MAN is not his own master, and creation is not its own creator; man is a subject, and creation was formed by God. There is a great effort, in these days of wonderfully-developed intellectual power, to do away with the idea of God―His existence is found to be a source of annoyance to the proud heart that cannot bear control, Hence, creation, with its indisputable witness to the skill and design of its Creator, is explained away by a variety of conjectures, which fail to satisfy any but their makers. The bold and unqualified statement in Genesis 1:11In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1), “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” is intolerable, and why? Is it because science is able sufficiently to furnish a disproof? Can she show clearly that God did not create, and that “the things that are seen” resulted from natural causes, independent altogether of the power of a master-hand and mastermind creating according to a plan already conceived? In short, that there was no God at all―that His being was wholly unnecessary for the calling into their present condition these starry heavens and this fair earth? No; but such is in substance the effort of the talent of this far-advanced age. Absurd folly! “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
But lying at the root of all this foolish attempt to disprove creation, there is the spring of rebellion against God. The idea of man being subject to Him—that all my ways, nay, my thoughts, are taken notice of by Him, and that I must hereafter render account to Him, is just what my natural heart cannot bear. What right has anyone to look into the private affairs of my life, to investigate the secrets of my soul? Why should I not take my way according to my own pleasure, and have the sole control of my own matters? In a word, why may I not be my own master? Just because “God is,” and because He has authority over all creation. Against this, man kicks, and hence the effort to deny, not only creation, but God too.
“There is no God,” so says the heart of “the fool”; and such is the language of the natural heart all the world over. Yet, spite of all, “God is,” and He is “the living God,” and in knowing Him the christian finds his chiefest joy.
If God’s existence be the source of the sinner’s fear, it is the spring of the Christian’s peace. Do away with the idea of a God of love, and you rob the heart of more than life itself. Ah! it may be, that you bold atheist, so daring in his blasphemies whilst in health and vigor, has, in moments of sickness, when the dark clouds are settling on his guilty soul, a lingering hope that, after all, if there be a God, He is a God of mercy, and that his well-merited doom may yet be mitigated in some unknown way, by that very mercy, which at other times he could afford to despise.
Whilst to the Christian, the very thought of God revealed as light and love, known by the soul as God and Father, fills the heart with joy.
See that beautiful boy, the pride of his mother’s heart. The most skillful physician in the place has just retired from his death-chamber; the last words that fell from his lips on the agonized ear of that nursing mother, were, “I can do no more.” Science and attention have done their best, and, now, humanly speaking, all is over. But a throne of grace spreads itself out before her. On bended knee she sobs into the ear of the living God her cry for help, nor does she cry in vain. The fever abates―the struggle with death becomes more vigorous, the fight more equal, the foe is being worsted, he yields, he flies, and the child is restored to his mother. “With God all things are possible.” When man proves his inability, God’s arm is there to succor.
Blessed he His name, He is “the living God,” and, if so, His ear is open, His hand omnipotent, and His heart always ready to bless.
True, He might have seen the need of permitting a different issue. It might have been for the injury of that mother had her boy been restored to health, and the living God might have not answered the mother’s prayer as she wished. Nay, but in allowing the thorn―the messenger of Satan―to lacerate the flesh, He would have made His grace sufficient, and would have led the humbled suppliant to say, “Most gladly, therefore, will I glory!” Whatever be the way, God is good; for to deny me my own way is no proof that He does not love me. He is the living God, whether I am gratified in my desire, or whether that desire be taken up by Him and shaped in a better mold, so that with one that is divine I receive a lasting gratification.
Now let us look at three of the many occasions in which this expression comes before us in the New Testament.
1St. “Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and the true God.” (1 Thess. 1:99For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9).) This is an instance of conversion. Idolatry had marked these worshippers; now they serve no dumb, inanimate stock or stone―they serve the living God. Not one bit of service is forgotten, nor one tear shed that is not treasured by Him. The prophets of a Baal may cut themselves in order to get the ear of their inattentive deity, and become the laughing-stock of an Elijah; but our God hears, and gives the very answer that meets the need of His children, in such a manner as most glorifies Him and best suit: them. What a stay to the heart of the servant of Christ thus to know that He is the living and true God! May he labor on in faith and joy!
2nd. “We both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour (preserver) of all men, specially of those that believe.” (1 Tim. 4:1010For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10).) Now, this fact is much overlooked. A special care is taken of those who believe, yet the preserving care of the living God is not confined to His children. He preserves all, His rain falls, His sun shines on all. The field of the infidel is just as fertile as that of the saint. No favoritism is shown in these matters, seed time and harvest are promised to a world that is hoary in sin, and the season: return with constant regularity irrespective of the condition of men; God is pledged to this, so long as the world lasts, and fail He cannot. Oh, for grateful hearts for mercies so undeserved! But a shield of special preservation is thrown over the saint, and in a thousand ways, known only to such a one, does the untiring, unforgetting grace of his God appear for his help and comfort.
3rd. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:3131It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31).) Here His hands are hands of judgment. Ah, these are fearful hands! If Baal could not bless, neither could he curse. An idol is utterly powerless in either case. He need not be loved, nor need he be feared. But the living God, having power to bless, has power also to act in judgment. He who led His people, in grace, out of Egypt, chastened them, in holiness, when in the desert. He who acts in mercy today will be found in judgment by and by, and it is only a question of time. All your life long, dear reader, grace has lingered over you, and has spoken of pardon and life eternal through the blood of Christ. What has been your reply? Mark, grace must give place to judgment. A little while and that out-stretched hand must take up the sword. Oh, hearken while you may. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” J. W. S.