Does a Pot Argue with the Potter?
“Our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.” (Psalm 115:3)
Nothing is a surprise to God, not even our slightest trials. His plan may seem unfair, but that’s because we dwell in the here and now. We lack the vertical view. In fact, we sometimes quarrel with God, as the prophet Isaiah testifies:
“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?’” (Isaiah 45:9)
At one time in my life statements like that made me cringe and become resentful. Not until I released my grip on my horizontal perspective did I find any comfort in God’s sovereignty. Little by little, it began to settle in my mind, bringing relief instead of fear. God is in charge, not us!
This determined, decreed dimension of God’s will has four qualities: (1) It is absolute. (2) It is immutable, which means “unchangeable.” (3) It is unconditional. (4) It is always in complete harmony with His plan and His nature. In other words, the decreed will of God will be holy, it will be just, it will be good, it will be righteous; therefore, it will be best. And it will all work toward those ends.
The subject of God’s will is woven throughout the tapestry of God’s truth as revealed in Scripture. We have seen it in Isaiah. Now let’s observe it in Romans:
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (Romans 8:28–30)
Mark in the margin of your Bible beside these verses: “Decreed will of God.” His decreed will is at work in your life. He’s chipping away in your life, causing you to take on the character of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Taken from The Mystery of God’s Will by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1999 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com
