I am approaching this Sunday with fear and trembling because we have progressed through Peter’s first epistle to Chapter 3:1-7; aka “For better or worse.”
Given that a marriage sermon sorta’ leaves out a segment of the congregation I planned to write this blog about “Singleness.” I grabbed one of my trusty sermon illustration books looking for inspiration about the topic. This book is arranged by subject and lists them alphabetically…I got to “sinfulness” and knew I was close, but the illustrations skipped right over “Singleness” and went to “Sovereignty.” Now I’m not a big signs and wonders guy, but I’d have to be blind and deaf not to see that one! 🙂
R.B. Kuiper once used the following illustration of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility:
I liken them to two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and over a pulley above. If I wish to support myself by them, I must cling to them both. If I cling only to one and not the other, I go down.
I read the many teachings of the Bible regarding God’s election, predestination, his chosen, and so on. I read also the many teachings regarding “whosoever will may come” and urging people to exercise their responsibility as human beings. These seeming contradictions cannot be reconciled by the puny human mind. With childlike faith, I cling to both ropes, fully confident that in eternity I will see that both strands of truth are, after all, of one piece.
I don’t know if my readers have never married or are widowed; I know many are married and I’m hoping they read this too. If any of us are saddened or worried by our state, or if any of us have anger or regret rise up because of something that “isn’t,” this is a great reminder. Even as we pull on our rope (doing all that we can), we hang on to His rope knowing and believing that He knows best!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Your Fellow Sojourner,
Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 