Doing God's Will

Among some Christians, "God's will" has a perpetually mysterious quality.  People wonder what God's will is concerning their lives and for each circumstance they face.  This approach to know God's will can resemble greatly a quest in seeking a medium, palm reader, or fortune teller believing special knowledge will provide useful aid.  It is important we recognise God has revealed His will through His Word, and He has done so for the express purpose we would walk in obedience to it.  Christianity is more than knowing the truth but living it out aligned with God's desires.  It is a shame when Christians live in state of self-imposed paralysis and confusion, not knowing what to pray or do because they are torn in recognition of their limited perspective of "God's will."  God has provided much more than facts about Him:  God has provided Himself and all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

Because all humans tend to worry, knowledge of the future brings an ease and comfort the flesh enjoys.  Sometimes God does reveal the future to people through various means.  But God is not interested in coddling our flesh and therefore rarely spells out His overarching plans for why He allowed our tyre to go flat or why the power shut off at 2am and the alarm clock was reset resulting in us being late.  God has revealed His will so we might know His character, like where it is written in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  God has also revealed His will for people as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  God's will can be known, and we through faith in Christ can accomplish it.  The Bible is absolutely packed with revelations concerning God's will.

It is easy for us to figure an eternal, all-powerful Being could simply impose His "will" however He wishes in the world He has made.  God's will in this sense shall always be ultimately accomplished in His time and sovereign way.  But our great struggle is to comprehend how God permits what He does not approve.  For instance, God is not willing any should perish yet people die every day.  People who die in their sins face eternal justice in the fires of hell.  Since God created man in His image with the freedom to choose, God imposes His will of eternal righteousness and justice upon those who refuse His remedy for salvation.  It is God's will that men would rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to Him in everything - but that does not mean God will force a man to do so.  God enables and empowers man to accomplish this through the Holy Spirit, but He permits man to go his own way.  When you are unsure of God's will, the wise response is to seek the God who has spoken, will speak truth, and has promised to guide our every step.

Knowledge in itself is a false comfort, for only in God can we experience rest for our souls.  God tells us His will so we might do it.  Ephesians 5:15-17 shows we can know God's will:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  We know God's will only through knowing Him.  The fool does not account for God's power, promises, or purposes concerning his life, but the wise man fears God and trusts Him alone.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and our faithful practice of walking obediently to God's will cultivates true fellowship with God.  Paul prayed for Christians to know God's will and this prayer is according to God's will.  Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding..."

Knowing is one thing, and belief and subsequent obedience is another.  God's commands in His Word reveal His will concerning your life.  One example is Jesus commanded Christians to love one another as He loves us.  We can know this is God's will, His perfect plan to govern our words, attitude, and works.  It is in discovering God through His Word we learn to walk in His will.  Knowing the will of God may be novel, but this knowledge alone does not save:  being born again by genuine faith in Christ results in obedience.  Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' ²³ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"  If your desire is only to know the will of God, you will likely remain in confusion.  But if you desire to know God's will fervently so you might obey it you are not far from discovering it.  If we will seek God we will find Him, if we seek Him with our whole hearts.

A Trinity Illustration

God has chosen to reveal Himself to men.  Without His light and divine assistance, we could only stumble in the dark.  That being said, the ability to know God is only through faith according to knowledge revealed in scripture.  Because God is eternal and infinite, He cannot be completely known.  His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways.  An element of faith is required on every step as our understanding develops and grows.

Take being "born again," for instance.  When Jesus told Nicodemus a man must be born again to enter into God's kingdom, the learned man was confused.  Was Jesus saying a man must squeeze himself back into his mother's womb to be born a second time?  No!  Jesus immediately pointed to the wind:  the effect of the wind is clearly seen in the trees, but no one knows exactly where it comes from or where it goes.  So is the way of the Spirit of God.  When a man repents and trusts in Christ as Saviour, the Holy Spirit enters a person and creates a new man.  He is given a new living nature, is cleansed from all sin, and is made righteous before God.  We cannot explain scientifically how the Holy Spirit does this, but we can know for certain He does through clear evidence.

One sticking point for many is understanding how God is One yet manifested in the Bible in three distinct Persons:  God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  All creation speaks of the glory of God, and one of the best illustrations to explain the Triune Godhead is our sun.  The sun is a ball of gas burning in the heavens which provides light and heat to our world which promotes life, health, and fruitfulness.  When we say we are "in the sun" we do not mean we physically are walking on the sun's surface.  That would be impossible!  God the Father is the eternal spirit, unapproachable in His holiness, and a "consuming fire" (Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29).  The Father is represented by the sun, the heavenly body.

