D – GEMS FROM PSALMS – 4
Ps.31:15 The Lord upholds
all things in His hands. Heb.1:3
Is it any wonder that our times are in His hands. Often this verse is considered as the
singular of time as when the Lord will take us.
It is plural. All events of life
are in God’s hands. God created all
things and He then sustains all things. Rev.4:11; Acts 17:26 So not only times are set but places as
well. It was all in hopes that men would
seek and find the Lord. Acts 17:27
Our very existence is in His hands.
Acts 17:28 We
live and move and have our being in His hands.
Even though our lives are in His
hands, He did give us free will. We make
a choice with our own will but it is secondary to God’s will. God can work through our choices. He can take a poor choice and make it into
something good for His purpose and to His glory. One example is the life of Joseph. His attitude of pride caused his brothers to
make a bad choice in attempting to get rid of him. Gen.50:20 Not only did these choices work out for
the good of individuals and family. It
led to the good of a nation.
Job had spoken to God out of turn
when God began asking him question after question in the 38th
through the 41st chapters of Job.
Of course Job has to give up as he has no answers for God except in Job 42:2.
Job admits that God can do all things and no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Nebuchadnezzar
came to the same conclusion as he was brought back as a normal human
being. Dan.4:35 He does according to His will and no one can ward off His hand.
Christ suffered agony and finally
death on the cross. God had
predetermined this plan and had the foreknowledge that it would take place even
though it was performed by the wickedness of the Jews and Roman soldiers. Acts
2:23; Acts 4:27,28 This was the
only way that man could be redeemed.
Christ knew this was God’s will as He prayed in the garden. Lk.22:42 It fulfilled the purpose that God had
for mankind. Our times are in His hands as we are able to accept Jesus as our Savior
and serve Him. This was the purpose of
Christ. Lk.19:10
God has His purpose and will see
that it is carried out. Isa.46:10,11 God is not happy with disobedience and
He acts accordingly. Jer.23:20
If we love Him with obedience (1
Jhn.2:5), then He will cause things to
work together for good. Rom.8:28
As we think about our times in
His hands, we are shown the great love that He shows toward us that He may be
glorified. Rom.11:33-36 From Him and through Him and to Him are all
things. This love is beyond our
comprehension. Rom.8:38,39
Because God has given us
free-will, He may permit us to do things that send us in the wrong
direction. He does not cause it to
happen. Adam and Eve had such perfect
conditions. All was in place for a
joyous walk with God. They had just one
stipulation—don’t eat of this one tree.
They were given free will. Either
they could obey or they could eat—and they ate.
Consequences followed. Their
disobedience separated them from God.
Our sin also separates us from God.
Isa.59:2 God does not cause us to sin. A change can be to God’s glory. Our weakness becomes His strength. 2
Cor.12:9
God can prevent or permit. He permitted nations to go to their own
destruction. Acts 14:16 We do not want
to go about life in our own decisions but if
the Lord wills. Jam.4:15 God can direct us
through His Word and our prayers for He is all-knowing and ever present with
us. Prov.3:5
We will all suffer troubles,
pain, and death with either our loved ones or ourselves. We cannot blame God for these. He set in order natural law as well as
free-will. Many of these tragedies
happen because of sin ( not living within God’s law), but also because of carelessness, ignorance, etc. God has his choice and power to permit or
prevent. Many of these tragedies can be
turned into a blessing for us or for others.
Whatever happens, a Christian must trust God and serve Him with faith
that is put into action. Jam.2:17
God does not wish for any of us
to perish. 2 Pet.3:9 God not only
loves us but sees us in a very special way.
Matt.10:29-31 Not only is pain removed in death but
Isaiah tell us that the righteous are taken away from evil. Isa.
57:1,2 Even our death is precious
in the sight of the Lord. Ps.116:15 We can take confidence in death. 2
Cor.4:16-18
As the events in our lives carry
on with joy and success or with problems, pain, and/or death, God is with us
and knows. We cannot loose our faith in
discouragement and despondency but fight
the good fight of faith so that we may lay
hold of eternal life as Paul so
aptly stated in 1 Tim.6:12. Our hope in eternal life through Jesus
Christ, our Lord, ties us down to reality.
Heb.6:19 Our hope is that anchor of the
soul.
As we realize that our times are
in God’s hands, may not only our life now be lived in the Lord, but may we
prepare that when the time comes, our death will be in the Lord. Rev.14:13
So the final admonishment is in Rev.2:10.
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