ÒUnderstand All ThingsÓ

 

ÒEvil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.Ó                                                                               (Proverbs 28:5)

 

            Other people are vexed and confused by the Word of God, the ways of God, and the works of God; but GodÕs saints understand all things. This is not a matter of supposition, but the plainest possible declaration of inspiration. — ÒThey that seek the Lord understand all things.Ó The wise man tells us that "Evil men understand not judgment.Ó Then he asserts, Òbut they that seek the Lord understand all things". I do not suggest that religious people understand all things, not by a long shot; but the Lord God himself asserts that his people, all who know him by the saving operations of his grace, all who are born of God and taught of God, understand all things.

 

Believers understand that the origin of all things is God. We understand that the end of all things is the salvation of GodÕs elect and the glory of his great name. GodÕs people understand that the nature of all things here is temporal. Everything here in this sin-cursed earth is temporal and vanishing. Every relationship in this world is just temporal. Most importantly, those who are taught of God understand all things spiritual. This is what the Apostle John tells us. — "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things" (1 John 2:20). All who are born of God and taught of God have the mind of Christ and understand all things vital and necessary to the saving of their souls.

 

Thanks for All Things

 

We understand that it is both the responsibility and the joy of believers to give thanks to God for all things. We are taught to give Òthanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). In the context Paul is talking about walking in the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. The Spirit filled life is the life of a believer giving thanks to God. — "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is both our duty and our great privilege to give thanks to God always and for all things. It glorifies God for us to praise him and give thanks to him. It breeds joy and peace in our own hearts and among our brethren for us to ever give thanks to God for all things.

 

Restitution of All Things

 

We also understand that there is a day coming called Òthe restitution of all thingsÓ (Acts 3:21). It is written, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." In that great and glorious day, when all things are brought to their final end, when time

 

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shall be no more, all things will glorify our God! Everything that has been, is now, or shall hereafter be, all things, all events, all creatures, and all the actions of all creatures, whether good or evil, will praise him and will prove to have been good! Everything, even you and I, will glorify the triune God, one way or another. We will either glorify his grace in Christ in our everlasting salvation; or, like Pharaoh, we will glorify his power and wrath in our everlasting destruction; but we will all glorify God!

 

Inherit All Things

 

In Revelation 21:7 we read, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." All true believers may rightfully sing, ÒWe shall overcome some day!Ó We shall at last, by the grace of God, completely overcome sin and all its consequences. We shall in the end overcome this world, all its lusts, and all its charms, by the power and grace of our God. By GodÕs free grace in Christ, we shall overcome Satan, too.

 

Thirty-five years ago, when my doctors thought I was about to die, and I was fairly certain that they were right, I got a card from a friend that lifted my spirit to heaven itself. It was totally blank, except for a Scripture reference. On the inside, my friend simply wrote the reference Romans 16:20. When I turned to it and read the text, my soul melted within me and leaped with joy in the realization of the promise contained in that text. Listen to this word from God to all his people. If you are a believer, this is GodÕs word to you. — "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly!" Then, we shall inherit all things, by the grace of God. We shall inherit all things with Christ, in Christ, and for ChristÕs sake!

 

End of All Things

 

We who are taught of God also understand that Òthe end of all things is at handÓ (1 Peter 4:7). — ÒBehold, he cometh!Ó When our great and glorious Christ appears the second time, without sin, unto salvation, then the end of all things will come. — The End of All Our Troubles! — The End of All Our Struggles! — The End of All Our Toils! — The End of All Our Trials! — The End of All Our Temptations! — The End of All Our Sins! — The End of All Our Sorrows!

 

Done All Things Well

 

GodÕs saints all understand this, too. — The Lord our God has done all things well! When the end of my days on this earth comes, when I look over my lifeÕs finished story, I am confident, this will be my final word then. And when the end of all things has come, and time shall be no more, this will be the final word of all His-Story and of all rational creatures: —- ÒHe hath done all things wellÓ (Mark 7:37). This I declare now; and this I will declare in that great day, when time shall be no more. ÒHe hath done all things wellÓ with me and mine! ÒHe hath done all things wellÓ with his church! ÒHe hath done all things wellÓ with his world! ÒHe hath done all things wellÓ with you and yours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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