The sun provides light for the earth.  Light has dual properties of being both wave and particle.  Jesus is the "Light of the World" with the dual nature of God born in human flesh.  Jesus is called Emmanuel in Isaiah 9:6 which means, "God with us."  The light of the promised Messiah shone in the darkness, and men did not comprehend it.  Though the scripture affirms many times Christ's divinity, many remain in unbelief.   John 1:11-14 says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

John the Baptist prophesied Jesus is the One who would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  Not only does the sun provide light, but it also generates heat.  When a person has the light of the sun shining upon them they are warmed.  Before Jesus ascended to the Father in heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit who would guide His disciples into all truth.  The Holy Spirit is represented in the heat of the sun, the one who indwells a man and makes him "on fire" for God.  The Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Christ on the Day of Pentecost, and He has been filling and empowering believers in service for God ever since.  He helps and comforts us in His warmth, provides gifts and fruit of the Spirit, and causes us to grow and mature like a healthy tree planted by deep springs of water.

We cannot fully comprehend God's thoughts and ways, but we can know Him intimately.  All is possible for those who believe, for nothing is too hard for our God!  Though it takes faith to know God, I pray this illustration would be useful to better understand the great God who loves us and is worthy of all honour and praise.  I conclude with 2 Corinthians 13:11-14:  "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All the saints greet you. ¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."

To Know Perfect Peace

Man’s idea of “peace” cannot compare to the real thing.  Man, having settled down in God’s judgment seat, believes he can accomplish what God says is impossible:  the experience of genuine peace apart from God.   Isaiah 48:22 says, “There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked.”  There it is!  Man’s concept of peace is inherently selfish, making concessions only when compromise provides a more favourable outcome than standing fast.  Peace is not made through treaties, political leverage, popular opinion, or acting in one’s best interest.  Peace is not making the choice not to kill people who were once your enemy without reconciliation, love, or joy present in your heart towards them.  No signature on a document can change the hearts of the men who sign it.

Peace is not the absence of war or political conflict, but unity of heart and spirit in love.  And God makes it perfectly clear no one can experience true peace while remaining in sin.  A man who refuses to make peace with God is without hope of any peace with men, no matter how rich or respected he is.  Consider this from another perspective:  say a person receives exactly what he desires and demands in full.  Does this bring peace to the heart of a man?  No!  His greed, distrust, and suspicion of others will not allow him to rest.  People who have all the world can offer still suffer niggling doubts, insecurity, anger over how they have been unjustly treated, or frustrated their expectations remain unmet.

A building project is a perfect example of how peace man’s way always falls short.  Say you have a set of drawings drafted to your exact specifications.  The most perfect plans in short order prove themselves lacking.  Amendments to the plans, issues with the builder, shoddy workmanship, delays of receiving hardware, cost overruns, and the time-consuming nature of building is a constant stress.  Man’s peace may look good on paper, but it can never be a reality as he imagines it.  Even if the house is built perfectly, nothing can prevent wear and tear.  More work and money will be required for maintenance and repairs.  Nothing can keep the paint from fading, vandals from targeting the façade with eggs, gates from squeaking, water damage, slippery floors, carpet from collecting dust, and the appliances wearing out.  Those who remain enemies of God because of their sin cannot dream of lasting peace, for God has spoken the truth:  “There is no peace for the wicked.”

Only in Jesus can a man find rest for his soul, a rest enjoyed apart from the circumstances of life.  The world can be a living hell, but the man who has peace with God discovers profound repose no trial or struggle can shake.  We are all born enemies of God due to sin, yet Jesus is our peace and has united us with Himself by grace through faith.  Ephesians 2:13-22 says, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

God has offered peace to all who will make peace with Him through repentance and faith.  Peace primarily is an internal reality, not external or temporary.  It is a peace which endures as long as the Prince of Peace Himself.  Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can fulfil the exhortation of Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." What a joy, to know the peace which passes understanding!  Though the depth of God’s peace cannot be plumbed or the breadth measured, it can be intimately known and realised.  Do you know this peace?  Do you want to?  Only those made righteous through faith in Christ can know peace, a peace this world cannot know apart from Him.

