The Apostle Paul writing to the believers at Ephesus reminded them that in Christ “we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11; italics added). We may wonder just exactly what constitutes all things, but we need not wonder long. All things includes all things. We are tempted to struggle with the reality of that truth and its reach. But we struggle only because our finite minds cannot grasp the workings of an infinite, sovereign God.
During the Jews’ captivity in Babylon, the prophet Daniel was called upon by Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to interpret a disturbing dream. It was at that time that Daniel declared that God “removeth kings and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). In interpreting a subsequent dream by Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel announced that the dream was that “the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17). For our own application, this means that every president has come to office at the appointment of God. Washington, Lincoln, Obama, Biden, Trump and every president between has held office by the appointment of God.
Reflect on that truth in its particulars. For example, God controlled the primary elections that created the slate of candidates from each party. He gave favor to one candidate over the other, allowing the election and the resulting electoral process to give the country a new president. And all of this occurs without any one individual surrendering the exercise of their role in this process.
God’s will is never thwarted. Listen to his words to Isaiah, the prophet. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:9-11).
God’s purpose goes far beyond who will be the next president of the United States and, necessarily, reaches into the most finite details of our lives. The affairs of this world and of our lives are woven together in such a fashion as to accomplish his purpose in Jesus Christ. John, the beloved disciple, refers to the culmination of this great purpose in the end times. “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
And so it is that “all things” is, indeed, all things. For the child of God, the outworking of all things has a special, divinely ordained purpose. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son [Jesus]” (Romans 8:28-29; italics added). Through the finite workings of our lives, God is conforming us to the image of his Son, Jesus. And we, through his church, shall be glory unto him [God] “by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end” (Ephesians 3:21).
