Published 2001-10
Bud Powell
Trinity Covenant RCUS, Colorado Springs
Let
God be True
The
sentiment is everywhere. Pundits and
religious leaders of all denominations are swift to affirm that God had nothing
to do with the terrorist events of last month.
We invert all things, but Job is very clear when he has lost all to
terrorists and the forces of nature:
“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the
Lord.” [Job 1:21]
This
does not mean that such events are evidence of God’s wrath. There are some who see the wrath of God in
everything, and certainly God does bring retribution upon men for their
sins—the Bible is clear about this. But
the pure wrath of God is seen only in Hell.
Until then, God brings good out of evil and works all things for the
good of those who are called by His grace.
Satan and evil men are often used by God as
instruments of His grace and mercy. The
king of Babylon who brought such destruction upon Israel, was called an ax in
the hand of God. [Isaiah 10:15] He was
used for a while to chastise the people of God, and was cast away by God when
God’s use for him was accomplished. Most
especially was his pride reproved by God for he thought that his successes were
the result of his own strength.
Satan can only do what God permits him to do. We invert the truth and say that God can only
do what we permit him to do, but the devil pretty much does as he pleases on
the earth. Surely God would not have
created the devil if He had not first devised what use He would make of him!
We
must bow before the “manifold” wisdom of God.
[Eph. 3:10] The simple truth is
that truth is very complicated, with many sides to it. God may have more than one purpose in a
single event. Why should we not expect
this for the All-wise and Most-Loving Ruler of all things? Why should this be thought incredible to us? The ways of God are mysterious indeed.
It
would appear that the terrorists who crashed into the Trade Towers would be
greatly surprised to find themselves dropped immediately into the fires of
hell, for no murderer has eternal life abiding in him [I John 3:15]. On the other hand, those who were righteous
in Jesus Christ who worked in those buildings were taken into glory.
