The Providence of God
Quote; “From the physical we are to learn lessons concerning the spiritual. God has provided each and every spiritual blessing that man ever needs, and more than he can realize. “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places [all things] in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3. A man to whom this was quoted once asked, “If this is so, why do I not have All spiritual blessings?” Why is it that I lack so much, and have so little enjoyment in the Christian life?” The answer ran thus: “What would you say of a man who should come to your house nearly starved, if, when you have loaded the table with the best that your house affords, he still wrings his hands, and moans, ‘Oh, I am so hungry; how I wish I had something to eat!” You would say that if he is hungry, the fault is all his own: that plenty has been abundantly given him, and that all he has to do is to take hold and eat. The fact that he is starving does not prove that you have not given him everything he needs. Thus it is with the gracious gifts of God. He has given you abundantly all spiritual blessings, and if you lack, it is because you will not take that which has been so richly provided.” The man insists that this is not a fair illustration, for, said he, “The beggar can see the food before him on the table, but he cannot see the blessings of God.” True, we cannot see them but we may be more sure of them than if we could see them. We have the assurance of the word of God that they have been given to us, and there can be no doubt about it. Our eyes often deceive us, but the word of the Lord never does. “The things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18. God’s word makes things so, of that which did not exist before creation; therefore, we may rest assured that all things that we need for this life, as well as for that which is to come, have already been freely given to us, and that we have only to appropriate them. {The Gospel in Creation, by EJ Waggoner 131-133}
Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” God and Jesus were before there were planets and galaxies, Angels and everything, Revelation 13:8 “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Jesus was “Slain” even before there was sin and death, the systems were installed well before there was a created being who was ever in need, there was a solution before a need, and before all things. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:” Now “Grace” and “Glory” are equal and interchangeable, Ephesians 4:7 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” John 1:14 & 16 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. – And of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace.” Therefore grace and glory are the same in measure. When God gives grace, it is according to the riches of his glory: and when he gives glory, it is according to the riches of his grace. {The Gospel in Creation by EJ Waggoner} We know that God has given abundantly and profusely, extravagantly and generously, so why do we stand about like this starving man, ‘he still wrings his hands, and moans, ‘Oh, I am so hungry; how I wish I had something to eat!’ Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 6:26-28 “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:” Why not stop now and consider the abundant, ‘Providence of God,’ how providentially, profusely, or even extravagantly they are shed abroad, the Humorist once said, “God spreads his providences and grace like a child spreads peanut butter, he smears it over just about everything.” Why then do we often stand around wringing our hands, bemoaning the present situations, when spread out right before us is continuously abundant and endlessly abounding provisions of ‘The Providence of God?’
