God Almighty is in control of things. Everything in time and eternity is functioning, right now, in perfect harmony with His will. He is not moved, frustrated, or in any way defeated by the affairs of providence. He is, right now, sitting in the absolute splendor of His own glory. The Risen Lord said it simply, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18)."
Therefore, since God is in control of everything, the only question that ought to concern you and me… with regards to our own comfort… is whether or not He is good, and whether or not His goodness is disposed towards us. Truly, if God is good, and I'm included in all of His wise and good purposes, then providence cannot wield me a blow that will ultimately shatter the hymn writers chorus, "It is well with my soul".
Yet, if I'm outside of His grace, or if His goodness towards me can fail, then I have no hope, no comfort, no reason to exist, and only the terror of wrath to come. O, that men and women would give diligence to find out about God, and find out if you are reconciled to Him.
The goodness of God is PROVED in the death of His own Son–that He would give His only begotten… not for the righteousness… but for the sins of the world (Rom. 5:8; I John 4:10). That He would pour upon Christ Jesus the eternal consequences of our sins–"For he hath made him to be sin for us…(II Cor. 5:21)". He suffered His darling child, the Holy One, to bear the enormous guilt of our iniquity, and then dealt with Him in the cross as the greatest of all transgressors. The Father spared not His only begotten Son.
You are reconciled to the Son of God, as He sits upon His throne of grace, when you see that He is reconciled to you forever. You, like myself, and like all men of all times, will murmur against God and despise Him for His providence, unless He makes you see that He poured out His blood for your sins. The guilt is yours, but the sufferings were His. The end is His glory, and by His grace, although you suffer light affliction for a little while, you shall be forever glorified together with Him (II Cor. 4:17; Rom. 8:17-18).
The problem man faces is that he cannot revive his own soul or quicken himself with gospel doctrine. The gospel has been revealed to us by the power of His Spirit, but every subsequent revelation comes in a timetable that is His own. And, God our beloved Father, rules this world, NOT as pampering old man who just can't stop himself from spoiling His people, but as wise, merciful, heavenly Father, who is God.
GOD does not exist to be ruled by man. He does NOT give you and I what is best for our immediate rejoicing; He gives us what is best for His Son, for the glory of Him who died in our place. And, to the praise of the glory of His free grace, whatever is best for Christ Jesus is best for all His people collectively. We are NOT exalted as individuals; we are exalted as the collective body of His Son–"And we know that all things work together for good to them [not just one but all of us jointly] that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:28-29)."
In dealing with God's providence–the afflictions, frustrations, failures, and unveilings of our own depraved nature–we have two basic options. One, we can take our place with the wayward prodigal saying, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Or, we can stand outside of the gospel feast like the elder boy arguing that we deserve better. We can trust in the Father to run out, meet us with gospel kisses, and command a feast. Or, like the prodigals unhappy brother, we can murmur about how we'd do things differently if we were god.
Dear reader, in a sense, the option is yours. Yet, God bids you to the feast, so COME ON IN! There's plenty of room for every wayward child. You'll never understand providence outside the feast, and you'll never find rest with His secret decrees until you enter in. And, this, my dear reader, is all my boldness and confidence. This poor sinner and all for whom Christ died shall be brought into the feast, delivered from murmuring, made to understand the glory of His grace, and comforted well above our sorrow–And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation (II Cor. 1:7)."
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