Magyar Egyház, 1956 (35. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1956-03-01 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 ENGLISH SECTION ‘Dívíiklj ‘Trovidenctj Q. 27. What do you understand by the Providence of God? The almighty everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth, with all creatures; and so governs them, that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand. Q. 28. What does it profit us to know that God has created and by His providence still upholds all things? That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and for what is future, have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move. Rom. 8:28, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” The doctrine contained in this verse of Scripture is too difficult for the adult mind to undersand: yet it is easily understood by children. In this respect, it is proof of the words of Jesus, which were read by one little girl this morning, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:15). This difficult, yet simple doctrine is called the “Doctrine of Providence.” What does Providence mean? Let us hear how the Heidelberg Catechism defines it: “The almighty everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth, with all ceatures; and so governs them, that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.” (Question 27.) Thus we distinguish in the doctrine of Providence two things: 1.) preservation and 2.) government. Preservation, viz., that “He still upholds heaven and earth, with all creatures,” is simple enough for all to understand. When God finished the work of creation, He was not finished with what He had made. The idea, which is often heard in some circles, that God is the Great Architect and Master Builder, cannot be allowed to stand sufficient as a Christian concept of God. The architect and builder complete a structure for its function, and thereafter, have little or nothing to do with it. The Bible teaches that God is not only the Architect and Builder of the Universe, but also its present Master, Owner, Tenant, who STILL upholds heaven and earth, with all creatures. Paul says in Colossians 1:17, “in Him all things hold together.” We believe, then, that God, in His Providence, keeps His creation constantly before Him. It is never out of His thought or attention for even an instant, for, if it were it would fall back into that primeval chaos from which He called it by His Word. The other part of the doctrine of Providence is far more difficult than this. It is the part called Divine government. The Holy Scriptures express it in no uncertain terms, as e.g., in our text, “In EVERYTHING God works for good with those who love Him.” The Catechism is equaly unequivocal: “All things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.” What does this imply? The matter soon becomes too deep for adult minds. We confess with the apostle John, “God is love.” Then we ask, why does He send drought, barren years, sickness, poverty, yes, even war and death to His creatures? If these things were obvious punishments for sins, we might be able to rationalize them, but often they fall on good and evil alike, without discrimination. During the past we experienced Civil Defense Tests. Hydrogen bombs were supposed to have fallen on the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. and about three million people were presumed to have been killed. This was all supposition, make-believe, but we are painfully aware that it COULD happen. When the prophet Jonah desired the destruction of the great city of Nineveh, God asked him, “Should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11). May we not ask, well what about Hiroshima or Dresden or Rotterdam and other great cities so fearfully bombed in World War II? And what about Brooklyn? Does God indeed work for good in EVERYTHING? Do ALL THINGS come by His Fatherly hand? To ask the question is enough. Adult minds cannot conceive a satisfactory answer. But here is the great thing. He reveals them to babes. Such is His gracious will. The reason why the child is in the midst in this matter is this. Children give the example of faith in God as trust in a loving heavenly Father. Grownups seek an answer that is reasonable and answers the questions they have in the mind. Children find the answer in an area which is not unreasonable, but above all reason, in the area of personal relationship to a God who has revealed Himself in Christ as a loving heavenly Father. The ordinary child does not have to know its parent’s problems and the reasons for their actions: it still goes to them in its every need. Even
