Staking His Name on It

"You are going to get a good, honest deal here...I'd stake my name on it!" Sound familiar? While I wouldn't pin this to any specific company, dealership or individual; I would venture a guess that you may have heard a claim like this many times in your life. Often times when we hear a phrase like this uttered we may think, given the person's reputation, that they really aren't putting much on the line. However, when Almighty God stakes His Name on something we really ought to pay attention!

In Isaiah 64 God compares Himself, the Living God, to the dead idols tempting the Israelites. After humiliating the impotent idols of wood and gold God turns to display His own character, which reads in part: "Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 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,'" (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Notice the argument God makes for His own deity. He tells us that He is the true God, and the idols are false because He declares the future. He tells us what will happen, and has done so from the beginning. The applications of this great truth are limitless. Firstly, we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heresies that suggest that "God doesn't really know what is going to happen" or "God likes surprises!" are patent errors. Secondly, we can know that God's declaration of the future is firm, being intimately tied to His very character and nature. Thirdly, we know that based on the accuracy of previous predictions (Predictions of which nations would rule, who would rule them, the great detail with which the first coming of Christ was predicted, and the list goes on and on) that His promises to us of salvation, sanctification and life eternal are equally sure.

Finally, we can rest in the clearly revealed fact that God is in control. This fact cannot be reiterated enough to us in difficult or confusing times. When may often find it difficult to understand how God allows this sin ravaged world to continue down its path of hatred, fear, violence, sickness, loss and despair. We cannot let our feelings dominate our perception. We must see it through eyes of faith in the revealed facts of Scripture, trusting that He is able to work all things together for good(Romans 8:28), He will sum all things up in Christ (Ephesians 1:10)and He will work all things together for His glory (Psalm 46:10).