Walking along the sidewalk to my office the other day, I thought of two women, mother and daughter, who spent seven years praying every day for a recalcitrant legalist. God has since called both of these Christian saints home to be with him, but not before he used their prayers and the words of many others whom he put in the way of this legalist to break through the stubborn resistance of his pride. Now this reformed once recalcitrant legalist has the opportunity to reach thousands through the various avenues of this ministry and by personal interaction with university students to help others to see the really good news of a gospel of joy and assurance.

Then I thought more deeply about the fact that though we may not perceive it, God's counsel is always being accomplished. It may seem that evil is in the lead, it may appear that the world is in a mess, it may look like we are playing a losing game, but not so. God's purposes will always be achieved. He has ordained both the end and the means, and he will work the latter to achieve the former.

The conclusion Job reached after all his suffering came to mind: "Then Job replied to the Lord: 'I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.'"(Job 42:2). And Eph. 1:11-12: "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory." Also Psalm 115:2-3: "Why do the nations say, 'Where is their God?"

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." And Psalm 135:5-6: "I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." Paul summed it up well in Romans 9:19-20: when he wrote the great challenge, "One of you will say to me: 'Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?' But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "

We need to quit playing "Mighty Mouse" and be grateful that God's sovereign will is at work in this world, and profoundly grateful that he has chosen, in reference to our own personal lives and destiny, that he shall work most graciously. The reformed recalcitrant legalist has met the personal God who loves him and works in his life, and he shall be forever joyously grateful!