Our Soveriegn
Our Sovereign
It is not astounding that the world often makes itself foolish. The world works by the rule of knowledge, and God clearly tells us that if the world leaders had "known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Cor. 2:8).
We have a right, therefore, to pity those who go against God's plan. "The god of this age hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:4). Man is most pitiful, however, when he is blind while playing with that which could give him sight and light. A deaf mute at an orchestra concert or a blind boy fingering a scalpel which might be the means of giving him vision excite more pity than they would under other circumstances. So the worldling quoting Scripture is, perhaps, the saddest sight that this world can offer.
Across the square from the Capitol in Washington stands the magnificent Union Station. Above its entrance we glance at the inscriptions carved in the stone. The first panel reads "Thou hast put all things under his feet." Instinctively comes the thought of the return of our Lord Jesus, and His destruction of death, the last enemy that is to be destroyed. In the great glorification chapter in First Corinthians the climax of the whole sweeping revelation is in this great triumph of Christ, when God "hath put all things under his feet," after death, "the last enemy," has been destroyed.
These thoughts flash through our minds before we read any other part of the carved inscriptions. Then, in the next panel, we read, The truth shall make you free." This, of course, is part and parcel of Jesus' great message of Himself as the Light of the world.
The third panel announces boldly, "The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." We recognize this as Isaiah's magnificent prophecy of the miracle of the Lord's return, when, just as we shall be transformed by seeing Him, so shall the very earth be changed by the brightness of His presence. "Instead of the thorn shall grow up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree" (Isa. 55:13). All this shall take place in the moment when the groaning earth shall see her returning Lord come to make all things right.
But what on earth are these three verses doing, cut into the stone facade of Union Station? After looking more closely, we realize that we have read from left to right, reading merely the three Bible verses that are separated from the body of their inscriptions by a long line. Then we read the inscription itself. We need not read far before we know that poor, blind man has been very foolish once again. The first inscription is, "Fire - Greatest of discoveries - Enabling man to live in various climates - Use many foods and compel the Forces of Nature to do his work - Electricity - carrier of light and power - Devourer of time and space - Bearer of Human speech over land and sea - Greatest servant of man - itself unknown - Thou hast put all things under his feet." Under whose feet? Why, under man's feet. Better still, we should write it, "Under man's feet." In the Bible, the passage refers to God placing all things under the feet of Jesus Christ. In the Washington inscription all things were placed under man's feet.
Poor man! This is man's day. We cannot expect anything else than that he would attempt to rob the Lord of some of His glory. The other inscriptions are similar in thought. Man has achieved; man has wrought. Glory be to man.
But in this world the Lord Jesus has His own. We delight to confess that this world is enmity against God; we acknowledge that the world by wisdom knew not God. We admit that nothing of permanent good can come from man.
From the best bliss that earth imparts
We turn, unfilled, to Thee again.
1. Dr. Barnhouse says “It is not astounding that the world often makes itself foolish.” How do we address this foolishness in love?
2. Are there still hints of this egregious foolishness in your life? Where are you still holding on to your autonomy?
3. What kind of emotions or thoughts are provoked when you read that the Lord will put all things under his feet?
4. Why do you think you react the way that you do?
