[Songs in the Night - June 26]
In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. Ephesians 1:11
THE question naturally arises, Why should God
test faith rather than works?
The answer is that all
kinds of works are dependent upon the ability of the
worker, and that the whole race of Adam has become
unable to do perfect works, on account of the fall of
their first parents.
None can be perfectly just, perfectly
wise, perfectly loving; to be so in our present
imperfect condition is impossible.
Therefore, in his
wisdom and love, God avoids making his test along
those lines in which we are absolutely incompetent,
and makes it along the line of faith—in his wisdom,
his love, and his promises.
To doubt any of these
would be to weaken the basis of our hope.
We realize
that we are in a fallen condition, that we are dying like
the remainder of the race.
We have heard through
the Word of God that he has provided a Savior, but we
see that things continue much as they were, despite all
that God and Christ have done.
Our faith, however,
assures us that God, who knew the end from the beginning,
is working all things according to the counsel
of his own will and that in due time he will establish
righteousness in the earth. Z'12-321 R5115:2 (Hymn 197)