# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1902_S18 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 18 The Lutheran Pioneer. (For the LUTHERAN PIONEER.) Of God. Tue ATTRIBUTES OF Gop. (Continued.) 8. God is omnipotent; that is, He is al- mighty, all-powerful. ‘‘With God nothing shall be impossible,’’ Gabriel said to Mary, Luke 1,87. He can do whatever He pleases, Ps. 115, 8. He can do whatever He will in heaven and in earth. He need but speak, “tet this or that be,’’ anditisdone. If there be one attribute of God more manifest and apparent than others, it is God’s omnipotence. It is simply impossible to believe that there is a God, and yet deny His almighty power, His ability to do what He will. By Him the heavens were made and all the starry host; yes, the worlds were framed by His word. And this, the creation of the heavens and the earth, was the effect of but aword. Think of this and then try to put a limit to God’s power. But His omnipotence is still apparent to all that do not will- fully close their eyes; for by His mighty power alone all is made, and wrought, and done. He cares for us by day and night, all things are governed by His might. To see the sun in his fiery chariot racing through the heavens with- in his prescribed course, never swerving to the right nor to the left; to behold the millions of stars rushing across the firma- ment in what appears to our eyes a bewildering maze, and yet never colliding —what else does this prove but that there is One who guides these fiery orbs in their courses with an omnipotenthand! Men often lose control over the creatures of their hands, but God never. He that sent the planet rolling through space guides its progress with unslackening rein; He that sets loose the wind and the waves needs but lift up His finger to make all calm and still. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! What a comforting thought: our God is al- mighty! Though devils all the world should fill, all watching to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill, they cannot overpower us. The Almighty is our God, who shall be against us? 4. God is omniscient; His knowledge and wisdom have no limits. God’s knowledge is infinite, it reaches from eternity to eternity. Every thought, word, and deed of the past, present, and future is known to Him. David says of God’s knowledge: ‘Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. ‘Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising. Thou un- derstandest my thought afar off. Thou com- passest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether,’’ Ps. 139, 1—4. The eye of the Lord is on every one of His creatures. The very hairs on our heads are all numbered. His knowledge extends to the very smallest and most insignificant things, as it does to the greatest and most stupendous. A single glance of His eye embraces the whole universe, and yet the smallest detail does not escape its notice. Likewise, His wisdom has no bounds. For means it fails Him never, He always finds a way. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will. He always knows what means to apply to at-| tain the desired end. ‘With Him is wisdom | and strength; He hath counsel and under- standing,’’ Job 12, 13. We need but think | PENTECOST. of the plans of creation and redemption to be compelled to exclaim with Paul, ‘‘O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and know!l- edge of God!’’ What a comfort and what a powerful ex- hortation to trust in Him lies in this thought! Our God has the power to help us, He knows when to help us, and He knows how to help us. But, again, how should the thought of God’s omniscience likewise admonish us to take heed to our thoughts, words, and deeds, since noth- ing is hidden from His sight, ¥F. J. L. ——S +0 + A Golden Promise. **As thy day, so shall thy strength be.’’ Thy day. Thy day of responsibility. Thy day of anxious planning. Thy day of severe toil. Thy day of sorrow. Thy day shall be equal to the measure of responsibility, of anxiety, of toil, of temptation, and sorrow. That is won- derful. Itis very gracious. Do you believe it? God has promised. He never deceives. Trust Him. N. J. B. “Charity Seeketh not Her Own.” Oberlin, the well-known philanthropist, had occasion to make a trying trip during the win- ter season. The ground was deeply covered with snow, rendering the roads almost impass- able. When he had traveled about half the | way, he was completely exhausted, and felt sleep overcoming him. All his efforts to keep awake were in vain. Commending himself to God, he surrendered to what he expected to | be the sleep of death. Suddenly Oberlin became conscious of some one arousing him. Opening his eyes, he no- ticed a man who offered him some food and wine. When he had partaken of this, the stranger led him to his wagon and brought him to the next village. With many sincere thanks the rescued sufferer offered his benefactor a reward, which was positively re- fused. ‘Tt is our duty to help one another,’’ said the wagoner, ‘‘and it is the next thing to an insult to offer a reward for such a service.’’ ‘*At least tell me your name,”’ Oberlin rejoined, ‘‘that I may remember my benefactor before God.”’ “T perceive that you are a minister of the Gospel,’’ said the other. ‘Will you please tell me the Good. Samaritan’s name?’’ “That is not possible,’’ said Oberlin, ‘‘for it is not recorded.”’ ‘“Well,’’ replied the modest stranger, ‘‘until you can tell me his name, you will permit me to withhold mine.’’ God is Everywhere. ‘You teach,”’ once said the Emperor Trajan to Rabbi Joshua, ‘‘that your God is every- where, and say that He lives in the midst of His people. I should very much like to see Him.”’ ‘God is undoubtedly omnipresent,” was the answer of Joshua, ‘‘but no one can see Him; no mortal eye could bear to look upon His glory.’’ But this answer did not satisfy the emperor. Upon this, Joshua said: ‘*Very well, let us first go to one of His am- bassadors.’’ The emperor consented. Joshua led the emperor out into his garden and re- quested him to look into the sun. ‘‘I cannot see,’’ exclaimed Trajan, ‘‘the light blinds me.”” “You are not able to bear the light of one of His creatures,’’ rejoined Joshua, ‘‘how, then, can you expect to look upon the brightness - and glory of the Creator? Think you not that Such a look would kill you?’’ —Sel. ——