Vain Plans
Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain” (Psalm 2:1)? The Psalmist asked this question in light of the reality of the sovereignty of God. His question is as relevant today as it was when the Psalmist asked it.
The Bible recommends planning. But the plans that believers are to make are formulated knowing that God is sovereign and He gives wisdom to those who ask Him. That is, those who profess trust in the Lord Jesus as He is offered in the gospel desire to submit all their plans to Him knowing that He will accomplish His will.
Man’s natural, albeit sinful, desire is to be autonomous. We sometimes think that we are the center of the universe. Charles Darwin a Unitarian, for example, sought to explain creation as coming from a common source rather than a sovereign God. Rather than a Creator, Darwin’s theory was purposed in demonstrating that creation came about through chance and natural selection. Men deduce that if his theory of evolution is true then there is no need to assume the Creator as He is revealed in Genesis.
Most reasonable people have rejected pure Darwinism. Over the years there have been many caveats made to Darwin’s original theory. As we have learned more about God’s wonderful and marvelous creation, pseudo-intellectuals have modified Darwin’s theory to accommodate intricacies that have been observed.
Darwin wrote of one of the weaknesses of his theory. He admitted that the theory of evolution could not explain the complexities of the human eye. He was sure that as technology advanced, those complexities would eventually be explained in evolutionary terms. Today the functions of the human eye are known but the eye’s ability to do all that it can still points to the sovereign purpose of God. As we learn more about ourselves and the world around us, Psalm 139:14a gives us great assurance that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a sovereign Creator.
Still men suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). This is precisely the Psalmist’s point in Psalm 2. Faced with our true place as creatures before a sovereign Creator, we still seek to set ourselves up as gods.
My concern is how naïve Christians seem to be. I suggest that Christians should be able to reasonably assess the circumstances in which they find themselves. I further suggest that most Christians can recognize those who are calling evil good and good evil. It seems that there are still some, perhaps more than some, who base their hope on the government or our leaders rather than on the Sovereign Lord Jesus.
The word of God provides practical exhortation for all mankind. Psalm 2:11-12 says, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way. For his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Serving the LORD begins with worship. We will serve the one we worship. Worship requires humility leading to submission. The New Testament calls believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God because that is reasonable worship [service] (Romans 12:1). God promised blessing for those who rely upon Him.
Kissing the Son is to honor, respect, submit and obey the Son of God who is Jesus! Jesus said that the one who loves Him obeys Him. He is the focus of our lives. Jesus is at the center of all life. The health of all personal relationships proceed from the fundamental relationship with Him. Jesus also said that true disciples abide [live] in His word (John 8:31).
The Psalmist declared what was at stake for failure to know the truth. He said that Jesus’ anger, judgment, and wrath would be experienced by those who persist in thinking themselves to be God.
This should not be news to Christians. Yet, we have allowed the world to shape our behavior. We’ve succumbed too often to the elevated worth of those who rule over us rather than govern us as those accountable to God.
Jesus said to fear the one who can destroy both our bodies and souls in hell. Don’t be deceived, Jesus is the Sovereign Lord. He will hold all men accountable for their actions. He will have the final say. Christian, persevere in being a true disciple of Jesus. Remain in His word. “Kiss the Son!”
