The Statesman Recognizes the Need to Operate in Accord with the Instructions of the Creator-Designer – Part 2

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We recently made the argument that our Lord has designed and set up His creation in such a way that those who operate within His creation need His instruction in order to be able to do so effectively. Of immediate interest to us is the application of this truth to the institution of Government.

God warns humanity, beginning with the decision-makers:

Woe to those who go to great lengths to hide their plans from the LORD. They do their works in darkness, and say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” You have turned things around, as if the potter were the same as the clay. How can what is made say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”? How can what is formed say about the one who formed it, “He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”? (Isaiah 29:15-16)

and–

Woe to the rebellious children! This is the LORD’s declaration. They carry out a plan, but not Mine. (Isaiah 30:1)

We are warned that we cannot intuit or speculate on His plans when Almighty God Himself says:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Clearly, He expects us to be dependent upon Him for His wisdom and guidance. He makes clear that He will not abandon us to navigate His creation by ourselves. God makes the powerful promise to us:

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel. (Psalm 32:8)

God speaks to us clearly if we will listen:

For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. (Job 33:14)

By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: (Isaiah 45:23)

We must make sure that we listen. He speaks to us in a quiet voice directly as we listen for His voice. Jesus illustrated this as He used the analogy of Himself as the shepherd and us as His sheep:

My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)

The sheep are special in that they listen intently for His voice and when He speaks, they are able to hear it. Let us also remember that our ability to hear His voice is dependent upon our willingness to obey Him without reservation.

And He speaks to us through His Word. The psalmist, under God’s inspiration, reminds us several times in Psalm 119 alone:

How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the LORD’s instruction! Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:1-2)

Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wonderful things from Your instruction. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Your commands from me. (Psalm 119:18-19)

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Finally, we are admonished to remember to recognize our need for His wisdom and to ask Him for it:

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Let us pause for a moment to reflect on the application to our lives and actions.

If we were to ask our Creator and Lord with every decision we make what He would have us to do, who would be operating through our life? Clearly, it would be our Master. This would allow us to say as President Lincoln said:

In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am.

and–

I hold myself in my present position and with the authority vested in me as an instrument of Providence.

Literally, we would be able to say with Lincoln that we are His instrument in His hands.

This is the insight that I am convinced produced a Statesman that we can all look to today.

PERSONALIZING: Is this a step we are willing to take?