The Sovereignty of God
By Arthur W. Pink
Introduction
Who is
regulating affairs on this earth today-God, or the Devil? That God reigns
supreme in Heaven is generally conceded; that He does so over this world, is
almost universally denied-if not directly, then indirectly. More and more are
men in their philosophizing and theorizing relegating God to the background.
Take the material realm. Not only is it denied that God created everything by
personal and direct action, but few believe that He has any immediate concern
in regulating the works of His own hands. Everything is supposed to be ordered
according to the (impersonal and abstract) "laws of Nature." Thus is
the Creator banished from His own creation. Therefore we need not be surprised
that men, in their degrading conceptions, exclude Him from the realm of human
affairs. Throughout Christendom, with an almost negligible exception, the
theory is held that man is "a free agent," and therefore, lord of his
fortunes and the determiner of his destiny. That Satan is to be blamed for much
of the evil which is in the world is freely affirmed by those who, though
having so much to say about "the responsibility of man," often deny
their own responsibility, by attributing to the Devil what, in fact, proceeds
from their own evil hearts (Mark 7:21-23).
But who is
regulating affairs on this earth today-God, or the Devil? Attempt to take a
serious and comprehensive view of the world. What a scene of confusion and
chaos confronts us on every side! Sin is rampant; lawlessness abounds; evil men
and seducers are waxing "worse and worse" (2 Tim. 3:13). Today,
everything appears to be out of joint. Thrones are creaking and tottering, ancient
dynasties are being overturned, democracies are revolting, civilization is a
demonstrated failure; half of Christendom was but recently locked-together in a
death grapple; and now that the titantic conflict is over, instead of the world
having been made "safe for democracy," we have discovered that
democracy is very unsafe for the world. Unrest, discontent, and lawlessness are
rife everywhere, and none can say how soon another great war will be set in
motion. Statesmen are perplexed and staggered. Men's hearts are "failing
them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the
earth" (Luke 21:26). Do these things look as though God had full control?
But let us
confine our attention to the religious realm. After nineteen centuries of
Gospel preaching, Christ is still "despised and rejected of men."
Worse still, He (the Christ of Scripture) is proclaimed and magnified by very
few. In the majority of modern pulpits He is dishonored and disowned. Despite
frantic efforts to attract the crowds, the majority of the churches are being
emptied rather than filled. And what of the great masses of non-church goers?
In the light of Scripture we are compelled to believe that the "many"
are on the Broad Road that leadeth to destruction, and that only
"few" are on the Narrow Way that leadeth unto life. Many are
declaring that Christianity is a failure, and despair is settling on many
faces. Not a few of the Lord's own people are bewildered, and their faith is
being severely tried. And what of God? Does He see and hear? Is He impotent or
indifferent? A number of those who are regarded as leaders of Christian-thought
told us that God could not help the coming of the late awful War, and that He
was unable to bring about its termination. It was said, and said openly, that
conditions were beyond God's control. Do these things look as though God were
ruling the world?
Who is
regulating affairs on this earth today-God, or the Devil? What impression is
made upon the minds of those men of the world who, occasionally, attend a
Gospel service? What are the conceptions formed by those who hear even those
preachers who are counted as "orthodox?" Is it not that a
disappointed God is the One whom Christians believe in? From what is heard from
the average evangelist today, is not any serious hearer obliged to conclude
that he professes to represent a God who is filled with benevolent intentions,
yet unable to carry them out; that He is earnestly desirous of blessing men,
but that they will not let Him? Then, must not the average hearer draw the
inference that the Devil has gained the upper hand, and that God is to be
pitied rather than blamed?
But does
not everything seem to show that the Devil has far more to do with the affairs
of earth than God has? Ah, it all depends upon whether we are walking by faith,
or walking by sight. Are your thoughts, my reader, concerning this world and
God's relation to it, based upon what you see? Face this question seriously and
honestly. And if you are a Christian you will, most probably, have cause to bow
your head with shame and sorrow, and to acknowledge that it is so. Alas, in
reality, we walk very little "by faith." But what does "walking
by faith" signify? It means that our thoughts are formed, our actions
regulated, our lives molded by the Holy Scriptures, for, "faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). It is from the Word
of Truth, and that alone, that we can learn what is God's relation to this
world.
