God’s Power B (Listen or Read)
God Can Change Anyone
Does God merely do the “best He can for every man” as our tradition implies? Thomas Allin, D.D., historian, author, and clergyman of the English Episcopal Church North London (late 19th and early 20th centuries), wrote in Christ Triumphant:
If the best an Almighty Being can do for countless myriads of His children is to force on them whether they will or not, an existence stained with sin from the womb, knowing that in fact this sin will ripen into endless misery—then such phrases are but dust thrown in our eyes. They are as argument beneath refutation. To force on me the gift of life, is to do for me not the best, but the worst possible.1
At the heart of my understanding of God’s power is the conviction He can change anyone. This is His best! If He can change you and me, why not all? If God can take Paul, the chief of sinners (1Ti. 1:15), and make him the chief of Apostles and a world changer, is there anyone He cannot transform? Ezekiel 36:23-36 reads:
23 “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.…
26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.…
29 “I will deliver you from all your uncleanness.…
31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.
32 “Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!” For whose sake? The nations in verse 23 and 36.
35 “So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’
36 “Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.”
In this passage (vs. 27) God causes unfaithful Israel to walk in His statutes. In verse 26, He will even give Israel a new heart and spirit. Wow, just think of it! Is there anyone on earth in due time God is unable to change? And as 1,000 years is as a single day to God (2Pe. 3:8), I have complete confidence He will accomplish all His purposes for every individual. Time is not a problem. He has the ages in which to operate. If He will do it for Israel, then He will do it for the nations as well, for He is not partial (See “His Love Is Not Partial” in chapter 2). In fact, in verse 32, He even states it is not for their sakes He will do this. Then for whose? Who else but for the nations on His heart in verses 23 and 36! This shows God blesses Israel in order to be His channel of blessing to the whole world (Ge. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Ac. 3:25; Ga. 3:8).
Is it really possible? Can God change people so they will do His will? Absolutely! But the question should not be, “Can God change people?” but rather, “Why does He?” Why? Love. Love that holds nothing back. Love itself became the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1Jn. 2:2). Love paid the ultimate price and redeemed the world. These promises to Israel should bring us much hope. God’s plan has always been to reach the nations. It will yet be fulfilled, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Ro. 11:29). Can God fail?
He Will Do It!
¨ I will give them a heart to know Me…for they shall return to Me with their whole heart (Jer. 24:7).
¨ I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts;…they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Jer. 31:33-34; He. 8:10).
¨ There is nothing too hard for You (Jer. 32:17).
¨ I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever.…I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from me (Jer. 32:39-40).
¨ He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities (Mic. 7:19).
It is most important to realize that God can and will change the hearts of men so they will repent and serve Him. What He does for a few, He does for all! Abraham did not waver at God’s promise through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith. In this he gave
God glory. Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to
do what He promised. Thus Abraham was accounted righteous (Ro. 4:20-22). Will we give Him glory and be accounted righteous too—or are we only partially convinced He is willing and able to do what He promised? Let us repent for not acknowledging God’s power as it is set forth in Scripture (Mt. 22:29).
References: See Bibliography page.
