Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:54:10 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Mar. 12); BP: Rom. 9:6-29; RBTTY: Mk. 13:1-20; Dt.
March 12 “The Potter and the Clay”
“You will then say to me, ‘Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?’ Nay, but, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, ‘Why have you made me thus?’ Has not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?”
Romans 9:19-21
The only way to find peace in our perplexity is by saying “God is good” (Ps. 73:1a) and “Have Thine own way, Lord; have Thine own way.”
Does anyone need to tell us “Life’s not fair,”?
Didn’t think so; neither do we need to be told that “All men are NOT created equal”—at least with respect to status or station in life. . .physical or mental abilities. . . backgrounds and opportunities from birth, etc.
No, we know life’s full of perplexing, paradoxical situations.
Questions like, “Why was I born where I was to the family I was born into instead of being born somewhere else to parents far different than mine?” or “Why was so-and-so healed and I’m not?”
The Calvinist cites today’s Manna and says, “Well, that’s just the way things are. That’s the way God wants it and that settles it!” So, off they go, humming “Que sere, sere” (“Whatever will be, will be”) in their fatalistic, smug doctrine of “predestination” and “election.”
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, where does man “free choice” and Adam’s sin fit into all of this? While it’s true that God is omnipotent. . .and can do anything He chooses. . . how do we reconcile today’s Manna with the fact that He loves everyone just the same (Jn. 3:16; Ps. 139:14-18) and has a beautiful plan for our lives (Jer. 29:11)?
Tough question, isn’t it? Welcome to “Life and Faith 101.”
When Adam and Eve sinned, they opened the proverbial “Pandora’s Box” of suffering and “falling short” (Rom. 3:23) that continue until this day. His nature was passed on to every one of us and it’s because of our “union with him” that we all die (I Cor. 15:21-22a). Consequently, it’s not a matter of whether or not we’ll suffer; it’s a matter of when and how—for we all suffer because of Adam’s sin, others’ sin or our sin.
That’s why babies are born deformed. That’s why some folks are born blind and others are blinded by others’ actions (e.g., Fanny Crosby). And, in those situations when some folks are healed—and others aren’t—we must still “give thanks in all things” (I Thess. 5:18), knowing “all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Simply put, we must “let God be God”. . .rest in His sufficient grace (II Cor. 12:7-10) . . .and say with the psalmist, “Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? And, there’s none on the earth I desire besides Thee” (Ps. 73:25). May the Holy Spirit help us in this when the Potter’s Wheel is whizzing around at a dizzy pace and our “circumstances” are the “sandpaper” He’s using to transform us into His image (Jer. 18:1-6; Gal. 2:20).
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