THE ONENESS OF GOD'S PURPOSE.
By H. F. Phelps
"O LORD, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep." Ps. 92:5. Truly, "the works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." Ps. 111:2. In studying the eternity of God's works, we must also study the eternity and depths of the thoughts of God. And in doing this we must forsake our own thoughts, for "the Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." Ps. 94:11. Then why should we cling to them so tenaciously? Let them go, for they "are vanity." "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord." But God's thoughts are very "high," as well as "very deep." "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa. 55:7, 8, 9. Now there is no such thing as mind vacuum. Fighting evil thoughts will always be defeat. Evil thoughts can not be put away except by filling the mind with good thoughts. But the wicked man can not think good thoughts of himself; for every good thought and purpose is from God. He formed man's mind. We do not think one noble thought that does not come from Him. He knows all the mysterious workings of the human mind, for did He not make it? It is apparent, then, that the only successful way is for a man to think God's thoughts after Him. And there is no better way to do this than to contemplate the works of God, and to study His Word. All the works of God, and all His words, are but the expression of the thoughts of God. And if we will but put away our own individual ideas, for they are vanity, and think the thoughts of God as He has expressed them, we may be assured of this one thing, we shall behold most wonderful things. Our study of the thoughts of God is altogether too superficial. We frequently read them, and then attach our own meaning, not stopping to consider what He says. Again, we are like children, content to play on the beach when there is an ocean beyond. Never was there a more needed time for the study of His thoughts; for never did Infidelity walk forth with a more brazen face than to-day. And never has the Holy Spirit been more urgent that each individual should study the Bible for himself, and that before God. We must depend upon no living man. We must study the Word of God upon bended knee, and with bowed head; for it is our God that is speaking. We must not be satisfied till we shall know more of its richness, its sweetness, and its purity. We must not be content with a few drops, when there is an ocean from which to drink; nor with a few gems of truth, while there are mines yet unexplored. Nor should we wonder or rise up in unbelief if some one should go deeper than we have gone. God will discover rich gems of truth to all who will think His thoughts after Him, whether he be high or low, rich or poor. But let us not vainly imagine that a single thought of the infinite Mind is to be fathomed, or measured, at one sitting. Others may find in the same thought more than we have ever seen. "Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward; they can not be reckoned up in order unto Thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Ps. 40:5. Why are men so loath to think God's thoughts in the study of His words and His works? Why not say with David, "I hate vain thoughts; but Thy law do I love" (Ps. 119:113)? "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 15:26); for they are vanity; but "the thoughts of the righteous are right" (chapter 12:5); because he has given himself to think God's thoughts. And, for our encouragement, God tells us, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" ("a happy future," Jewish translation). Jer. 29:11. Reader, explore some of those mines of revealed truth. Yes, thanks be to His name, His Word is not an unfathomable mystery, but a revelation of His own thoughts, and that of peace, concerning you and me, notwithstanding we have been rebellious against Him. Let us study them. And as we do so, we may expect to see wonders, for wonderful things are there revealed. Let the mind expand to take them in. As we come to the fountain for ourselves, we shall need a much larger vessel than we have been wont to carry with us. And let us be sure that the vessel we carry is not already filled with the rubbish of our own preconceived opinions, that will only prove a hindrance in our investigations. Let us take earnest heed to the exhortation, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2:7.