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Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

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court. In any event, he did see God’s hand <strong>in</strong> his situation. “Itwasn’t you, it was God.” “…you meant evil aga<strong>in</strong>st me; but Godmeant it for good….” (Gen 50:20) In f<strong>in</strong>ality, Joseph’s revelationstands for us all as we acknowledge <strong>the</strong> truth of <strong>the</strong> sovereigntyof God <strong>in</strong> our lives.Everyth<strong>in</strong>g I didn’t want… now thrills me!Some people who believe <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sovereignty of God concludeman doesn’t really have free will and can’t really resist God.Whe<strong>the</strong>r our will is <strong>in</strong> cooperation with God or <strong>in</strong> resistance toHim, it is still our will. A motorcar is still a motorcar whe<strong>the</strong>r it isgo<strong>in</strong>g forwards or whe<strong>the</strong>r it is <strong>in</strong> reverse and travel<strong>in</strong>g backwards.Noth<strong>in</strong>g can alter or frustrate God’s sovereign will — nei<strong>the</strong>rdevil, archangel, man nor beast. His will shall be done. Inside <strong>the</strong>big wheel of God’s sovereignty is <strong>the</strong> little wheel of human responsibility.Jesus is <strong>the</strong> Lamb sla<strong>in</strong> before <strong>the</strong> foundation of <strong>the</strong>world, while <strong>in</strong>side of God’s sovereignty concern<strong>in</strong>g that event isJudas’s human responsibility when he betrays <strong>the</strong> Lord.The fall is still so much a part of man, his first reaction to <strong>the</strong> willof God is always aga<strong>in</strong>st it. Look<strong>in</strong>g at my own life, I had nevertaken <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiative toward God. At first, I didn’t want to be saved;I fought it. I didn’t want to be a preacher; I fought it. I didn’twant to leave home; I fought it. In 1932, before I was baptized <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> Holy Ghost, I didn’t want it because I knew I’d be expelledfrom <strong>the</strong> movement I was a part of.Even though I was <strong>in</strong> love with Marj, I didn’t want to marry herbecause she kept touch<strong>in</strong>g my pride. I rejected her and jilted her.Then, God had to show me she was <strong>the</strong> woman He had appo<strong>in</strong>ted.I didn’t want a big family. After Peter and Miriam wereborn, I said, “Okay, we have one of each. There is no o<strong>the</strong>rspecies.” Then, God dealt with me through George Muller withhis many orphans, and I saw that God didn’t look upon childrenas a lot of nuisances. “Happy is <strong>the</strong> man that hath his quiver fullof <strong>the</strong>m.” (Ps 127:5) I thank God for all n<strong>in</strong>e of our children.I didn’t want a travel<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>istry, travel<strong>in</strong>g all over <strong>the</strong> way I do,and I didn’t want <strong>the</strong> house I live <strong>in</strong>. What a different outlook I234

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