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Created for Disaster Proverbs 16:4

Question

Are some people really created for disaster? Proverbs 16:4

Answer

Proverbs 16:4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster.

This is simply the truth. Everything and everyone is created for a divine purpose - even the wicked for the day of destruction (cf. Rom 9:22-23).

Some attempt to explain this verse away by saying God is love (John 3:16), but they fail to read the rest of the story in that some are judged ALREADY (John 3:18). (See; An Exposition of John 3:16, by John Owen; God's Election in John 3:16, by L.R. Shelton, Jr.; The 'WORLD' of John 3:16 Does Not Mean, All Men without Exception, by David J. Engelsma)

Others appeal to 2 Peter 2:1, saying Christ died for the whole world - even those that deny him and are ultimately lost! They assume that Christ died to purchase or buy (agorazo) the unelect from the marketplace of sin; therefore they assume that Peter is speaking of redemption. However, the term agorazo can be used differently. In Deuteronomy 32:6 (KJV) it says, "Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made [agorazo] thee, and established thee?" This is speaking of creation, not redemption. In addition, Peter uses the term despotes meaning "Master," not "Lord" (kyrios). By using the term agorazo and despotes, Peter made sure we would not misunderstand his intended meaning: God is the sovereign ruler over the earth and the one who creates and establishes all things. (See: Redemption in II Peter 2:1, by Dr. Gary Long). Jesus, through his life, death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 17:30-31), has earned the right to judge not only those made holy by his blood (the elect, his sheep, his invisible church, the seed of the woman, etc.), but also those that remain unholy (the unelect, the goats, the seed of the serpent). Sovereign Lord applies equally to God (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10) and Christ (Jude 4). To Jesus has been given all authority and power in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). Jesus is the judge of the whole world (Matt. 25:31-34, 41, 46; John 5:22-23, 27; Acts 10:42; Rom. 2:16; 2 Tim. 4:1).

Yet others mistakenly look at 2 Peter 3:9 and see the words "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" and assume that the terms "anyone" and "everyone" mean all without exception. But Peter's usage of the terms is limited by the "dear friends" (or beloved) of 2 Peter 3:8 and the "you" of 2 Peter 3:9. Moreover, they look at 1 Timothy 2:4 and say that God desires "all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." However, once again, they fail to look at the context of 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and understanding that God desires "all kinds of men" saved, even kings and those in authority, et al. ("For with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9)).

Jesus is not some weak god as some suppose; rather, he is very God of very God - the King of kings. He will not lose even one of his sheep for whom he died; they will never perish but have eternal life (John 10:28; cf. Luke 15:4-7). Jesus actually accomplished redemption for the elect, not a mere possibility for all but the actuality of redemption for his people. The holy redemptive work of Christ was finished for a particular people (Isa. 53:8), and the Son of God has effectually accomplished the redemption of those people (Heb. 9:12). It never was the intention, will, desire, or purpose of Christ to redeem each and every man and ultimately fail at his mission (John 17:9, 20). He did not lay down his life for the "sheep and the goats", but only for "his sheep" (John 10:14-16). By Christ's death, all God's elect have been effectually redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). He has put their sins away (Heb. 9:28). Christ purchased his people with his precious blood (I Pet. 1:18-19; Heb. 10:14). It is finished (John 19:30).

Yes, some argue against Scripture and that Christ died for every sin of every man. However, they attempt to prove too much. If Christ died for EVERY sin of EVERY man, woman, and child, then NONE - absolutely NONE, could ever be lost. No, some say, see "you must believe." This is why some are lost; they don't believe!!! But is not unbelief a sin for which you say Christ has already died? Thus, they prove too much, as hell is full of those that did not and will not believe (cf. Judas, et al.). (The above is a brief summary of John Owen's argument in For Whom Did Christ Die).

Some are prepared for destruction. Paul says:

Romans 9:22-24 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?