God will accomplish all that He has planned as we see throughout the corridors of time; both in the world as well as in the individual lives of you or me. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6). So, what really is the good pleasure of God’s Will? To pour forth His love, Joy, and Glory upon a people who understand the depth of His love.
That is so clearly outlined in John Chapter 17 as Jesus Christ prayed to the Father on the road to Gethsemane. He clearly outlined the purpose for which we were created. That is outlined in detail within one section of my book, Abiding Steadfast Joy. Therefore, the good pleasure of God’s Will is to pour forth His love, share his abounding love, and to bestow a part of His Glory upon them. For a people or creature to fully understand, revel, and experience the full magnitude of His Glory, His Love, His Grace and His Joy-it was necessary that they be given choice. Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God who is perfect righteousness. Can someone find joy in light if they never knew of darkness? Or can they long for or desire God if they never knew of life without Him?
In a World Filled with Darkness
Elijah and his successor Elisha lived in very dark times; because of mankind’s desire to seek out a self-made, self-exalting religion that fed their own ego. Instead of worshipping the one true God, creator of the universe they developed “sound good” religions to feed their own vanity. Much like the world we live in today in which there is an invading darkness of mind and spirit which shuns the one true light. Jezebel reigned as Queen alongside Ahab. As Queen she brought in the Satanic worship of Baal wrapped in a pretty package promising power and prosperity to all. Thus, designed to thwart God’s plan. God had already promised Abraham and later David that the Savior, the Messiah would be born from their seed. All would be doomed if that plan could be destroyed.
Jezebel and her daughter Athaliah plotted to do just that! Did they fully realize that they were being used by Satan? One does not know; however, they worshipped Baal and set forth to destroy any worship of God. Determined to even destroy the seed of David through their treacherous invasion into the family of Israel and Judah. Promising prosperity and power they lured their husbands to abandon God. They charmed a nation into idolatrous abandonment of true faith in God to follow ideologies that stroked the egos of men and women. Promising a self-gratifying morality, they led the people to abandon truth. In the name of goodness, evil abounded. Furthermore, in the name of morality, hypocrisy ruled. Sounds a lot like the world we face today.
Attempts to Destroy
All appeared to be lost as it appeared that all hope of true faith in God was being fully destroyed. Elijah nearly lost heart in the battle; because, he had watched as evil continued to spread until he believed he was the only one left that worshipped God. Disheartened by all he saw and frustrated by the people’s failure to respond, he wanted to quit. Yet, God promised him that the Baal worshippers would be destroyed. God would even use an evil Syrian king to help in the matter of destroying the Baal worshippers. Elijah had fought the battle; but, would be taken up into heaven to await a future battle. He named Elisha to carry the burden for a time. Jehu was named King of Israel and chosen to destroy all the Baal worshippers in Israel as well as King Ahaziah of Judah.
King Ahaziah had followed the biddings of his mother Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel by promoting Baal worship. Upon his death, Queen Mother Athaliah sought out all the male descendants (her grandchildren) to kill them so she could continue the reign. She had controlled her son Ahaziah; however, did not have the same influence over her grandchildren. Had she succeeded, there would be no heir of David to carry on the lineage to Christ Jesus. Thus, the plan of salvation would have been destroyed and Satan would have won. Yet, one baby was carried away to safety. His name was Joash. Even in what appeared to be the darkest of times, God provided a way. The good pleasure of His will, to bring salvation to the world could not be thwarted; although it appeared nearly all had turned away from Him.
The Good Pleasure of God’s Will
The world at present may appear to be confounded. Confusion, chaos has bred anger, bitterness, pain, and despair. In the darkness, we long for light to shine forth. Our eyes search heaven and wonder why God would tarry. Has He grown silent against the spread of evil? Yet, we KNOW that is not the case! He is awaiting the fullness of time when the last child whom He saw before the foundations of time comes to know Him. That is His abounding love for each one. And to all those who choose to turn away from His voice of love, “their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste” (Deuteronomy 32:35).
The Good Pleasure of God’s Will is that all might come to know Him; yet, the sad reality is that men and women desire their own self-exaltation and gratification more than God who created them in love. Choice was necessary that they might fully experience and know Him in all His glory. I could not know of justice if my eyes never saw injustice. Would I know the sweet loving grace of God, had I never known what it was to deserve His wrath instead? I cannot fully see His Righteousness, until I can see my own unrighteousness. Then as He takes me fully into His Arms to make me His Princess because of the blood of Christ, I feel overwhelmed by His love and my heart sings forth a song of praise.
Concluding thought:
So, my question to you is this: Do You Know Him As Savior and Lord of Your Life? Or are you one whose foot with slide, destined for destruction because you chose to deny Him who loved you with a perfect love?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Previous Posts in This Series on Elisha
God Will Complete the Good Pleasure of His Will
What is the Terror and Despair of Desiring Power?
Do You Know All Things Work Together for Good?
What if Desperation Leads to Life and Joy?
Moralizers so Blinded to God’s Truth and Their Guilt
Do You Really Know God as Omnipotent, Omniscient Lord?
Does God Really Care About the Little Stuff?
How Can Someone So Close Not Know God?
Can a Missed Opportunity Leave a Nation to Fall?
One Unlikely Believer and the Grace of God
Do You Trust God in the Famine?
Is Love Really Worth the Heartbreak?
Are you Really Seeking God in All You Do?
Do You Believe God is Your Provider?
What Can One God Fearing Man Do?
What Happens When We Fail to Teach Our Children?
How to Revive Barren Lands with Living Waters
Who will Carry the Torch for God Against Evil?
What if God’s Work Leaves You Alone and Depressed?
Can You See The Army of God Surrounding You?
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash