Jesus Christ, the Son; who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (the sovereign, pre-eminent originator) of every creature (honored above all else): For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (are held together in His hands) Colossians 1:15-17
In our finite human minds, it is hard to conceive the full providence of God’s will; to grasp the truth of His Sovereignty. We may look at the corridors of history and wonder how could it have existed with so much evil and tyranny. We see nations that rise and fall with great armies. Suffering exists all around us. Division and strife exists within every aspect of our world. We shutter at the very thought of the news which blares into our spirit with such sounds of fear, anguish, despair, and turmoil.
Yet, all things were created by Jesus Christ and for Him. The angels were created by Him as was the earth, the heavens. His providential hand has been the hand which has held it all together from the very beginning and will until the end of this era and into eternity.
Jonathan Edwards so beautifully wrote:
Christ has in all things the pre-eminence. For he is the great Redeemer; and therefore the work of redemption being the sum of God’s works of providence, shows the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, as being above all, and through all, and in all. …All other kingdoms fall, but his kingdom is the last, and never gives place to any other.
We see, that whatever changes there are, and however highly Christ’s enemies exalt themselves, yet he reigns in uncontrolled power and immense glory: in the end, his people are all perfectly saved and made happy, and all his enemies become his footstool. And thus God gives the world to his Son for his inheritance.
The consideration of what has been said, may greatly serve to show us the consistency, order, and beauty, of God’s works of providence. If we behold events in any other view, all will look like confusion, like the tossing of waves; things will look as though one confused revolution came to pass after another, merely by blind chance, without any regular or certain end. But if we consider the events of providence in the light in which they have been set before us, and in which the Scriptures set them before us, they appear an orderly series of events, all wisely directed in excellent harmony and consistence, tending all to one end. The wheels of providence are not turned round by blind chance, but are full of eyes round about, (as Ezekiel represents them,) and are guided by the Spirit of God: where the Spirit goes, they go. All God’s works of providence, through all ages, meet at last, as so many lines meeting in one centre. ((Improvement of the Whole, Part X) from the Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol 1
So, some would foolishly ask; “Then, did God create evil.” A thousand times no. God is perfect righteousness, perfect light. But just as darkness is the absence of light; so, evil is the absence of God. How can I as a God’s creature even know joy, love, or see the magnificence of God’s Glorious Grace; were I not to know the absence of such? Adam and Eve walked in the garden of Eden with God which by all scripture we know to have been the visible image of God (Jesus Christ). As an act of God’s Grace to allow them to demonstrate their pleasure in Him, to fully experience love toward Him and to know the joy of that love; He gave them one command. Not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Without that knowledge, they could live forever in His presence as they were innocent to the knowledge of a world without Him. Yet, as we know; without that knowledge, they really did not appreciate what they had, nor did they realize the fullness of joy that was theirs. If they had, they could not have sinned.
Before the earth was created and before Adam sinned; the plan for redemption by and through the suffering, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ already existed. Before the world was born, God saw me, loved me and chose to endure all the ages that I might be saved. Sin, evil and the blatant rejection of His plan of salvation by so many causes great sorrow to God. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. All through the ages, God has patiently pleaded with the people of earth to turn to Him and chose His righteousness. He holds together the world; that, one more might find their joy, their fulfillment and their life in Him.
It begins by accepting by faith that God IS and that He has provided the only means of salvation through His Son.
[tweetthis]God IS Father, Son and Holy Spirit-Three in one (Body Soul and Spirit)[/tweetthis]
God IS Sovereign and all this will one day lead to the Sovereign Reign of Jesus Christ over His Eternal Kingdom
The questions are:
[tweetthis]Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life?[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”In God we have our greatest treasure and nothing else on this earth matters as much as He.” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Do you trust God with all of your life; no matter what comes?[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]Are you willing to lay down everything else to follow Him?[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”Do you accept everything in your life as part of God’s plan for Your Good?” username=”effiedarlene”]
I would love to here about your journey; please scroll down to comment below
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
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. 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.