"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:24-25, NIV).
As Creator, God does give not only life. He who gives physical life, gives breath -- the capability to have that life -- and EVERYTHING that sustains it. And in His grace, He gives all those things to every man.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
When the people in Lystra wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas, they told the crowd, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy" (Acts 14:15-17).
Notice that God gives not only physical things to all his created human beings. He also fills their hearts with joy. God gives enjoyment.
We read in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God” (NKJV).
Our Creator gave us not only our life. He gave us air, water and sunshine. He gave us food. He gave us our labor. And He gave us even the joy and satisfaction in what we eat and what we do.
He also gave wealth, honor and strength. We read in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, “…Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
Even physical healing, He did not withhold from those who needed it, whether they were Jews, or not.
We read in Matt 15:22-31:
“A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.’ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’ The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said. He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.”
God, however, is giving not just this present life by physical birth and “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17). But He gives also “the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19) – the eternal life – or, as we read in Acts 5:20 and Romans 6:4, the “new life."
And the Son of God gives this eternal life not to all people, but “to all those… (the Father) have given him” (John 17:2). Or, as Jesus Christ Himself said, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life TO WHOM HE IS PLEASED TO GIVE it” (John 5:21).
We also read in John 1:12-13, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Those who are given this new life has been given the right to become children of God – “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
James expressed it this way, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth…” (James 1:18.) New King James Version states, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth…”
As the Apostle Peter wrote those who have this eternal life:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy HE HAS GIVEN US NEW BIRTH into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
He proceeded to write in verse 23, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
Through our physical birth, God has given us our present, temporary life. By means of the new birth, being born again, He gives us the right to become spiritual children of God – giving us the gift of eternal life.
In our physical birth, we have our own physical human father. In our new birth, we have God as our Heavenly Father.
Just as He provided us with everything to sustain our physical life, He has also given us everything, so that our eternal life would become possible.
We need the Spirit for the new birth. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again’” (John 3:5-7).
We also read in John 6:63, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”
AND GOD IS READY TO GIVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13.)
In Ezekiel 36:27, God is quoted saying: “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
In order for us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we need to repent, according to Acts 2:38, “for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus also said, “…But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3).
GOD ALSO PROVIDED US REPENTANCE. We read in Acts 5:31, “God exalted him (Jesus) to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” We read in Acts 11:18, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
Paul instruction Timothy, “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 2:24-25).
And we read in Romans 2:4, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”
Finally, we need to “believe in His Name” in order for us to be given “the right to become children of God.” We need to believe in Christ, or to have faith in Him that we may have eternal life.
We read John 3:14-16, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Also in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
And if ever we believe in Him, we do so because GOD HIMSELF HAS GIVEN US THE FAITH. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this (meaning, the faith) not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). It is not just the salvation, but even the faith is also given to us by God.
Truly, we are able to believe because “it has been granted to… (us) on behalf of Christ…to believe on him” (Phil. 1:29).
To all those… (the Father) have given to the Son, to whom the Son is pleased to give life that is truly life – of God’s own Will, He will give them new birth.
As we read in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all” – all those God have chosen to be given to the Son – “how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
The Creator is the Greatest Giver not because He can afford to give us all things, but He is willing to part away with His Most Precious One – His Son.
And If He has given us His Son, He will also give us His Spirit. He will give us repentance. He will give us a new heart and new spirit to enable us to believe in His Son. He will graciously give us all things, so we can rejoice in His Kingdom for eternity.
PRAYER: Our Merciful and Gracious Heavenly Father – the Supreme Giver of Eternal Good – we are so grateful for Jesus Christ, Your Holy Spirit and many wonderful favors You bestowed on us. Help us to treasure what You’ve given us more than the pleasure and attraction in this world. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
