探索遠程目的Probing the Remote Purpose
[每日靈修] 1/23/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
「上帝為什麼允許它發生？」這個問題旨在探討遠程或最終的目的。這個問題假設了一件事，它對於我們認識上帝來說是至關重要的。它假設上帝原本可以阻止已經發生的事情。如果我們否認這個事實，我們就是在否認上帝的屬性。如果上帝不能阻止它，祂就不是上帝了。我們問為什麼，也是在假設另一件重要的事。我們假設這個問題有答案。我們假設上帝知道所發生的事情的理由或目的。
問題仍然是——「上帝的理由或目的是好的嗎？」問這個問題就是回答這個問題——如果我們對上帝稍有認識的話。我們錯在我們的推理。我們立了一些虛妄的目標。我們是在夸父追日（原文直譯：在傻瓜的差事上疲於奔命）。我們追求的是邪惡的目的。讓我們不要對上帝懷有同樣的惡意。
上帝唯一的目的或意圖總是好的。當聖經談到神主權地行使祂喜悅的旨意時，完全沒有任意或邪惡的意圖。祂喜悅的旨意永遠是祂的美意。祂的喜悅總是美好的，祂的旨意總是良善的，而祂的意圖也總是良善的。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
促使你問「為什麼」的，是你過去和現在生命中的何種情況？懇求上帝告訴你，祂的美意如何反映在這些情況中。
進一步研讀：
申廿九29 「隱秘的事是屬耶和華我們神的；惟有明顯的事是永遠屬我們和我們子孫的，好叫我們遵行這律法上的一切話。」
腓二13 因為你們立志行事都是神在你們心裡運行，為要成就他的美意。
弗一4～5 就如神從創立世界以前，在基督裡揀選了我們，使我們在他面前成為聖潔，無有瑕疵；又因愛我們，就按著自己意旨所喜悅的，預定我們藉著耶穌基督得兒子的名分，
Probing the Remote Purpose
“Why
did God allow it to happen?” This question seeks to probe the remote or
ultimate purpose. The question assumes something crucial to our understanding
of God. It assumes that God could have prevented the thing that happened. If we
deny this verity, we deny the very character of God. If God could not have
prevented it, He would no longer be God. By asking why, we also assume
something else that is vital. We assume there is an answer to the question. We
assume that God had a reason or a purpose for the thing that occurred.
The
question remains—“Was God’s reason or purpose a good one?” To ask the question
is to answer it—if we know anything about God. We err in our reason. We
establish futile goals. We rush off on fools’ errands. We pursue sinful ends.
Let us not project the same kind of vicious intentionality of God.
The
only purpose or intention God ever has is altogether good. When the Bible
speaks of the sovereign exercise of the pleasure of His will, there is no hint
of arbitrariness or wicked intent. The pleasure of His will is always the good
pleasure of His will. His pleasure is always good, His will is always good, and
His intentions are always good.
Coram
Deo
What
past or present circumstances in your life have caused you to ask “Why?” Ask
God to show you how His good intentions are reflected in these situations.
Passages
for Further Study
Deuteronomy
29:29
Philippians
2:13
Ephesians
1:4-5