it is He desires for me to do, I shall do it without question. That is how much I have come to know and trust Him.
I seek not to be great in the eyes of men, based upon the ways that men determine greatness. But I do seek to be great in the eyes of God. Greatness in the eyes of God requires, trust, love and faith in Jesus the Christ, as well as applying obedience to the Word of God. Greatness in the eyes of God is the calling of every believer! It is a greatness that the world cannot understand.
Are you great in the eyes of God? Love Him! Trust Him! Obey Him. Walk with Him! Let His peace and rest abound within your soul.
Alan A. Charity Th.D.
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