In verse 32 we are again reminded that all people begin the same. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That is the fact. Again we see that God has not preprogrammed some to salvation and others to damnation. All begin the same. All are subject to His mercy. God has offered His mercy to all. No room for the Calvinist heresies. Some might wonder why we mention Calvinism so often. The fact is that Calvinism is making a resurgence again in religion today. Some may not even be aware of it, but it is creeping in none the less. Every good pastor should be warning those that God sends his way about the dangers of this heresy. People need to be made aware of what they are hearing and they need to know what is truth and what is not.
In verses 33-36 Paul was directed to exalt the true God. He is worthy of exaltation. No one can outdo God. His wisdom and knowledge is far greater than that of man. As the Psalmist was directed to write, the fool denies the reality of God. When we look at our Parliament we can see many fools at work. The climate change agenda has preoccupied many. The sodomite agenda has also become a major attack against God and is not being opposed by any politicians. The fear of man is now the dominant factor in the decisions that are being made. Canada is in big trouble. Our Parliament will not save us.
Some might suggest that the government is not the church. That is correct, but our governments assume they are of greater importance than true local churches. They do not consult with God about how to govern. They consult the WEF and the WHO. They have no answers to the real problems facing our society. It is important for true local churches to exalt God and to make Him known.
God’s judgments are unsearchable. No one will ever come up with something better than what God has designed.
Some may have heard of the young woman from Georgia that was murdered over the past weekend. An illegal immigrant is the killer. He was in trouble with the law before, but was not dealt with properly and the result is that a woman is dead and her family is grieving her loss. This type of thing is happening all too often. Because of God’s judgments we know this is wrong and He is dealing with it and will continue to do so. We can be sure that this man is living under God’s condemnation right now. He could be forgiven and saved, but he would need to repent toward God and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. That would not take away the stain of this murder, but it would give him a hope instead of the guilt he is living with. God’s mercy and grace would also be a great comfort to that grieving family if they would turn to the Lord. God does not make light of sin. He declared that the only way to address the sin issue that man is born with is through the sacrificial death and shedding of blood of His only begotten Son. Man needs a new nature in order to avoid the carnage we are witnessing. The true local church is of far greater importance than most realize.
God’s ways are past finding out. There have been explorers who have travelled to different places and they have discovered new things. Recently there are reports of another space craft that landed on the moon. There is a space station up in space that has been there for several years now. They are trying to figure out how things began. All they need to do is read Genesis 1 and 2 and they would know how things began. The Bible warns that one day the moon will be turned to blood. The space race is picking up again. There are those that do not believe it is actually happening. Russia is talking of sending rockets up into space to take out satellites it does not like up there. There are things happening that we do not know. There are no aliens from outer space, for sure. However, godless people are wasting billions of tax-payer dollars trying to find out things they will never learn because they reject the true God.
In verse 34 we are challenged with the greatness of God. Who can second guess God? We can know some things about God because He has told us of them. However, we do not give counsel to the Lord. He does not need our counsel. He declares Who He is and what He has done and what He will do. There is nothing we have to offer Him. We need His counsel. We need His direction in our lives. The wise person submits to Him and follows Him. The fool goes his own way and thinks he can ignore God and have success in life.
In verse 35 we are further challenged regarding God’s goodness. What have you ever given to Him, that He did not give you first? There are those who talk of giving their heart to the Lord. Our hearts are not worth anything to God unless He first of all cleanses them of sin and makes them new.
Our tithes and offerings which we give are given from things that God first gave us. Paul wrote that what God desires is for us to give ourselves to God first of all. We do that by turning to God in repentance and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. When He changes our hearts, all the rest will find its’ proper place. Even the ungodly are given health and strength and the ability to work and make money. That comes from God. They have no time for God, but one day they will wish they had taken the time to know Him. All their earthly efforts will not help them in the end. They will stand naked before the Lord at the great white throne judgment.
I read of a woman who died and left a billion dollars to a medical college in the Bronx. The college is quite excited about this windfall. We can be assured that they will not handle that money properly. It will be mismanaged like all corporate donations are. Most likely the donor was a lost woman and is in torment today. Those who received the money are also lost and no matter how they handle that money, without the Lord, it will not help them at all.
It is important to know the Lord and then to lay up treasure in heaven where moth and rust cannot corrupt and where thieves cannot break through and steal.
In verse 36 we are reminded that everything we have and everything we see in nature comes from God. The raw materials used to make cars and houses, etc., all comes from God. We do not create anything. God created all things from nothing. He is worthy of worship and of praise. He is worthy of glory. Those who know Him and choose to glorify Him are far better off than those who reject Him and live for their own benefit. They have nothing of value now and will have nothing for all eternity.
Pastor Bartel