“God has marked with prescient eye all the requirements of His poor wandering children, and when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness which He has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only”
Morning and Evening Devotional Charles Spurgeon
Antiquated English
Having written on God’s sovereignty in the past as it relates to suffering and the challenges we face in this fallen world these words struck me as encouraging. The English in the quote might be a little antiquated but true none the less. Charles Spurgeon considered one of the greatest preachers ever wrote these words in the late 1800′s. It is now 2009 soon to be 2010 and these words ring important today.
Spurgeon states God has marked with prescient eye all the requirements of his poor wandering children and those supplies are at the ready. First, what does the word prescient mean? Encarta Dictionary: pre∙sci∙ent (adjective) knowing in advance (having or showing knowledge of actions or events before they take place). Today, we don’t use the word prescient often (as a matter of fact I had never heard the word before) we are more used to hearing and using the word sovereign.
The Ready Room
First, Spurgeon tells us God, has foreknowledge of actions or events that will occur to His children. Second, he tells us God has readied supplies beforehand to meet the needs of these actions or events. As I read that I envisioned a room with my name on the door filled with Gods resources intended and waiting for my present and future needs. I also envision rooms filled with resources for many others who call upon the name of Christ. Resources at the ready prepared beforehand to be used in time of need!
Now the questioning and complaining begins
Spurgeon next states: “It is goodness, goodness and goodness only that is prepared”. Many of us, who have suffered or continue to, might question that statement with great passion.
- “The supplies sure don’t feel like they are good?”
- “How come life is so hard for me?”
- “Now, does this situation feel good and good only. “
- “I don’t seem to be getting any of those prepared and ready supplies. I need them now.”
- “How could a good, sovereign God allow this to occur?”
- “When will it end and the resources start flowing”.
- “What good could come of this?”
- “I think I know what it is that is good and this is not it.”
The questions and statements could go on and on without end. But, Spurgeon says with foreknowledge God has stored up “good and only good” supplies for his people.
The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2.16-17)
Over the years, I have done what many would call unscientific research (better known as “dirty research”). One of the objects of my research can be found in the following question.
Why do you think God did not want Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
I have asked pastor and parishioner alike across several denominations and found surprising results. Most respondents answered the question inaccurately. Better said they answered the question incompletely. Incomplete according to what I believe is the correct and complete answer.
Oh boy, now I am about to get myself in trouble!
Many answered God did not what them to become like Him in knowledge while others simply said because God told them not to eat from it and desired their obedience. I believe the complete answer has everything to do with the truth of the words spoken by Spurgeon above and being able to “Suffer Well”.
They only knew Good
God did not want them to eat from the fruit for by eating they would know both good and evil. This is significant because before they ate of that forbidden tree they only knew good. They had no knowledge of evil up to that point. Zero Zip Nada
They lived in a place where everything was seen as good. Their work, where they lived, how they lived, their relationship, their clothing (or lack thereof), their relationship with God and anything that occurred in the garden were good. During the creation of the universe we see God’s punctuation mark of “it is good” following each creation. We also see that punctuation mark exaggerated at the creation of man “it is very good”. Adam and Eve knew only good. Whatever happened during the time they lived in the Garden of Eden before the fall was good and only good.
Why?
Why is this significant? Before the fall there is no record of Adam and Eve questioning anything. There was never a why question uttered by them to each other or in their relationship with God. Following the fall they understood evil as well as good and the questioning and challenging of God began. His works and words were no longer seen as good they were suspect in the eyes of sinful man. It immediately became man’s standard. We see the questioning of God throughout biblical history. We see it today in everyday life. I see it in my life and if you are honest you see it in your life as well.
Remember the room of prescient resources spoken of by Spurgeon? He called the resources as good and good only.
When we suffer or encounter difficulties in our lives don’t we question God? I know I am prone to do so. Our questions are always directed toward wondering why a good God allowed this or that to happen because we don’t see all the actions of God as good like Adam and Eve did before the fall. We no longer see everything that happens under the prescient eye of God as good.
Good and only good
Ever wonder what it would be like to see all things that occur under the prescient eye and hand of God as good and good only. Certainly doing that is a huge challenge as we face life’s challenges. Yet to have the deepest authentic conviction that whatever is created by God and under His sovereign, prescient will is punctuated as He did during creation by the words “it was good” or “it is very good”.
This conviction if deeply held and aware as Spurgeon stated there are “supplies ready” for us His poor and wandering children will not alleviate suffering, evil or the challenges of life but give us hope, a deep awareness of the magnificence of Christ, and peace found in the knowledge of His prescient eye and ready resources. When I challenge and question God I subtly attempt to place myself in His place which requires repentance.
Adverto Coram Deo
David
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Wow David – this is really good stuff! I am gonna have to read and re-read again, and then definitely come before Him in repentance. Thanks!
Martha. Thanks for your comment. It is both encouraging and humbling. Please feel free to pass on the blog to others who might benefit.
I always try to end my blog with ADVERTO CORAM DEO (toward living before the face of God). Dealing with the why question is definitely something that we are constantly moving toward achieving. David