The "Nevertheless" Men

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed Bible trivia.  I have spent a portion of nearly every day of my life from childhood immersed in its pages, soaking in God's wisdom, and delighting in the truth God reveals.  Because of my own dullness sometimes I read without much effect, but there is nothing on this planet so powerful, inspired, and brilliant as the revelation of God through His Word.  It is like an old friend who manages to continually surprise and impress.  People of the Book such as myself recognise the scripture is simple enough for a layman to comprehend, yet has a depth of meaning and application which will not be fully appreciated for eternity.

Here is an opportunity to test your vast Bible knowledge and flex those memory muscles!  Can you tell me the significance of this list of names - and here is a hint - from the book of Numbers?  The names are:  Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel.  If I had been asked the same question yesterday, I would have no idea.  And to be perfectly honest, if you told me to list these names by memory tomorrow I could not do it.  After reading through the corresponding passage last night, I have termed them "The Nevertheless Men."  Alright, here's the answer:  these 10 men are the heads of tribes who were sent to spy out the Promised Land.  Everyone knows about Joshua and Caleb, two spies and the only two people to enter into Canaan from the first generation who came out of Egypt.  If you recognised these men I congratulate you, because these aren't men often talked about.

We all like a winner, the one who does well.  Many sermons have been graced with the bold and valiant words of Joshua and Caleb, but these fearful nevertheless men are largely unknown and forgotten.  It is a sobering thought that notable, called, and chosen men of God could have such a promising beginning and a tragic end.  Numbers 13:1-2 says, "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them."  God promised to give His people a rich land which flowed with milk and honey.  After 40 days in the land, 10 of the men brought back figs, pomegranates, a massive cluster of grapes, and provided this report in Numbers 13:27-28:  "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. ²⁸ Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there."

They affirmed the land was exactly as God had said.  But then they uttered a word so steeped in doubt and unbelief it cast fear into the hearts of the congregation:  nevertheless.  In spite of what God promised, there were seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  Yes, God promised to give them a rich land and so it was.  Nevertheless there seemed to be strong opposition - and they were no match for the land's inhabitants.  Had they only trusted the promise of God more than trusting their eyes and looking to themselves!  They weighed the promise of God against the fortifications and the giants who inhabited the land and foolishly shrank from God's promise.  Numbers 13:30-31 says, "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." ³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we."  Caleb trusted God and His Word, yet these 10 "nevertheless" men were disarmed of their courage and strength by lack of faith in God and what He had said.

These men were punished according to their deeds, for they gave a bad report to the people.  What God did in the sight of the congregation clearly showed the consequences of the grave sin of unbelief.  Numbers 14:36-37 says, "Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, ³⁷ those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD."  That was the end of those "nevertheless" men:  they doubted in spite of God's character and promise, and thus did not receive it.  Consider how these 10 out of the 12 leaders called and chosen by God fell short of entering into the promise through refusing to trust God.  They expected to fall at the hands of their enemies, so what is so different about falling by the hands of the God made your enemy by unbelief?

God has offered His people rest through faith in Jesus Christ.  "Jesus Christ is wonderful," you might say, "but the world is in a terrible state.  My personal debts, chronic pain, and family troubles coupled with global issues like stateless refugees and climate change are too much to bear,.  There is no rest for me."  Dear ones, should we fall into the same trap as the "nevertheless" men?  God has offered rest, but perhaps you believe the obstacles insurmountable.  Tell me:  if you will not willingly enter into the rest you can through faith now despite obstacles, what makes you think you can find rest in Christ for eternity?  There is a rest we can enter into now, not because of our might or ability compared to that of our enemies, but according to God's promise.  The One who brought us out of bondage can surely bring us into His rest.  We can be as Nehemiah, who when faced with opposition from sinister enemies chose to trust God and pray.  He saw the opposition, nevertheless chose the path of faith - not the other way around.  He wrote bravely in Nehemiah 4:8-9, "...All of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. ⁹ Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night."

Wavering heart, consider fully this passage and find rest for your soul in Christ.  Hebrews 4:11-16 reads, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

What sort of "nevertheless" man or woman are you?  One who sees the opposition and chooses to trust God's Word like Joshua, Caleb, or Nehemiah?  Or are you like the 10 spies, who knew the promise of God but in spite of it gave place to fear and unbelief?