What are God's works of providence? (Part 2)

Bobby Howell
3 days ago
3 min read

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS

In our previous post, we looked at the wording of the answer to Catechism question 14, "What are God's works of providence?" The answer is,

"God's works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures and all their actions."

We looked at the wording, now we shift our attention to two phrases, "powerful preserving" and "governing all His creatures and their actions." A cursory reading of the second phrase will, or at least should, prompt us to ask, "Does that include sin?" We will save that for a third, and possibly fourth, post.

"POWERFUL PRESERVING": WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

This post will examine the phrase "powerful preserving." This is added with that governance which spans "all His creatures and their actions." God's preserving, then, is exhaustive. There is not one creature, good or evil, that is not preserved and upheld by almighty God.

The Scripture reference is Hebrews 1:3, "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (NKJV). Paul, the author of Hebrews, is talking about the Lord Jesus, but in his introductory comments he makes an astounding claim. Jesus upholds "all things by the word of His power." Again, it is an exhaustive upholding.

Now, before we go a bit deeper, it is helpful to remember that the Catechism builds upon itself. Question 14 is developing the earlier groundwork laid in Question 11, "How doth God execute His decrees?" The answer is, "God executeth His decrees in the works of creation and providence."

God's "powerful preserving" is a display of the execution of His decrees. His power is infinite, as is His wisdom in governing His universe. Benjamin Beddome's A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism is a helpful resource. His comments on this question can be summarized in the following points:

God's "powerful preserving" covers all (Psalm 103:19)
God's "powerful preserving" covers heaven and earth (Psalm 135:6)
God's "powerful preserving" covers living creatures and inanimate things (Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:31)
God's "powerful preserving" covers all animals (Jeremiah 8:7)
God's "powerful preserving" covers every single human being (Job 14:5)
God's "powerful preserving" covers all nations (Daniel 2:21)
God's "powerful preserving" covers special people and places (Deuteronomy 11:12; 1 Timothy 4:10)

"POWERFUL PRESERVING": WHY DOES IT MATTER?

How can we connect these wonderful truths to our daily lives? I offer three reasons.

IT GIVES US MATTERS FOR PRAISE

These are some incredibly high and lofty thoughts that, if contemplated prayerfully and properly, should evoke a response akin to Romans 11:33-36. The first reason it matters is that it affords us an abundance of material for which to praise God.

IT COMFORTS US IN OUR STRUGGLES

This is perhaps one of the best results of understanding God's "powerful preserving" of "all His creatures, and all their actions." If we truly believe this truth, presented most clearly in Romans 8:28, how can we not be comforted? Of course, knowing this truth does not mean we will not experience pain or suffering. Job is an example of that. However, when difficulties do arise, we can pause before responding and remember that God is "powerful preserving" of "all His creatures, and all their actions."

Although it is not wrong to ask Why?, we can also ask What can I learn from this? How can I grow more like Christ from this? What sins am I holding on to? To whom am I looking for fulfillment and purpose? These and many other questions are worthy of our contemplation.

IT ENCOURAGES US IN OUR WORK

Regardless of the type of work, whether it is ministry-related, secular vocation, or simply life, knowing that God's "powerful preserving" of "all His creatures, and all their actions" helps us remain faithful.

As a pastor, this truth is so encouraging. There have been rocky times in the ministry, and knowing that God is the upholder of all things encourages me to continue ministering.

As a husband and father, it is encouraging in my duties and privileges as a husband and my responsibilities as a father. Those days when the trials of life seem overwhelming, I can rest and be encouraged that God is working in and through those difficulties.

In your own life and vocation, be encouraged in those times. Be faithful in your work, whatever it may be, because God indeed practices a "powerful preserving" of "all His creatures, and all their actions."