THE SUBJECTION OF MAN’S WILL
‘Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.’
The only possible way of feeling at home in heaven when God has called us to be there, will be to have looked out for opportunities to get into touch with the spirit of it while here on earth. There is a King in heaven—the Lord Jesus Christ. There is one will dominating heaven and earth—it is God’s will.
I. The subjection of the will.—That is one reason why Jesus Christ taught us to pray, as the will of God is done in heaven so may we do it here on earth. It is not easy. The very first step towards a Christian life is the surrender of the will to Christ by accepting Him as King. Then the struggle begins! The step we take in accepting Christ as King is the beginning of the spiritual life, but there is a long, slow, and hard process to be gone through afterwards—the yielding up of the will until it becomes one with the will of God, and then we are able to do the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven.
II. ‘As in heaven.’—We know very little about the angelic beings, but we are sure of this—
(a) That love is the motive of all that is done in accordance with the will of God. There is no servitude about the angels giving their will to God.
(b) That these beings do the will of God with full intelligence. Do we try enough to get an intelligent view of God’s plans and purposes for us? If we try to do the will of God, as it is done in heaven, we must do it not only because it is God’s will, but because by study and prayer we have come to see that it is wise and good.
(c) The angels obey in an atmosphere of joyful service. Work moved by joy becomes highest pleasure. God wants us to be fellow-workers with Him.
III. ‘So in earth.’—To do God’s will is easy enough sometimes, but to bear it, that is different. There is a good deal about burdens in the Bible. We speak now of the ‘burden’ that God lays upon us. ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord.’ How a light breaks in upon that heavy burden which God has given us! That is the thing which in His infinite wisdom He thought was best for us. What, then, will you do with it? ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord.’ He does not mean that He will come and lift it off. No, He has given it. He would not have given it unless He wished you to feel its weight. The weight will not crush you, because it is underpinned by His will.
—Rev. E. Grose Hodge.
Illustration
(1) ‘When I am sick and tired it is God’s will;
Also God’s will alone is sure and best;—
So in my weariness I find my rest,
And so in poverty I take my fill.
Therefore I see my good in midst of ill,
Therefore in loneliness I build my nest,
And through hot noon pant toward the shady west,
And hope in sickening disappointment still.’
(2) ‘To see the full beauty of this prayer, we should read the description of angels in Psalms 103:20-21. Heaven is the only place now where God’s will is done perfectly, constantly, unhesitatingly, cheerfully, immediately, and without asking any questions.’
(3) ‘Thou layest Thy hand on the fluttering heart,
And sayest, “Be still!”
The silence and shadows are only a part
Of Thy sweet will.
Thy presence is with me, and where Thou art
I fear no ill.’
(4) ‘If we really desire to do God’s will He will enable us to do it. There is no situation in life in which we may not do His will; in the ordinary path of life, in that life of labour to which God has appointed us all, there are abundant opportunities of putting in practice this rule, of doing God’s will and not our own, except so far as our own agrees with His, and though it may be difficult to expel all selfish feelings and all rebellious wishes, yet constant efforts will be blessed, and we shall “grow in grace.” ’