Enjoying God's Best # 1

Enjoying God's Best # 1

In the January and February 1946 issues of Studies in the Scriptures, we wrote two short articles entitled, "Enjoying God's Best" and "Missing God's Best"; and ti must be confessed that we were rather surprised at receiving no criticisms, or at least questions, from some of our Calvinistic readers, for we felt it would be very difficult for them to harmonize their contents with what they had been taught, That is not said in any invidious or satirical spirit, for some of our closest and warmest friends are Calvinists, nor is the writer in the least afraid or ashamed to avow himself one, yes, a high Calvinist - though not a "hyper." There is a very real difference between the two, though few today are aware of it.

A "high" Calvinist not only believes in the absolute sovereignty of God, in His having predestinated everything which comes to pass in time, in the unconditional choice of His people in Christ from all eternity, in particular redemption, in the invincible operations and effectual call of the Holy Spirit - but he also believes that God made choice of His elect irrespective of or without any foreview of their fall in Adam; and thus, he is a "supra-lapsarian" regarding God's act as influenced by nothing outside of Himself.

But a "hyper" Calvinist is one who goes beyond the teaching of Scripture - resorting to reasoning and philosophizing upon various aspects of truth, which leads to his repudiating other aspects thereof. He makes an idol of "consistency." That is, what appears to be consistent to his mind. He attempts to square everything by the rule of logic.

Since he finds that Scripture teaches particular redemption, that Christ obeyed and suffered only in the stead and on the behalf of God's elect - he thus regards the "free offer" of the Gospel to all who hear it as "contradictory."

Since fallen man is totally depraved, dead in trespasses and sins, utterly incapable of performing a spiritual act - he thus deems it "inconsistent" to exhort and all upon the unregenerate to repent and believe in order to their salvation.

Since God is absolute sovereign, working in men both to will and to do of His good pleasure, bestowing or withholding as He pleases - he thus cannot see how that man is, at the same time, fully responsible for all his actions.

Often he fails to perceive the connection which God has appointed between means and ends.

In like manner, since God has foreordained whatever comes to pass, to speak of an enjoying of His best (rather than His second or third best), and missing His best - strikes him as meaningless, if not erroneous, expressions.

Before proceeding farther, let us explain what we intend by "enjoying God's best."

We mean for the saint to have daily communion with God, to walk in the light of His countenance.

It is for His Word to be sweet unto our taste, light to our understanding, and strength to the inner man.

It is for prayer to be a delight, for answers of peace to be received without intermission, for the channel of supplies to remain unblocked, open.

It is to have the mind stayed upon Him, to have a conscience void of offence, to have full assurance of our acceptance in Christ.

It is for our graces to be kept healthy and vigorous - so that faith, hope, love, humility, patience, and zeal are in daily exercise. And such should be the experience of every Christian.

By God's "best," we mean a personal experience of His approbation, a manifest enjoyment of His favor in grace, in providence, and in nature. It is not to be limited unto the receiving of His special favors in a spiritual way - but includes as well His interpositions on our temporal behalf. It is to have the blessing of the Lord upon our lives, in all their varied aspects and relations, upon the soul and body alike. It is to enjoy the sense of His approval, and have Him showing Himself strong in our behalf.

Though it does not mean that such a one will be exempted from the ordinary vicissitudes and trials of life - but rather that such will be sanctified unto him and result in increased blessing, for they not only make a way for God to put forth His power in delivering him from them or elevating his heart above them - but they also serve for the developing of his graces and provide opportunities for him to glorify Him in the fire." Nevertheless, it does mean that such a one will escape those troubles and afflictions in which the follies of so many Christians involve them: it does mean that he will be immune from those sore chastisements which disobedience and a course of backsliding necessarily entail.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)