Truth Matters: A Living Sacrifice

By Ken Askew

“Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?” 
ESV Lamentations 3:37-38

(Concluding a series, today we’ll look at the last of the “Four Essentials for Finishing Well” that I picked up from Jerry Bridges at a fall conference.)

I think it best to begin this article by reviewing the first three essentials for finishing well. First, we need a daily, focused time of communion with God so that we make choices pleasing to God and in accord with His word.  Secondly, just like a Captain needs a sextant to hold his heading, just like a hiker needs a compass to stay on the correct path, Christians need a daily appropriation of the Gospel in order to stay on course and to persevere in the faith in all humility. Thirdly, we are called to live each day as a living sacrifice to God. Mr. Bridges described the benefits of such an attitude well:  “When we look at each day as a day as God’s servant, the noise of the day is less tiresome. The day is God’s to do with as He chooses.” 

Now, let’s look at the fourth essential to finishing well: A firm belief in the sovereignty of God.

This word “sovereign” means different things to different people. But a quick check of www.yourdictionary.com rendered it: superior to all others; supreme in power, rank, or authority; independent of all others. I like all those definitions. Why would we worship a God who was any less? I mean, would He really be God if He were only partially sovereign; partially supreme; partially in authority? Nope. Sovereignty is an absolute with God; either He’s sovereign, or He’s not God. 

Now, the discussion of how God exercises His sovereign power must be reserved for another day. For now, let us focus on the clear teaching of scripture: God is sovereign in every sense of the word.

Firmly believing and resting in God’s sovereignty affords Christians the luxury of approaching every day as good day; even those days filled with various trials.  As an example, remember the story of Joseph; the youth that was sold into slavery by his brothers. His brothers intended him harm, but God intended it for good and Joseph steadfastly affirmed this reality.  Even more, Joseph lived this reality and you can too.

Isn’t it easy to be thankful when things are going well?  Sure it is.  But, don’t we all find it difficult to maintain a thankful demeanor when things go terribly wrong?  The remedy, according to Mr. Bridges, is living each day with a firm belief in the sovereignty of God; such a mindset keeps us from being bitter in our circumstances.  It’s the same mindset that the writer of Lamentations (perhaps the prophet Jeremiah) had.

You see, even in our most difficult day, in the most trying of circumstances, God is still sovereign; ruling in perfect knowledge and in perfect love.  More importantly, the Gospel is still in force. And Christians can count on God to see them clothed in the righteousness of Christ; never to be forgotten; never to be forsaken.

I can only hope that these essentials have been conveyed in such a manner that they prove helpful to you as you face each day.  When Paul’s time on earth was drawing nigh, he wrote to Timothy, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Paul finished well.  By the grace of God, may you finish well too.