Thoughts on Romans - Day 32

                 Romans 11:33-12:1

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”
³⁵ “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
³⁶ For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship


       Christians did not make up the God of the Bible - He made us up! That is why when we look at topics in chapters 9-11 such as election, foreknowledge, wrath, salvation, grafting, removing, etc., we see that His ways are beyond tracing out. I like to go to Back to the Future 2 when I think about His paths. Marty goes back in time and brings back a sports almanac which chronicles every sporting event result. It gets stolen by Biff who then goes on to become a tyrant kingpin by winning every gambling bet he makes and becoming rich. Doc explains to Marty about alternate realities or time continuums created by altering decisions made in time.

If in fact God honors free will and free choices in mankind, yet is working all of history past and history present to accomplish His will in the future, God must know not only history but also the alternate histories or time continuums of all decisions and how to move them towards His purposes. What a mind! I have heard God's plans described as a cruise ship going from New York to London. Its destination is London and it will get there. However, on the ship, people can do whatever they want to, make any decisions they want but that doesn't change the course of the ship. God has His purpose and plan for the future and He will make it happen despite everything mankind does without violating their free will and choice.

      Therefore, who are we to counsel God or tell Him what He is doing or His plan is wrong or doesn't make sense? Peter tried that once. Job tried it. Satan tried that three times. They were all soundly rebuked. The skeptics and intelligentsia mock God and reject Him just because His ways don't make sense to them. Isn't it possible that if there is a God that He might be a little smarter than us?? When we don't understand everything in the Bible maybe it is because God is a little above us?!

       We hear a lot about special interest groups influencing our government or politicians with huge monetary contributions. This is so important of an issue that it threatens to change our whole political climate with non politicians garnering great success just on the basis of self funding. Paul says that God is "self funding". No special interest group can influence Him. In fact we can't give a huge lump sum to a charity and thus think God is going to grant us favor. Why not? Because He gave us that money in the first place. We are just returning His money. Should we be praised for repaying the money we owe? Of course not.

       We do God and frankly us a huge disservice when we put God in a box or make Him human, manageable, or understandable. He is way too big for that! Worship God in all His magnificence, splendor, Glory, greatness and bow before the one who made you because someday you will be bowing. How much better and appropriate to do it now! We didn't make up God, He made us up. I for one am glad He did and I will give Him the honor He deserves in addition to my life which He gave me not to do with as I see fit but as He sees fit. I submit to His lead because He made me and He knows better than I do the good plans He has for my life.

       Lord, forgive me for getting upset with You when Your ways don't make sense to this puny mind of mine. Amen