"All things," past, present and future, "all things," in heaven, earth and hell, "all things," regarding angels, men and devils, "all things," good, bad, or indifferent, "all things are of God." This is high doctrine. This is gospel doctrine. This is soul-cheering, heart-comforting doctrine to those who know God. To the degree that we are able to receive this blessed truth of Holy Scripture, that "all things are of God," our hearts will be at peace, resigned to the will of God, submissive to the hand of God, confident of the providence of God, and content in all things.

ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD IN CREATION.

     God made heaven, earth and hell, and all that they contain. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. l:l). This world did not just evolve out of nothing, by some unexplainable explosion in space. God almighty created all things by the word of his power through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John l:l-3). Jesus Christ our God is the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things. "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Col. 1:16-17). To embrace evolution in any form is to deny God altogether, and depart from the faith of Christ. "Through faith (Belief of God's Revelation) we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear, (Heb. ll:3).

ALL THINGS IN PROVIDENCE ARE OF GOD.

     "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose"(Rom. 11:36). Every event of providence is ordered and ruled according to the sovereign will of our God. The thoughts of men and the actions of men, good and bad, angels and demons, the path of every grain of dust on a windy day, and the path of the whirlwind, everything in this universe is absolutely under the control and direction of God's sovereign providence. Nothing happens by accident. Our great God in, his sovereign majesty, rules everything with as much ease as if there were nothing to rule. With undisturbed serenity, God rules! Because God rules all things, we know that all things shall be so ruled of God as to bring about the spiritual and eternal good of all who trust him, and all things shall be to the praise of his glory, "according to the purpose of him who worketh all-things after the counsel of his own will" (Eph. l:ll). Because God is totally, absolutely, universally sovereign in providence, we know that his purpose shall be accomplished and his promises shall all be fulfilled. Anything less than a totally sovereign God cannot be confidently trusted.

ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD IN SALVATION.

     "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jon. 2:9). "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Cor. 1:30-31). Election, Redemption, Regeneration, Sanctification, Preservation, Resurrection, and Glorification works of God alone. God gave us life. God gave us faith. God gave us a new heart and a new will, by revealing Christ in us. And we are kept by the power of God" (I Pet. 1:5). We worship and trust and love the one true and living God, who is sovereign in salvation. "Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory" (Ps. ll5:l). Amen.