The Father Almighty
We talk of Jaws, and the word veils our ignorance. What is law, but an expression for the orderly and regular working of Force. When we speak of law we only define the method in which force works, but say nothing about the force which underlies it. Consider the mighty energies which are at work on every side of us, the rush of the wind, the pulse of the tide, the waves of light, the thrill of magnetism, the throb of heat. Yes, and beneath all, the mysterious powers of radium and ether, which are probably destined to be the great dynamics of the coming age.
What are these but variations of a deeper and more central Force, lying behind and beneath them, which is the expression of a personal will. There cannot be thought without a thinker; there cannot be plan without a controlling mind; there cannot be energy or force without an agent. When a balloon floats over a town, or a shell breaks in the air; when a volcanic wave rolls up on the beach, or a comet flashes through the dark abyss of space, you must confess that behind
them there is a mind which is expressing itself 31 in the forth-putting of its might. And it is because of the evidences of Divine Energy around, that each of us can say, “JI believe in God the Father Almighty.”
He is Almighty in the universe of matter. When He speaks, it is done; when He commands it stands fast. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth, and faints not though the whole burden of sustaining the universe rests upon His shoulders. Mountains are as the small dust which gathers on the scales, and does not affect the weights, and islands in His estimate are very little things.
He is Almighty in the realm of moral beings. Demons cannot withstand His authority; when He bids them, they must go forth. He does according to His will, to quote the words of one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever known, ‘“‘among the armies of heaven.” Even though He never invades the soul of man unbidden, and though men account themselves free agents and plot against His will, though the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, they only do whatsoever His counsel and His hand determined beforehand should be done. It is a great mystery that it should be so, but without doubt so it is (Acts iv. 28).
This Almighty strength is within our reach, if we are willing to avail ourselves of it. Isaiah says that “they who wait on the Lord renew (Heb. “‘ change”’), their strength;” and the whole history of the Bible tells of men who did so. Abraham as the years passed changed his ideal of strength from Ishmael with his Arab-blood to Isaac, patient, yielding, passing through death to resurrection. Moses changed his strength from that of the swift, powerful athlete, who with one blow felled the tyrant to the ground, to the strength which is derived from fellowship with the I AM. Peter changed his strength from that of self-assertion to that of the Spirit of Pentecost. It is even recorded of our Lord that though He was crucified in weakness, He liveth by (Greek, “out of”) the power of God (2 Cor. xiii. 4).
Have we all learnt the lesson? The youths faint and are weary, and the young men utterly fall; but the everlasting God (£/, “the Strong”’), the Lord (Jehovah) fainteth not, neither is weary; and ‘“‘ He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might, He increaseth strength.” Then they mount up with wings as eagles, they run without being weary, they walk and do not faint.
Why not henceforth begin to mount up, to run, to walk in the strength which faith may derive from the Almighty? “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” ‘And He said, O man, greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when He had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my Lord speak; for Thou hast strengthened mes
You have tried to bear a crushing sorrow in your own strength, to love back some wayward heart, to redeem wasted years, to repair breaches that yawn in the Temple of your soul. All has been unavailing: but will you not learn henceforth to let in the Almighty Love, which bears, believes, hopes, endures all things, and never faileth. What your love cannot do, His can. Prophecies, tongues, and knowledge shall vanish away, but love abideth, for love is Lord of all.
You have tried to vanquish some besetting sin, but in vain. The old Adam has been too strong for young Melancthon. Notwithstanding: protestations and resolutions, vows and prayers, the strong man armed has repressed all attempts at revolt and kept his place. But why not cry out to the Stronger than the Strong? All the power of God is resident in Jesus Christ. He is the Power of God. To Him are entrusted the keys of the Unseen. He shall succour you, though most weak and helpless. He will hold the door against your strong adversary and make you more than a conqueror, giving you warrant indeed to say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty.”