"He will not modify his purposes to suit our unbelief. What madness to suppose that he will imitate us; and seeing that we make light of his faithfulness, make light of it himself. Let God be true, though every man a liar.
God once declared his purpose of bringing a deluge upon the earth. Men would not believe the terrific word. The whole human race combined to rear up a wall of unbelief under the protection of which they thought themselves safe. On the one hand were all mankind with their 'no' — on the other, God with his 'yes.' But the word of God must be fulfilled whether a single individual be the opposer, or a whole world."
— George Bowen (1816–1888) · The White Sadhu of Bombay"Shall man accommodate himself to God, or shall God accommodate himself to man?"
— George Bowen · The question from the foundation of the world. The answer has never changed.✦ All Mankind with Their No
The whole human race on one side with their no. God on the other with His yes. And the wall of unbelief — however vast, however unanimous — could not prevent the word from being fulfilled. Numbers do not change truth. Consensus does not modify His purposes. He abides faithful though not a believer were found in the earth.
"Dost thou, Christian, render due honor to the inviolable faithfulness of God? I fear lest occasionally you incline to some forbidden path, hoping that God will not visit you with the rod.
How unkind in you to set up God's love to you against his love to his word! Would you actually introduce division and conflict among the very perfections of God? Christ has never promised that he will become a sinner to gratify you. He will remain faithful; truth driven from every threshold of man, finds an everlasting asylum with him."
— George Bowen (1816–1888)✦ The Forbidden Path
The believer's version of unbelief is not atheism. It is presumption — thinking that because God loves us, He will modify His purposes for us. I have it figured out. I know how this works. God will accommodate. And Bowen says: that sets God's love against His word, introducing division among the very perfections of God. His love and His faithfulness are not in conflict. They are the same rock.
"That is what I needed to hear. When I start thinking that I have all figured out — guess what Le? You don't."
The Holy Spirit showing the soul its own nature before it has time to dress it up. Not condemnation — correction. The same voice that said the rain falls on the just and the unjust now says you don't have it figured out. Quick winning. The surgeon's incision from Isaiah 48:17 — cutting to heal, not to harm. The soul that catches itself at the door of presumption and turns back is the soul that is still being shaped by the Potter.
"Happy are they who have on their side the adamantine faithfulness of Christ, and build upon it all their hopes of happiness."
— George Bowen (1816–1888)✦ Diamond-Hard, Unbreakable
Adamantine — diamond-hard, immovable, unbreakable. The faithfulness is not soft. It is rock. Four days ago Bowen taught that God is faithfulness itself — He must cease to be Himself before He can be unfaithful. Today the same truth returns: He abides faithful. He cannot deny Himself. And the soul that builds on this rock does not need to have it figured out. It needs to trust what cannot be broken.
He Will Not Modify
All mankind with their no. God with His yes. The wall of unbelief cannot prevent the word from being fulfilled. Numbers do not change truth. He abides faithful.
The Believer's Presumption
Not atheism but presumption — hoping God will accommodate. Setting His love against His word. Introducing division among His perfections. The forbidden path that looks like faith but is its opposite.
Adamantine
Diamond-hard. Unbreakable. Immovable. The soul that builds on this does not need to have it figured out. It needs to trust what cannot be broken. Happy are they who build here.