Life on planet earth is not easy. It has not been so for a long time. Actually, Adam and Eve, the first ones on this earth, were also the last ones to live a life of bliss. When they sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit, life changed dramatically. Instead of being cared for by God Himself, they found that they must care for themselves and that hasn’t worked out too well for humanity. They had to leave that wonderful place called the Garden of Eden and start to work to provide for themselves. They also suddenly began to feel pain when injured in some way. Sin became an every-moment problem for them when before there was no sin in Eden. In reading Genesis chapter 3, we can find the accounting of when God banished Adam and Eve from the garden. They would have to work and provide for themselves and we have been doing that ever since. In Genesis 3:24 we find how God drove them from the garden and set cherubim (an angel) and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. Man cannot get eternal life in any other way but through faith in God’s sacrifice of His Son Jesus. God had His plan in place long before Adam and Eve ate of the fruit. They did not catch Him by surprise in what they did and none of what we do takes Him by surprise either. It would do us well if we remembered that.
During the many years of my personal ministry to thousands of people, I have seen every conceivable situation play out in the lives of people. I have had to deal with people in times of agony and grief. My ministry also put me in the situation of having to inform people of a death or serious injury. Many times, I have stood by people in the emergency room with a loved one not responding to treatment. Following such an experience a funeral is more than likely going to have to be planned. One can tell just how deep and profound a person’s relationship with God really is when they go through deep grief. There is a peace that passes all understanding at times like this when a person has a right relationship with the Lord. Sure, there is sadness and moments of deep emotion but there is also a peace the world knows nothing about which floods the soul and spirit of a truly dedicated Christian. Somehow, they know that God is still in control and that their every need is being met. Tears may flow but assurance accompanies them especially when one knows that their loved one was a dedicated Christian and that they have already been welcomed into heaven by none other than the Lord Jesus Himself.
The Lord showed me a spiritual truth many years ago and it has helped me through many moments as I have helped people through situations in their lives. Just as with Adam and Eve, he has made a way for His people to meet and overcome the things of life which, at the time seem so devastating. The lesson is: Nothing Takes God by Surprise. If it could then He would no longer be God. He is Omniscient and knows everything backward and forward in time. So, nothing, absolutely nothing can take Him by surprise. If that is true then He has made a way for His people to get through their present experience which seems so troubling. That’s what He did in the case of sin in the garden. He made a way for us even before we came along. He provides for His people in a way that we cannot imagine. God is faithful.
So, we have established that nothing takes God by surprise. When something we consider a tragedy takes place in our lives we must remember that it did not take God by surprise and because it didn’t, He provides His Children a way through it all. He cares for us even before things on this earth touch our lives. When something bad happens, and it will because no one goes through life without incidences happening to them, God is out ahead of you. He is caring for you and has already prepared a way for you. Christians have His provisions for them in order to take them through the vicissitudes of life.
We live in a fallen world and we will experience things that are part of that world. It is a natural thing for people to die. It wasn’t suppose to be so in the beginning but when sin came into the world, so did death because sin causes death. But God has gone ahead of us and prepared the way of dealing with death through Jesus Christ. He conquered death so that we can do so when time comes for us to leave this planet and go to where He is…Heaven. When a believer enters heaven no angel is going to have to approach God and let Him know of the arrival of that individual. Their arrival was set earlier in life because Jesus paved the way for them before the time of their death.
When a true prophet speaks, he is telling us something that is already a fact with God. That’s why a Biblical prophet never get anything wrong. He is stating for his generation that which God has shown him which, in God’s economy of things, is already a fact. That’s why the prophet’s pronouncements were always accurate. That is also the reason that when a prophecy comes true, we should not be surprised. God said it long before it was uttered and the time came for God’s utterance, through the prophet, to take place. That’s why nothing takes God by surprise. He said it long before the time of revelation came. God is not locked into time. He lives in the great NOW. The great PRESENT tense. We found it out years after the prophet told us but, where God is concerned, it was in the present. So therefore, nothing takes Him by surprise.
When a person sins, it does not take God by surprise even though the person doing the sin did not know he was going to do it. It may take us by surprise that we would dishonor God in such a way but it did not take Him by surprise. Here is the miracle for us: Long before, God provided a way for us to escape His wrath against sin. He saves us through our faith in and commitment to Jesus even though He knows that we will fail. His provision for us precedes the act of sinning.
We must understand that nothing we can do will leave God nonplussed. Even though He knows we will sin, He sent His Son to die for us and provide for our forgiveness. We would not die for someone if we knew they were going to continue to sin, but God did just that very thing. In John 1:8 John tells us….”If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” But, God knowing we would violate Him with sin still gave us 1 John 1:9….”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He made provision for us long before we needed it.
We should all be thankful that we serve the God of the universe who knows everything and furthermore treats us with a mercy and grace far beyond our human capacity to understand it. Just remember this: No sin, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, is unforgivable and that God’s Grace is greater than our sin. If this were not so, none of us could be saved. Just be thankful that you serve the God who cannot be surprised by anything.
