God's Will

By Odom Hawkins

The thinking of many today is that the Bible is out of date. This book addresses the Bible as God's Last Will and Testament for mankind. A man may place certain conditions in his will which the heir must meet before receiving any inheritance. God has also placed conditions in His Last Will and Testament that must be met before one can become an heir to the eternal inheritance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odom Hawkins
• Release date: Mar 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9780985617431

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The thoughts contained in this composition concern The Father’s Will. Jesus used that idea frequently in His teaching. When we read passages referring to God’s Will: Do we stop and reflect on the fact that God prepared a Will which meets all the criteria of a will prepared by a man? Do we think of God’s Will as being "His Last Will and Testament" or do we merely think of it as being God’s wishes? The way one views God’s Will; certainly affects the way he would react to it. If the Bible only gives God’s wishes, and was given so man could know what God desires; the authority of His Word is weakened. If one views the Bible as being God’s Last Will and Testament with exceeding great and precious promises from God the Father to His children the heirs, and joint heirs with Christ; with the eternal inheritance and having certain conditions attached which are to be obeyed before receiving the inheritance: Then His Word is strengthened and has the authority of our heavenly Father behind it.

The fact that Jesus instructed His disciples to refer to God as Our Father (Matt. 6:9) indicates a family relationship for the children of God and heirs to His promises. Jesus also indicated that one must be obedient to the conditions in the Will of God in order to be a member of His family. For whosoever shall do the Will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother (Mark 3:35).

GOD’S WILL

Many times people have questions about their problems in life. These problems may concern the spiritual or the material. At times people are confronted with decisions about a job. Occasions arise when opportunities avail themselves to have a higher paying job but with questionable activities. Preachers are often asked about such things by honest, sincere people who are only looking for sound advice. In some circles there seems to be a standard answer for such questions. That answer is, Ask God to show you His Will about this. On the surface that would seem to be a wise answer, but when one gets down to finding God’s Will; there are more questions to be answered. How does one approach the task of finding God’s Will? The preacher said, Ask God to show you His Will: Did he mean to pray that God will show His Will? If one prays that God will show His Will; how would the answer come? Does God in some mysterious way reveal His Will for special occasions? Is there any place in particular that one should look or listen if he expects God to give His answer? Should he ask God to give some special sign when the answer is yes or another if the answer is no? A young man operating on that premise pulled the plug from the life support system of his baby because he felt God had given him a sign. These questions are most important to consider in all spiritual and material matters.

A WILL DEFINED

Webster defines a will as a legal document stating one’s wishes concerning the disposal of his possessions after death. One may say then that a will is a legal document whereby one may have control over the things which he possesses; even after he has past from this life. God’s Will falls within that definition when we consider that Jesus lived as God with us (Matt. 1:23). When He died His Will was sealed (Heb. 9:16, 17). God has given His Will in a book we call the Bible. God gave His Will with His wishes, desires and conditions for mankind as well as a description of the blessings for the heirs of His Will. When one understands that the Bible is God’s complete Will for mankind; then the answer to the question as to where to look for God’s answer becomes clear. One should not expect God to reveal His Will again; because He has already revealed it and confirmed it with signs and wonders (Mark 16:20). Every detail of His Will for mankind is revealed in the Bible. As Peter wrote, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue (II Pet. 1:3). One with a problem in life has a source which will give him God’s Will for his life in every circumstance—the Bible.

WILLS ARE CONDITIONAL

In addition to the wishes of God and the blessings which are given in His Will; there are also conditions given to which one must submit in order to become an heir to the promises in His Will. Jesus said, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the Will of my Father which is in heaven (Matt. 7:21). When men make wills; they often insert certain conditions to be met in order for one to receive the inheritance. God’s Will is no different in that respect. He has laid down certain conditions in His Will that mankind must obey in order to become an heir to the promises in His Last Will and Testament. For example Jesus laid down this condition when He spoke to Nicodemus, Verily, verily, I say unto thee: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18) and Jesus lived His life on earth as God with us (Matt. 1:23): Therefore man cannot enter into God’s kingdom unless he is born of water and of the Spirit.

PROVISIONS FOR THE HEIRS

There are many things which God has provided for the heirs of His Will that are enjoyed in this life. The knowledge of His grace, the peace and joy in knowing the forgiveness of sins and the comfort that comes in knowing that one is an heir to the promises of God which have to do with the world to come are just a few of the provisions of His Will that can be enjoyed while we live on earth.

The ultimate provision of God’s Will for His heirs is eternal life in heaven. And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life (I John 2:25). When man reflects on the brevity of life here,