Who is
regulating affairs on this earth today-God or the Devil? What saith the
Scriptures? Ere we consider the direct reply to this query, let it be said that
the Scriptures predicted just what we now see and hear. The prophecy of Jude is
in course of fulfillment. It would lead us too far astray from our present
inquiry to fully amplify this assertion, but what we have particularly in mind
is a sentence in verse 8-"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the
flesh, despise dominion and speak evil of dignities." Yes, they "speak
evil" of the Supreme Dignity, the "Only Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords." Ours is peculiarly an age of irreverence, and as the
consequence, the spirit of lawlessness, which brooks no restraint and which is
desirous of casting off everything which interferes with the free course of
self-will, is rapidly engulfing the earth like some giant tidal wave. The
members of the rising generation are the most flagrant offenders, and in the
decay and disappearing of parental authority we have the certain precursor of the
abolition of civic authority. Therefore, in view of the growing disrespect for
human law and the refusal to "render honor to whom honor is due," we
need not be surprised that the recognition of the majesty, the authority, the
Sovereignty of the Almighty law-giver should recede more and more into the
background, and the masses have less and less patience with those who insist
upon them. And conditions will not improve; instead, the more sure Word of
Prophecy makes known to us that they will grow worse and worse. Nor do we
expect to be able to stem the tide-it has already risen much too high for that.
All we can now hope to do is warn our fellow-saints against the spirit of the
age, and thus seek to counteract its baneful influence upon them.
Who is regulating
affairs on this earth today-God, or the Devil? What saith the Scriptures? If we
believe their plain and positive declarations, no room is left for uncertainty.
They affirm, again and again, that God is on the throne of the universe; that
the sceptre is in His hands; that He is directing all things "after the
counsel of His own will." They affirm, not only that God created all
things, but also that God is ruling and reigning over all the works of His
hands. They affirm that God is the "Almighty," that His will is
irreversible, that He is absolute Sovereign in every realm of all His vast
dominions. And surely it must be so. Only two alternatives are possible: God
must either rule, or be ruled; sway, or be swayed; accomplish His own will, or
be thwarted by His creatures. Accepting the fact that He is the "Most
High," the only Potentate and King of kings, vested with perfect wisdom
and illimitable power, and the conclusion is irresistible that He must be God
in fact as well as in name.
It is in
view of what we have briefly referred to above that we say, Present-day
conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God's
omnipotency, God's sufficiency, God's Sovereignty. From every pulpit in the
land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still
observes, that God still reigns. Faith is now in the crucible, it is being
tested by fire, and there is no fixed and sufficient resting-place for the
heart and mind but in the Throne of God. What is needed now, as never before,
is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhood of God. Drastic
diseases call for drastic remedies. People are weary of platitudes and mere
generalizations-the call is for something definite and specific. Soothing-syrup
may serve for peevish children, but an iron tonic is better suited for adults,
and we know of nothing which is more calculated to infuse spiritual vigor into
our frames than a scriptural apprehension of the full character of God. It is
written, "The people that do know their God shall be strong and do
exploits" (Dan. 11:32).
Without a
doubt a world-crisis is at hand, and everywhere men are alarmed. But God is
not! He is never taken by surprise. It is no unexpected emergency which now
confronts Him, for He is the One who "worketh all things after the counsel
of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). Hence, though the world is panic-stricken,
the word to the believer is, "Fear not!" "All things" are
subject to His immediate control: "all things" are moving in accord
with His eternal purpose, and therefore "all things" are
"working together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose." It must be so, for "of Him, and
through Him, and to Him are all things" (Rom. 11:36). Yet how little is
this realized today even by the people of God! Many suppose that He is little
more than a far-distant Spectator, taking no immediate hand in the affairs of
earth. It is true that man is endowed with power, but God is all-powerful. It
is true that, speaking generally, the material world is regulated by law, but
behind that law is the law-Giver and law-Administrator. Man is but the
creature. God is the Creator, and endless ages before man first saw the light
"the mighty God" (Isa. 9:6) existed, and ere the world was founded,
made His plans; and being infinite in power and man only finite, His purpose
and plan cannot be withstood or thwarted by the creatures of His own hands.
We readily
acknowledge that life is a profound problem, and that we are surrounded by
mystery on every side; but we are not like the beasts of the field-ignorant of
their origin, and unconscious of what is before them. No: "We have also a
more sure Word of Prophecy," of which it is said ye do well that ye
"take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). And it is to
this Word of Prophecy we indeed do well to "take heed," to that Word
which had not its origin in the mind of man but in the Mind of God, for,
"the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake moved by the Holy Spirit." We say again, it is to this
"Word" we do well to take heed. As we turn to this Word and are
instructed thereout, we discover a fundamental principle which must be applied
to every problem: Instead of beginning with man and his world and working back
to God, we must begin with God and work down to man-"In the beginning
God!" Apply this principle to the present situation. Begin with the world
as it is today and try and work back to God, and everything will seem to show
that God has no connection with the world at all. But begin with God and work
down to the world, and light, much light, is cast on the problem. Because God
is holy His anger burns against sin; because God is righteous His judgments
fall upon those who rebel against Him; because God is faithful the solemn
threatenings of His Word are fulfilled; because God is omnipotent none can
successfully resist Him, still less overthrow His counsel; and because God is
omniscient no problem can master Him and no difficulty baffle His wisdom. It is
just because God is who He is and what He is that we are now beholding on earth
what we do-the beginning of His outpoured judgments: in view of His inflexible
justice and immaculate holiness we could not expect anything other than what is
now spread before our eyes.
