A Terror and a Comfort (2)

Our text speaks of “the good.” Possibly some people might be strangely affected by this expression because it reminds them of the words which Christ spoke in Luke 18:19 when the ruler asked, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ answered, “Why calledst thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.” This ruler looked upon Christ as a Good Master but not as the Son of God, only as a man and as a Rabbi who through His own righteousness had made Himself worthy of eternal life. He looked upon Christ as the Holy One who, like himself, was striving to attain perfection in his own strength, but who had progressed much farther than he had even to the extent of excelling over all so that his salvation stood firm. From one like Him, this ruler wished to learn the secret of the measure of work necessary to attain perfection and eternal life.

Note very clearly that this ruler proceeded from the false principle that man can restore himself and make amends. If that were possible, man would be good next to God, possessing a goodness of his own making. In this respect he would be equal to God. However, when Christ said to the ruler, “None is good, save one, that is, God,” He meant to impress upon him that there is no such person who is good in himself, and therefore none can be called good. God is the Father of His own perfection, the fountain of His own goodness. None but He is good in Himself, and the goodness that is found in any creature proceeds only from Him as the work of His power, the gift of His grace, and the result of His goodness. The goodness of the creature is the handiwork of God like the brightness of a crystal is the reflection of the rays of the sun. It was not man who elevated himself to be the image bearer of God but God who created man after His own image. In order to be good, Man must be God and God in man.

As soon as Adam desired to be good apart from God, assisted by the knowledge of the law only of a moral life, understood as an independent law, he became evil. Evil began with the will to be good apart from and next to God, instead of through Him and out of Him. The ruler had fallen into this evil without being aware of it. He desired to advance so far that he could present himself before God as one who had made himself good and, consequently, as one who could claim a title to life upon his own doings which God would only have to acknowledge. Here again it was revealed, “Ye shall be as God.” In spite of his earnestness and good intentions, all his striving is rejected by God. We read in Psalm 14:3 also, “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

It is true of all who are comprehended in and born from the first Adam that not one is good; and because of the depravity that is spread over the entire creature, no one can perform any spiritual good. Still the text speaks of “the good.” As we should know, God’s children are also called by this name in Psalm 125:4. There the psalmist prays, “Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.”

By “the good” we must not understand those who are good in their own eyes, neither such as are considered good by others, but only those who are good in the eyes of God. Not of themselves, but in Christ, they are perfect; through Him they have been reconciled to God and washed and purified in His precious blood. Through the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit, a desire has been born in their hearts to walk in the paths of righteousness. They were made sincere by God and filled with the fear of God; thus the work of grace became evident in their lives. Although they have learned to know themselves as hypocrites, abhorring all dissimulation and hypocrisy, they desire, as a fruit of regeneration, to be united with Christ and to walk acceptably in His sight.

For those who are thus described as “good,” the omniscience of God is a comfort. Fear and reverence for God and His attributes have been planted in their hearts by God’s Spirit. In the state of nature they are afraid of God, but through grace they have found their delight in Him and, at times, are joyful because God is omniscient.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place...” that is, God has decreed from eternity what places they shall occupy in this world, such as the place of their birth, the place of their dwelling, and where they shall spend their days. Some are compelled to move from place to place, even from one country to another. Jacob came into Egypt in the land of Goshen when he was old. Moses dwelt in the land of Midian where he never expected to be. The God-fearing Joseph was cast into prison and the highly esteemed Daniel into the lions’ den. It is evident again and again that we “are but of yesterday, and know nothing.” God’s children remain pilgrims and strangers here upon earth until they arrive in the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Not until the Lord Jesus comes to bring them into His Father’s house with its many mansions will they be home. Their constant prayer, like David’s, can be found in Psalm 119:19, “I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.” What a comfort it is that the eyes of the Lord are in every place. It is impossible for God’s people to be anywhere where God does not see them. Only in the light of the King’s countenance are life, peace, and joy through the Holy Spirit experienced by God’s children.

God ever beholds them in love. Surely there are times and seasons when thoughts like the following arise within: “Does God’s eye still behold me? Does God know of my sad condition?” The anxieties of this quickened people can sometimes be so great that they cannot find rest. When, however, they may once again perceive that God’s eye is upon them in favor and not in wrath, a change takes place within which enables them to submit to God’s dealings with them and to continue their pilgrimage through this Mesech. Oh, what a privilege it is to experience in their hearts this sweet and precious fellowship with God. Even though they feel sad, they may enjoy holy familiarity with God; they may draw near to the throne of grace in that new and living way which God has consecrated through the blood of the precious Lamb of God. Then, losing sight of themselves, they may exclaim with Asaph, “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”

Like a sentinel, God keeps watch over His people. He takes notice of all their affairs. Like a mother watches over her sick child, so God takes care of His people. All that befalls them in this vale of tears has been decreed by Him, whether it is calamity, distress, danger, disappointment, strife, or trouble. What a great blessing it is that a great God and a precious Christ understand and fathom each person’s grief and sorrow when no one else can comprehend the depths into which they are brought at times. Thus the young men could walk in the midst of the fiery furnace, and Daniel could sit safely in the lions’ den. Paul and Silas sang songs of praise in the dungeon, and Peter slept in prison. God saw the oppression of His people in Egypt, and Christ saw Nathaniel under the fig tree. God has such a tender love for His people that His eye beholds their dwellings day and night, observes their hearts, and sees all circumstances of their lives.

