The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 98:10,
"The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness
to the nations."
How has the Lord made his salvation known and revealed his
righteousness to the nations? He has crafted his gospel message and
revealed himself through creation. He uses these together to call a
lost and fallen world to himself.
Paul tells us, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.
God has crafted a gospel message that can reach into the darkest
heart. The gospel is a unique message in that it contains a certain
power from God, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16.
This message is attended by God through his creation as a message to
lost and fallen mankind that he has something to say, "Their voice has
gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
Romans 10:18 where Paul quotes Psalm 19:4. In Psalm 19:1-4 we read,
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of
his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night
they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their
voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world."
Paul points to this as why sinful man is culpable for his rejection of
the gospel. Since God's creation speaks of God, when God's message is
given and ignored, it isn't because lost and fallen mankind is unable
to understand or accept his gospel. "The wrath of God is being
revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men
who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known
about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For
since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20.
Jesus tells us why lost and fallen mankind refuses to accept the
gospel. In his conversation with Nicodemus he said, "This is the
verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead
of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates
the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed." John 3:19-20. It is because some cling to their sin
they refuse to respond to the gospel.
However, some will respond to the gospel and embrace Jesus Christ in
faith. "whoever lives by the truth comes into the light", John 3:21.
It is these the Lord has chosen for himself. When asked if I believe
in election, I always respond, "Of course I do! God has chosen for
himself all who will embrace him in faith in response to his gospel
message!" As Jesus said in John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, whoever
hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will
not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." We also
read in John 1:12, "To all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God".
What more could God have done to make a way for us into his family?
How wonderful he has provided all an invitation to join him!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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