Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/65

Contributor - G. Van Dyk

Title - A Meditation on Ascension

Topic - Ascension

"ALLELUIA: FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH!" Rev. 19 : 6 b

It sometimes is said that we have a specific witness to make as Christians of the Reformed tradition. To be sure, that claim always strikes me as somewhat arrogant if not downright conceited. This seems to me especially so when, all too often, it becomes clear that what is meant is some sort of an excuse by which we mean to perpetuate, consolidate and if possible to extend our own interests as an institution and as individuals. It sounds good I admit, but when we use it as some slogan for the attainment of selfish ends it is neither Reformed nor Biblical anymore.

On the other hand, if we mean by it that we firmly want to hold fast to the central witness of the Bible, we may have something. In that case I am all for it. As a matter of fact, then the text you at the beginning of this meditation fits us to a tee. "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!"

You may be familiar enough with our Reformed faith to know that the sovereignty of God is basic. Again, that does not mean that other traditions in Christendom are not so convinced too. Read the words of Luther's, "A Mighty Fortress is our God", and you will gladly claim them as your own I hope. What it does mean is that, with the Church of all times and places, we are in faith assured of the sovereign power of our God. "For God is the king of all the earth. Ps. 47 : 7", or, "He has the whole world in His hands".

So far so good. But what do we mean by the sovereign power of God? We all have our ideas about power, and ours is of course the sovereign one. That is what my little son thinks; not quite 3 years old. And if you won't believe him he may try to prove it, kicking and screaming at you. That is also what the rulers of this world think, who are more advanced in years and manners. And if you don't believe them they will show you their teeth in the form of the most up-to-date arsenal of weapons. And although you understand that that is not what is meant by the sovereign power of God, it is surprising and amazing how easily and commonly we fall into that trap anyway. Also in the Church the god of our pagan forefathers, who with thunder and lightning scares us into submission, is still very much alive. And since thunder and lightning now can be explained as purely natural phenomena, we arm him with a bag of supernatural miracles; a sort of Santa Claus in reverse. No, don't get the shivers. I am not against miracles. I am even prepared to say that they go hand in hand with our faith. But I am very much against making them prerequisite to our belief in God. That just does not work as Jesus told us already.

The sovereign power of our God is of quite a different nature. If you want to see the miraculous power of God at work you must look at the man Jesus of Nazareth. And the clearest picture you get is when you look at the close-up of His life during the last hours on the cross. What a weakness! And yet, what a power! Never did the Almighty have the reins of this world more securely in His hands than precisely there. The crucifixion was no accident, as if God were asleep for a moment,. I grant you that that is what we often make of it. The sight of Christ hanging on the cross draws somber faces and tears in our churches. We don't like communion services; they almost seem to remind us of the failure of God. Well, those tears would not be so bad after all if they were shed for ourselves; for our failure to see that Gods power is made perfect in weakness. But if you see that then there is all the reason in the world to brush away your tears. For this weak and humble Christ IS the power of God. The Crucified IS the exalted Lord to whom all power is given in heaven and on earth. That is the way God rules and that is the way He holds the world firmly in His grasp, always! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Heb. 13 : 8."

And now for the miracles. If we have this God for our God then we stumble from one miracle to another. For one thing it would make from deadly scared and timid people a Church that unleashes the power of God in a world still very much impressed by human, all too human concepts of power. Instead of an institution for the preservation of selfish interests, the Church really would become the witnessing community to the sovereign power of God as manifested in Christ. Spending and forgetting itself it would make room for the kingdom of God. The world also would see the unity of a broken and divided Church; not by any premeditated planning or manipulating on our part. That is the way of people still in bondage to the powers of this world. But by the miraculous power of our God. "Be strong," then. "in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Eph. 6 : 10." For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth: alleluia!

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.