The Sovereign Prerogatives of God. Part [6] 12/24/2024 (Evening thought)

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

The Lord made manifest His sovereign prerogative to save any person He deems fit, when against the seeming logical, finite reasoning of men, He chose Saul, who later became Paul. When God chose him for his role in the early church there was definite remonstrance on the part of folks who not only knew what Saul had been doing to the saints but were themselves aware that they were on the menu daily.

At that time, he seemed to everyone concerned, to be the most unlikely candidate, as was Mary, out of whom Christ had cast out seven sex demons, and the thief on the cross who never had an opportunity at restitution, for all the items he had stolen over his lifetime. Therefore, in all of our interactions with persons, of high or low degree, we should always bear in mind this fact, that God reserves the right to save to the uttermost, anyone, who, in His foreknowledge, and wisdom, He sees fit.

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly, there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

The Sovereign Prerogatives of God. Part [5] 12/24/2024 (Evening thought)

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

[The Great Controversy pp 627] To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,” [Ezekiel 33:11.] The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet he will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” [Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3.]

By terrible things in righteousness, he will vindicate the authority of his downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord's reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which he bears long, and which he will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God's account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.

[3] It is The Lord’s prerogative to save any person He deems fit, to be a candidate for heaven. Heaven will be a place of great surprises, because persons who many expect to be there may not be present, and some persons who may not have the perfect rap-sheet will be there in the kingdom. It is not for us to make any determinations about who should and should not be saved. Thus, we are encouraged to sow beside all waters, and let the chips fall where they may, because man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!