But let it
be said very emphatically that the heart can only rest upon and enjoy the
blessed truth of the absolute Sovereignty of God as faith is in exercise. Faith
is ever occupied with God. That is the character of it; that is what
differentiates it from intellectual theology. Faith endures "as seeing Him
who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27): endures the disappointments, the
hardships, and the heartaches of life by recognizing that all comes from the
hand of Him who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind. But so long as
we are occupied with any other object than God Himself there will be neither
rest for the heart nor peace for the mind. But when we receive all that enters
our lives as from His hand, then, no matter what may be our circumstances or
surroundings-whether in a hovel, a prison-dungeon, or a martyr's stake-we shall
be enabled to say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (Psa.
16:6). But that is the language of faith, not of sight or of sense.
But if
instead of bowing to the testimony of Holy Writ, if instead of walking by
faith, we follow the evidence of our eyes, and reason therefrom, we shall fall
into a quagmire of virtual atheism. Or, if we are regulated by the opinions and
views of others, peace will be at an end. Granted that there is much in this
world of sin and suffering which appalls and saddens us; granted that there is
much in the providential dealings of God which startle and stagger us; that is
no reason why we should unite with the unbelieving worldling who says, "If
I were God, I would not allow this or tolerate that," etc. Better far, in
the presence of bewildering mystery, to say with one of old, "I was dumb,
I opened not my mouth: because Thou didst it" (Psa. 39:9). Scripture tells
us that God's judgments are "unsearchable," and His ways "past
finding out" (Rom. 11:33). It must be so if faith is to be tested,
confidence in His wisdom and righteousness strengthened, and submission to His
holy will fostered.
Here is
the fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief.
The unbeliever is "of the world," judges everything by worldly
standards, views life from the standpoint of time and sense, and weighs
everything in the balances of his own carnal making. But the man of faith
brings in God, looks at everything from His standpoint, estimates values by
spiritual standards, and views life in the light of eternity. Doing this, he
receives whatever comes as from the hand of God. Doing this, his heart is calm
in the midst of the storm. Doing this, he "rejoices in hope of the glory
of God."
In these
opening paragraphs we have indicated the lines of thought followed out in this
book. Our first postulate is, that because God is God He does as He pleases,
only as He pleases, always as He pleases; that His great concern is the
accomplishment of His own pleasure and the promotion of His own glory; that He
is the Supreme Being, and therefore Sovereign of the universe. Starting with
this postulate we have contemplated the exercise of God's Sovereignty, first in
Creation, second in Governmental Administration over the works of His hands,
third in the Salvation of His own elect, fourth in the Reprobation of the
wicked, and fifth in Operation upon and within men. Next we have viewed the
Sovereignty of God as it relates to the human Will in particular and human
Responsibility in general, and have sought to show what is the only becoming
attitude for the creature to take in view of the majesty of the Creator. A
separate chapter has been set apart for a consideration of some of the
difficulties which are involved, and to answering the questions which are
likely to be raised in the minds of our readers; while one chapter has been
devoted to a more careful yet brief examination of God's Sovereignty in
relation to prayer. Finally, we have sought to show that the Sovereignty of God
is a truth revealed to us in Scripture for the comfort of our hearts, the
strengthening of our souls, and the blessing of our lives. A due apprehension
of God's Sovereignty promotes the spirit of worship, provides an incentive to
practical godliness, and inspires zeal in service. It is deeply humbling to the
human heart, but in proportion to the degree that it brings man into the dust
before his Maker, to that extent is God glorified.
We are
well aware that what we have written is in open opposition to much of the
teaching that is current both in religious literature and in the representative
pulpits of the land. We freely grant that the postulate of God's Sovereignty
with all its corollaries is at direct variance with the opinions and thoughts
of the natural man, but the truth is, we are quite unable to think upon these
matters: we are incompetent for forming a proper estimate of God's character
and ways, and it is because of this that God has given us a revelation of His
mind, and in that revelation He plainly declares, "My thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My
thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8, 9). In view of this Scripture, it
is only to be expected that much of the contents of the Bible conflicts with
the sentiments of the carnal mind, which is enmity against God. Our appeal then
is not to the popular beliefs of the day, nor to the creeds of the churches,
but to the Law and Testimony of Jehovah. All that we ask for is an impartial
and attentive examination of what we have written, and that made prayerfully in
the light of the Lamp of Truth. May the reader heed the Divine admonition to
"prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).