Week Seven: God's Encompassing Purpose

WEEK SEVEN

DOES GOD HAVE A PURPOSE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS?

This is a huge question, isn’t it?  It’s one for which our hearts and minds seek an answer, particularly during the difficult times of our lives. We seek some assurance that the most difficult things of our lives – or the most mundane things – have a meaning and purpose that goes beyond of ability to lay hold of.

The question may also be stated this way: “Does God ordain all things that come to pass?”

While this is a huge question, the Bible gives a very succinct, certain, and clear answer.  One place the answer is found in Ephesians 1:11 where it is said that God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” 

God works out ……what?  “Some things?”  “Most things?”   The “easy” things?

God works out “all things” according to His purpose, the Bible says.

“BUT……”

“BUT……”

“BUT…..”

Wait a minute before you begin with the long list of questions, objections, and comments that almost immediately come to mind (many of those questions come from unbelief anyway, and you don’t want to pay attention to questions that come from unbelief).

The Bible says that God’s works out all things in conformity with His own purpose.  ALL things.
The mundane things.  The most tragic things.  The most minute things. 

Think of the possibilities:

•     A God who knows all things but who does not have power over all things and who can do nothing about the events that unfold.

•     A God who controls most things but either forgets about some details or who cannot control all things.

•     A God who has the power to create the universe but no power to bring all things to His appointed purpose and goal.

None of those choices are the God of the Bible.  The God of the Bible is one who controls all things in such a way that those who know and love Him can say, 

    He has full paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
    and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
    He also watches over me in such a way
    that not a hair can fall from my head
    without the will of my Father in heaven:
    in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
        (From Question 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism)

Ephesians 1:11 is not the only verse in the Bible that affirms this truth.  The entirety of the Bible bears witness to this truth, of course.  Its words teach the truth of God’s sovereignty and control:

    "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives". Genesis 50:20. 
        --Spoken by Joseph to his brothers who sold him into slavery, giving him up as dead.

    "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted."   Job. 42:2
        -- Spoken by Job, a righteous man, as one of the great truths learned through his trials.

    "He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?'”     Daniel 4:35.
          -- Spoken by Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king whose honor and splendor was taken from him by God until he learned that God is indeed sovereign over all things, even kings!

    "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."  Romans 8:28-29.
        -- Spoken by the Apostle Paul, a man who was determined that he would never become a disciple of Christ.

   
I decided a long time ago that I would rather have a God who controls all things even though I cannot understand the purpose of all events in my life or even understand the doctrine itself.

After all, the consequences are scary.  If God does not control all things, then who does?  In that case, there is something or someone who is greater and more powerful than God.

God is either who He says He is or He is a liar (another scary and untrue thought!).  Either God is God, and all that it means for Him to be God, or He is not God at all.

I would far rather worship a God who has all things in His control than to worship a God with whom some things are beyond His control.

It has been said, “When we cannot trace God’s hand, we can trust His heart.”  There are times when we cannot trace His purpose. There are times when He seems far away.  But we do know something of the heart of the One who would not withhold His only begotten Son but who instead gave Him up for sinners.  Our days are always to be seen in the light of the cross.

In a well-known hymn, William Cowper wrote of "a frowning providence” - times when circumstances seem to hide the face of God and when His good, wise, sovereign, and holy purposes are not revealed to us.

It was out of heart-felt experiences that he wrote:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
and works His sovereign grace.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy,
And shall break in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev’ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

(From the hymn, God Moves in a Mysterious Way)

 Extra Credit:

Q.  What are the decrees of God?
A.  The decrees of God are his eternal purpose by which, for his own glory, he has ordained whatever comes to pass.      (The Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 7)


"God, from all eternity, did – by the most wise and holy counsel of his own free will – freely and unchangeable ordain whatever comes to pass.  Yet he ordered all things in such a way that he is not the author of sin, not does he force his creatures to act against their wills; neither is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established."         (The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 3)