by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
POTTER AND CLAY
S INCE the sovereign power a n d mercy of the Lord foolishly has been held to scorn by some, the Apos tle Paul gives us some excellent illus trations in Scripture through the in spiration of the Holy Spirit. In Ro mans 9:19-21 we find an excellent statement, “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?” Man has always questioned God. Some falsely reason asking, “Why does God find fault if we have no power of our own?” While it is certainly true that God is absolute and powerful, this does not rule out man’s free will. The Lord gives to everyone a freedom of choice. We have the power to do good or to do evil. The Bible clearly tells us that God is not willing that any should perish. He has no delight in the death of the wicked. In the final analy sis man has the power to believe in Christ. God has decreed that certain things are to become true. He has ordained the means whereby they are to be ac complished. One of the ways by which the Lord has ordained that man should come to know Him is through personal choice and belief. Although man is responsible for his soul’s eternal des tiny, this does not take away from God’s absolute power and sovereignty. How can we question God? Are we as good as He is? Certainly we are not. It is unthinkable. We have an excellent picture of man’s heart de scribed by Job. Many false comforters had come to this saint bringing any thing but peace for his troubled soul. God intervened, and Job asked appro priately, “Shall he that contendeth
with the Almighty instruct him?” This is basically the same question Paul raised. Man is nothing more than a lump of clay. The prophet Isaiah uses this same figure of speech (Isaiah 64:8). Paul reveals man’s complete depen dence upon God. We are absolutely
TH Y WAY, NOT MINE Th y way, not mine, 0 Lord, However dark it be! Lead me by Thine own hand, Choose out the path for me. Smooth let it be or rough, It will be still the best; W in d in g or straight, it matters not, It leads me to T h y rest. I dare not choose m y lot, I would not, if I might; Choose Thou for me, my God, So shall I walk aright. The kingdom that I seek Is Thine; so let the way That leads to it be Thine, Else I m ight surely stray. Take Thou my cup, and it W ith joy or sorrow fill, A s best to Thee may seem; Choose Thou my good and ill. N ot mine, not mine the choice, In things both great or small; Be Thou my guide, my strength, M y wisdom, and my all.
— Horatius Bonar
powerless except for the Lord. The power of God can never be modified by any false power which man may think he possesses. It is wonderful for us to realize that God is still on the throne. He is sovereign and truly we can rejoice in Him.
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