God Is Not Like Nebuchadnezzar

 

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Nebuchadnezzar forced people to bow down to his image with the threat of being thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:15). God does not threaten people that, if they will not bow their knee to Him, they will be thrown into a fiery furnace (hell).

The apostle Paul is one who would not bow his knee in the name of Jesus. How did God get Paul to bow his knee? Not with a threat, but one glimpse of His Savior was all it took. From then on Paul was acclaiming Him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. This was not a forced acclamation, but an overwhelming desire of Paul. When God finishes His work, “every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2:10-11). They will have an overwhelming desire to bow their knee. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

— Faith Fellowship (Vol. 59, No. 3)
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Commencement – Continuation – Consummation

 

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The Scriptures reveal a commencement with all out of God; a continuation with God over all; and a consummation with God All in all.

Out of Him and through Him and for Him is all (Romans 11:36).

God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:6).

Then comes the consummation … when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be All in all (I Corinthians 15:24-28).

This truth revolutionizes our conception of God. It throws light on the meaning and purpose of this trouble-filled life. It makes a new book out of the Bible.

— Selected
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Though He Slay Me

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Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15).

After Job’s many great trials, the only thing that he really had left was his life, and even it seemed to be hanging by only a thread. Yet Job trusted God, even with that; and why wouldn’t he? Job knew that everything he had was from the hand of God, even His life: “the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

God had given Job his life, just as He had breathed into Adam’s “nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7), and he knew that this breath would “return to God Who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7) one day, just as it will to each of Adam’s ancestors.

Job trusted God even with his breath. It was the breath of God that filled his lungs. Even though he knew that, sooner or later, that breath would depart and return to God, he also knew that God would redeem him from the power of the grave. Job had the firm expectation of resurrection!

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day on the earth: and though after skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me (Job 19:25-27).

Job had trusted God in the face of every other enemy; and as with all of us, death would be his last. Job even trusted God in this enemy’s face, but he knew that his Redeemer had the power over death. Well did Paul write,

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (I Corinthians 15:26).

With such confidence of faith, even as we experience life’s greatest of trials,

The peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and your apprehensions in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7, CV).

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.