March 4

ELECTION OF PLACE
by Ray Prinzing

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure."    
                                                                                                         (2 Timothy 2:13).

"For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?"                                                                                                  (Romans 3:3).

Certainly, we recognize that faith is a necessity in the life of a believer, for "without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6). But whether we believe God, or do not believe, that does not change God's character. He is still the God, Victor over all.  Were it possible for our unbelieving attitudes to have an effect upon God's operations, then unbelief, not faith, would be the stronger.  If, in our unbelief, we "limit the Holy One of Israel,"  we do bring a restriction into our own lives, which God will then have to deal with.  Paul once wrote, "Our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straightened in us, but ye are straightened in your own bowels."  (2 Corinthians 6:11-12).  We become bound in ourselves, but God is not bound by us.  His purpose shall be accomplished.

But, praise God, it is as we do believe, open up our heart to trust and rely upon Him, that His victory begins to work in us in an experimental way.

God was all victorious before the ages of sin and selfhood began, He knew what was going to happen, for He planned that it should happen, and He has always been in total control, restraining what He did not purpose to use, and causing what He did purpose to use.  But He not only is God of the past, He is God of the present, "by Him all things consist."  (Colossians 1:17).  The word "consist" coming from the Greek word meaning "to put and hold together." Things can only fall apart to the extent He plans for them to fall apart, for HE holds all the boundaries, holding together all things, working out His plan in perfect order.  And, obviously, He is God of all our future, so that ultimately all things will have been worked together into our good, and for His praise. Past, present, future - forever He is God!