The Narrow Path Ministries

Hi Steve,

I believe all of us have seen a big picture made up of a collage of smaller individual distinct photos. I even heard that these are done with the use of a computer program that takes in hundreds of scanned photos (maybe photos from a graduation ceremony, a wedding, photo of the sky, or even of a many-colored flower field) and outputs a collage of pix arranged so as to resemble one big picture say of Mona Lisa, Princess Diana etc. (as seen from some distance).

Maybe this could serve as a good illustration of God's sovereignty over mankind. Just like the scanned individual photos, man, individually, may will and act distinctly on his own - without God forcing him. But God, in His determined level of sovereignty, would interweave (allow/thwart/delay) the many different acts/wills of man such that on the final analysis, on the grandest scale, His will/plan comes out - just like the Mona Lisa..

As Isaiah 46:9-10 declares,
v.9 "For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
v.10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, "My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,'

Indeed, God has ordained/purposed and declared his salvation plan (even in the Garden) and that plan shall stand in spite of man's ability to will/act as he pleases.

It seems like Pastor Cooks is finding it difficult to reconcile man's will/acts - unbridled and God's ordained plan established. Well, if it works with a computer program in the natural (or electronic) sense, then it should work fine with God in the spiritual/universal sense.


In the Master's Name,

Richard.

Richard,
Thanks for the insightful illustration. I will use it in the future. I think it makes good sense and makes clear the concept that I believe best explains the freedom of man and the sovereignty of God. God bless.