The Lord Jesus is the faithful keeper who never slumbers or sleeps. He cast an eye upon Peter even though he had grievously sinned. He beheld Thomas in the fetters of unbelief. He saw John on the island of Patmos and hastened to comfort him in his captivity. He pays particular attention to His people. When they are despondent, He raises them up. When wandering, He brings them back. When they exalt themselves, He gives them a burden in order to humble them. If they are in heavy conflict, He brings them into a large place, “...He delivered me, because he delighted in me” (Psalm 18:19). “.. .no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly,” (Psalm 84:11). When they finally close their eyes in death and their body enters the grave, the Lord will keep watch over their dust. In the day of days, when they shall again open their eyes, they will behold His friendly face in righteousness and receive from His bountiful hands the crown of righteousness.

In conclusion, it is a personal question for each of us whether the omniscience of God shall be a terror or a source of joy and comfort for us. The doctrine of the omniscience of God is despised by thousands, but, whether we believe it or not, there is an omniscient God who sees and observes us from step to step and from moment to moment. He does not turn His eyes from us.

“Well the Lord will guard the righteous,
For their way to Him is known;
But the way of evildoers
Shall by Him be overthrown.”

What a serious admonition the omniscience of God affords us. Man did not choose to recognize God as God, and by nature the language of our hearts is “depart from me, for in the knowledge of Thy ways I have no desire.” Consider, however, young and old, small and great, that although we will have nothing to do with God, God reckons with us. The time is coming (it could easily be today, for our life is but a handbreadth, and all our lifetime is as nothing before God) when “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

To you who are still living in the state in which you were born and who have a delight in sin, oh, how deeply moved you should be to know that God’s eye observes you from day to day and from night to night. God will not behold sin lightly even though He does not always punish sin immediately. In the Bible we have only a few examples of God’s immediate punishing of sin. How the patience and long-suffering of God should humble you. May it become a wonder that God still bears with you and has not made an end of you. You are still living under the offer of grace, and the gospel is still preached to you. There is still time to humble yourself before God and to find reconciliation and forgiveness of all of your unrighteousness in the blood which cleanseth from all sin—the blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Children, shun sin in the days of your youth. Remember God’s eyes are in every place. God grant that you may bow your knees before Him in the days of your youth. May you receive a new heart and walk in His ways. In the keeping of His commandments there is great reward. Boys and girls, how thoughtlessly you often live. The world smiles at you from every side, and your heart is attracted to sin. Although your life is outwardly civil and religious, how can you stand before God? Do not visit the places of vanity where your soul will be destroyed and where you will be drawn away from the truth. May the truth make a deep impression upon your consciences.

There is also “the pestilence that walketh in darkness, and the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” Great are the dangers for young people. The evil of sin would not have so much power over us if our hearts were not so depraved. The greatest traitor is within us, and we are fettered under the power of Satan and sold under sin. Only the fear of God can keep us from sin. May God renew your hearts by His Spirit so that you may become an enemy to all sin and have a desire to all righteousness. Be assured that you cannot preserve yourself, but God must protect you. Even though no one in the world can observe you, neither your parents nor your minister and elders, God looks through darkness, the thickest walls, and the deepest valleys. Do not treasure up unto yourself wrath, for everything will be brought back to remembrance one day. The conscience speaks frequently, but in eternity it shall be a worm that dieth not and a fire that cannot be quenched. Seek the Lord in the days of your youth. May the omniscience of God occupy your thoughts at all times. “Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.”

Oh, people of the Lord, you will remember the time when these words brought you into distress, “Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” Oh, what an opening and what liberty did the blood, the reconciling blood of the Lamb, afford your soul. May you have no rest until your sins have been forgiven by that God against whom you have sinned. This omniscience of God has been a strength and comfort to you many times in your life when the enemy pursued you and when sin oppressed you. Have you ever let the Lord look into your heart amidst all your convictions and strife? It is His own work which is glorified therein. Your strife will continue as long as you are in the world. Darkness will continually return, and the enemy will not relent from oppressing you. Let it be to your encouragement, however, through the power of the Spirit, that God knows and watches over you. His eye is fixed upon you. May your eye also be continually upon Him.

— Rev. W.C. Lamain (1904-1984)

Dear Readers:

As you read this issue of The Banner of Truth, you will note that almost the entire issue has been devoted to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations (Gereformeerde Gemeenten) in 1907 in the Netherlands and in North America. To borrow from Rev. Moerkerken as he wrote in De Saambinder of May 31,2007, “There is much in the history of our denomination for which we must have reason to be ashamed. So often we have left our first love, so often we have loved the world and brought the world into our hearts and our homes. We have departed so far from the simple lifestyle of our forefathers. As ministers we must bow our heads in shame as we think of those old ministers who have gone before us who served and edified the congregations in simplicity. This is also true of elders and deacons. Over against so much of God's long-suffering there has been so much human unfaithfulness and stubbornness. We have not kept our unity, but in the middle of the century of our existence, there was a sad and painful division. We feel far too little longing for those of God's children with whom the break occurred. That is what must be said of us.

There is, however, also something to be said of the Lord, ‘Thou, nevertheless…’ He brought us together in the beginning of the twentieth century; time and again He sent us His servants. At times His Spirit worked richly amongst us. He granted us, even as the congregation of Sardis, some who have not defiled their garments; He did not find our works without blemish before His countenance, but He did not do with us according to our sins. He, faithfully and from His side, remembered His covenant. He worked in the generations. Sinners were converted unto Him, also young people. We would shortchange God if we did not acknowledge all these benefits. As we enter a new century may our expectation be from Him.”

As was stated in De Saambinder, we wish to recognize this milestone in a sober manner, not only with gratitude for what God has granted us in the past one hundred years, but also with a call to repentance for all of our shortcomings. May the Lord graciously remember our denomination, also here in North America, and bring together what belongs together. May our expectation be from Him who never forsakes the works of His own hand.

The Editors

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