Who can figure out this mystery?

When confronted by “why God saves some and not others” often the answer given is that God saves those He knows will say yes to Him. In other words, people are saved by their receptivity. This cannot be true because: 

It is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10–18)

The Bible is clear: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) Those who say “I am saved because I accepted Christ” also forget that Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide. . . .” (John 15:16)

The human desire to rule our own lives pops up even here. So we can boast? Rather than trust this God who is sovereign and does what pleases Him, even many times that have no logical reasons?

Charnock outlines how often the sovereignty of God means He does what He pleases and we have no clue why. Here are some examples from His Word and from history:

He sometimes conquers thousands, sometimes with a few laborers. Other times the harvest is small with many laborers. Evangelists may reach hundreds, or labor long and catch nothing. In Corinth, the gospel triumphed over many people, yet in Athens it is mocked, and gathers but a few. 

Miracles were not allowed or God uses them in unexpected ways. Sinners rise out of their graves of sin and beds of sluggishness at the first hearing of this good news while others lie snoring longer. We share, but are frustrated by the outcomes we expect and sometimes shocked by outcomes we thought impossible. 

Sometimes hearers leap at the appearance of Christ, but others lie upon a lazy bed when He knocks from heaven. Sometimes the fleece is dry, and sometimes wet. God can shine light into dark hearts, yet hearts remain dark with light shining all around them. 

Sometimes the strongest arguments and clearest promises cannot prevail over black and despairing resistance, then an unexpected word that seems to have no virtue in it itself opens that heart to Christ. Sometimes a spontaneous word not thought of before gives light where all other efforts were empty. 

A thought comes into my mind like a sunbeam, making a Scripture truth visible in a moment, yet before I never noticed or gave consideration. This, called rhema, is from God’s pleasure. For me, the mystery is why He has persisted for more than fifty years when I am so stubborn to obey?

As for gifts, why are they given? Why am I strong in some and not in others? Because, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11) 

It is the same for His wisdom concerning the gospel. Why was it given to the poor Galileans and not the Pharisees? He granted some “to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and not others (Matthew 13:11). Again, this is a mystery, one not revealed except that God does as He wishes and His acts of sovereignty please Him.

PRAY: Lord God, You have shown me enough of Yourself that I can trust You with what You keep hidden. My sinful, human and fleshy nature is disappointed because I want to know, solve the puzzle, discover the bottom line, be in on this secret. Yet my proud heart is humbled and even glad that You are God and I am not. Worship happens and that is one more mystery — that a proud and self-serving sinner is enabled to bow in surrender to a God that I cannot always understand what You are doing or why. I will be still and know that You are God, and that You will be exalted among the nations, and exalted in the earth. You, the Lord of hosts, are with me and You are my fortress. (Psalm 46:10–11) Amen!

Spiritual battles illustrated . . .

Exodus 8; Job 25–26; Luke 11; 1 Corinthians 12

In reading Exodus, I visualize the battle between Moses and Pharaoh as like the battle between a praying Christian and the dark forces of evil. When I pray, I am not trying to persuade God but battling the lies and efforts of a spiritual enemy who holds many of the people in bondage.

There are other images in this Exodus story too. For instance, Moses calls plagues that represent the gods of the Egyptians. In the reading today, the land is overcome with frogs to the point that Pharaoh asks Moses for help. In this, I see how this particular idol worship starts out with the Egyptians in control of what they are worshiping, but after Moses makes the waters fill up with frogs that overflow on the land, the people no longer control what is happening.

Sin is like that. It might start with a few glances at pornography, or a couple of visits to a casino, or a simple lunch with an appealing co-worker. However, if any small twinges of guilt are ignored, sin (whatever it might be) can easily snowball and take over, out of control. At that point, there are only two options. The first is to call out to God for release from sin’s bondage — like Pharaoh first did when the frogs got the best of him. However this man changed his mind once the frogs were gone and did not stay on that path. He took the second choice:

But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. (Exodus 8:15)

Each time the man of God prayed and the pagan’s god was dealt with, the pagan was glad for relief from the overwhelming control of his sinful idol, but instead of turning to the true God, he hardened his heart.

The battle also is illustrated in the story of Job. This man of faith relies on God for his righteousness and on the Holy Spirit to show him God’s will and any sin that he may have committed. His problem is God’s silence. His friends should have kept silent too, but they became the devil’s advocates by accusing Job of sin that he did not do. This is a tactic the devil takes against all of God’s people. It is bad enough that we fight win we do commit without have vague ideas of guilt thrown at us.

I can related to Job’s comments of defense when one of his ‘friends’ speaks as if he knows what God is doing to Job. After speaking of God’s power, Job adds:

“Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14)

With the enemy breathing down my neck to thwart my relationship with Almighty God, I sometimes feel like quitting. However, Jesus urges me to keep at it. He talks about prayer with perseverance, like going to a neighbor for bread at midnight so I can feed a guest. He also promises that God will provide the help needed.

“I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:8–13)

For the war against sin, either my own or sin that others battle, God invites me to pray. He also offers the help of the Holy Spirit who gifts me with want is needed and the Body of Christ who are also fighting alongside me with their God-given gifts. I am not alone.

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:24–26)

Apply: Keep praying; the enemy was defeated at the Cross. Know the difference between the Holy Spirit’s clear conviction and Satan’s vague accusations. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Share my struggles with other warriors; we are in this together and need one another. Amen!