All Power!

We realize that we are living in a special time. Let us not close our eyes to the fact that dark clouds are gathering over our society. In regard to this we could enumerate many things such as the downturn in the economy, the national debt, unemployment, etc. In themselves, these are serious matters.

However, we place greater emphasis upon the decay in the spiritual well-being of the nation. We see that the spiritual health of the people declines. We see this revealed in the spirit of revolution, in the rise of crime, the forsaking of God’s law, His Word and His service. It seems to be a stream which cannot be turned back. We ask ourselves: What will the future bring? We ask ourselves: Where can we find security? And who has an answer to the question: “Who will show us any good?” Shall we listen to the voice of a lie, of the watch at Jesus’ grave, of whom we read in Matthew 28? Shall we listen to the voice of the peace movements? Shall we listen to the voice of a horizontal gospel? Shall we listen to the voice of Eastern religions? To the voice of those who prophesy doom?

No! No! With all the earnestness of my heart, I would have you hear the voice of the Word of God; the voice of Him who was dead and who is alive for evermore; the voice of Him, who said: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

It was the instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples. When Christ revealed Himself to His disciples, we read that some doubted. But Jesus came near to them and spake to them. He reveals Himself also to doubting hearts and He reveals Himself in all His glory as Mediator. He said: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” He revealed what His disciples have in Him, who He is and what He shall do.

All power is given unto Him. Power signifies authority, control. This is given unto Him in the way of passive and active obedience. He has authority; He has control in heaven and in earth. And that is also the viewpoint that we may and must preach in this world. This Word must be heard and this Word must be accepted; it must be embraced in faith.

Hasn’t all power, and all control been taken from us? Through disobedience we have subjected ourselves to all sorts of miseries. The Lord can justly leave us in the condition in which we have brought ourselves. We have no longer a possibility and no right to deliver ourselves from this situation. We have called upon ourselves the power and control of the prince of this world; and he will never let go of his prey. But above all the powers of darkness, above the legions of hell, stands the powerful word of the King of the church who is alive for evermore. The good pleasure of God stands above all. He formed a people for Himself that shall show forth His praise. With His whole heart Christ became Surety. He has obtained a right upon them. “Father, Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me” On. 17:6).

All power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. Unbounded and unrestricted! There is no place where He does not have dominion. He wields control over all political powers, all ecclesiastical powers. He has in His control all coalitions of power. He has the keys of hell and of death.

We ask, “Who, who will show us any good?” He alone! He rules in all places, lands, churches, houses and hearts. He uses this power. The Father has given all things into His hand. He has power in heaven, in its mansions, and over the inheritance that is preserved. Not as One who pleads, but as One who claims a right. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.”

He has power on earth. He has power over the universe. He rideth upon a swift cloud; the everlasting God is He. He has power over the events of the world, over the great ones of the earth. He has power and control on this side of and behind the Iron Curtain. He has power over missiles. He has power over the church. He gathers His church. He enters the house of the strong man armed without knocking. He presses into the house of the strong man armed and He plunders them out of the hand of him who has the power of the grave. Upon His Word of power, the devil must release his prey. Every sinner who bows before God is a token of Christ’s power.

That work shall go on. We may observe that also today with young people in how young hearts are conquered and persuaded by Him, who humbles stony hearts and breaks the gates of brass into pieces.

You ask: “What do I see of it?” Some doubted. Perhaps many of us doubt. “What do we see of it?” We hear His footsteps also in the judging of the nations. Because He rules and has control in this world over the church and in the church, therefore there are all these alarms and all these threatenings. It is the rustle of His footsteps. Let us not expect anything from the powers of this world. Nothing will remain of them. Acknowledge the authority of this King! Confess to Him that you have nothing to say. Entrust Him with yourselves, your children and the future. Give your life into His hand. Seek to fight the good fight of faith under His banner. Remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and that all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth, so that through His power, united with one another, we shall show forth His image by a Christian life, separated from the world as a friend and a companion of all those who humbly fear His Name!

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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