Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

.172willing,"years"Westcottcourse."salvation"wilt."Itsoul."soul."PRAYER MEETING TOPICOctober 5, 1955MAN PROPOSES: GOD DISPOSESPsalms:James 4:13-17M. K. Carson, D.D.93:1-5, page 228124:1-3, page 319107:1, 4, 5, 6, page 264131:1-3, page 327References: Gen. 45:7, 8; Acts 2:23;Matt. 10:29-31; Psalms 145:17; 104:24; 39:5, 6; I Chron. 29:15; Psalm 90:4-6; Acts 18:21; Acts 21:14; Isaiah46:9, 10; Romans 11:36; Heb. 1:3;Job 7:6, 7; I Cor. 4:19; Heb. 6:3;Prov. 27:1The worldliness condemned in thistext is the worldliness that plans for thefuture without any acknowledgment ofGod. This subject follows very closelyour lesson on Humility (Sept. 7). Thehumble man, conscious of his weakness,depends upon God, His Grace, His Wisdom and His Power. The proud man rejoices in his boastings. He is plotting,planning, devising, tearing down barnsand building greater without any reference whatever to the disposals of DivineProvidence. "Soul, thou hast much goodslaid up for manyExodus 5:2).(Luke 12:19-20;The letters "D. V." were often used intimes past in speaking of future events.Many no doubt, were afraid not to usethese "letters." Such a faith might be aform of superstition. But this is not ourdanger. Today many people do not knowthat these letters are an abbreviation ofthe Latin words, "Deo Volente," meaning "God and even if they doknow, they do not submit to God. Wemay not always use these words or eventhe letters, but we should always havethe attitude of absolute dependenceupon God as we plan for the future. Itis not wrong to plan for the future, butit is wrong to plan without God. Thiswas a sin at the time James wrote thisEpistle and it is a sin today. In all ourarrangements we should make it clearlyunderstood that we recognize that Godis over all and that we are under Hiscontrol.Shortness and Uncertaintyof LifeThe uncertainty and shortness of lifeshould make us conscious of our absolute dependence upon God."Ye knownot what your life shall be on the morrow, for ye are a vapor."andHort. What is a vapor? How much dowe know about fogs? Forecasters knowmuch about cloud formations and theconditions which cause fogs, but no onecan predict with any certainty the lifting of a vapor. Astronomers can predict the rising and setting of the sun;the different stages of the moon and itseffect upon the tides; the differenteclipses; the appearance of the comets,etc. In the spring of 1910 the writerwas greatly interested in the appearance of Halley's comet. It was statedat that time that the comet would return in 76 years. But who would dare tomake any such prediction about a fog?"Ye are a vapor."Life is also comparedto a dream, a shadow, a span or anhandbreadth. All of these illustrationssuggest the shortness and uncertainty oflife. "So teach us to number our days,that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"(Psalm 90:12).We are told that Edward Gibbon, thehistorian, died in great disappointmentbecause he had made plans which required ten more years of earthly life tocomplete. Doubtless many young peoplemake plans for a long life. The wise onesplan their lives subject to God's holywill. In this way they are not disappointed. One of the suggested explanations ofthese words, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my(Psalm 91:16) is that whatever thelength of our days may be, God is ableto satisfy us. How can young people andthose in the strength of their years, asmany of the martyrs were, be satisfiedto give up their earthly life so early?In writing to the Philippians, Paul realized that his work was not over forhe said, "And having this confidence, Iknow that I shall abide and continuewith you all for your furtherance andjoy of faith" (Phil. 1:25). It was notthat Paul was not willing to die for heknew that to depart and be with Christis far better. When the time of his departure did come, Paul could say, "Iam now ready to be offered. I have finished my(2 Tim. 4:6-8). Paulwas living his life subject to God'sblessed willready to die, willing to live.Limitations of LifeOur limitations should teach us to besubmissive to the will of God. In theseverses, James is striking at the practical atheism of the man who lives hislife as if God did not exist. Men maynot make any intellectual effort to provethat God does not existmight evenargue for His existence but at thesame time continue to live as if Goddid not exist. God is not in theirthoughts or in their plans. They are sufficient in themselves. But how do menknow that they will see tomorrow, orthat they will reach the city, or thattheywill be permitted to remain herea year, or that they will be able to buyand sell, or that they will get gain?Were they not presuming a great deal?On December 22, 1951, the NationalSafety Council announced that the nation's millionth traffic fatality had occurred. Bythis time 140,000 and morecan be added to this first million. Howmany plan an automobile trip but neverreach their destination! This message inJames is very timely.In the COVENANTER WITNESS,February 23, 1949, is an editorial, "TheFinger of God." It would be worthwhilefor the leader to have this article reviewed at this meeting. As has oftenbeen said, "History is His-Story." Thesmall snowflake defeated Napoleon inRussia. "Man Proposes; God Disposes."The rain had an important place in thebattle of Waterloo in 1815. The stillness of the water in the English Channelmade possible "the miracle of Dunkirk,"when 335,000 men were rescued insteadof the 35,000 men which the Britishhoped to rescue. Deborah explained Sisera'sdefeat in these words, "The starsin their courses fought against Sisera."Judges 5:20. How limited puny man is!Surely our very limitations should teachus to say, "If the Lord will . . .Our IgnoranceOur ignorance should enable us totrust Him Who knows the future. Spurgeon said, "If we could have all ourlives written in a book, with everythingthat was to happen to us recorded therein, and if the hand of Destiny shouldgive us the book, we should be wise notto read it .... is sufficient that ourHeavenly Father knows." "My times arein Thy hand."(Ps. 31:15). Could ourtimes be in any better Hands theHands of Wisdom, Power and Love?The future is hidden from us. It iswrong to try to pry into itJ We are tolive by faith. Saul, the first king of Israel, visited "a woman that had a familiar spirit at Endor" (I Sam. 28:7-14).The next day Saul "took a sword, andfell upon it" (I Sam. 31:4; I Chron. 10:4).Wm. Henley in his "Invictus" says, "Iam the Master of my Fate; I am theCaptain of myHow very foolish,absurd and wicked it is to make such aboast. And yet many seem to believe itand teach it. Dorothea Day closes herpoem with these words, "Christ is theMaster of my fate; Christ is the Captain of myWe may not approveof the word "fate" but if we are Christians, Christ is surely our Master andthe Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews2:10).Richard Baxter said, "Lord, whatThou wilt, where Thou wilt and whenThouWhat submission, humilityand trust are in these words! May weall be able to say them! Knowledge ofwhat is evil always creates an obligation to avoid it and knowledge of whatis good constitutes an obligation to perform it. "Therefore to him that know-COVENANTER WITNESS