"SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!"

Gomer Pyle, a character on the old Andy Griffith television show, frequently exclaimed "surprise, surprise, surprise" when the unexpected occurred.  It always made me laugh.  I interpreted his exclamation as a rebuke of those who thought they knew everything.  Man tends to think more highly of himself than he ought. 

However, there is One who is never caught by surprise; in fact, the most ridiculous thing one can say to God is, "Surprise!"  God is Omniscient (all knowing); it is impossible to surprise Him.  The Book of Genesis begins with the Creation of the Universe.  In other words, time, for His physical creation, began in Genesis 1:1.  And yet, it is clear God knew man, the crowning glory of His Creation, would fail to trust Him, and that he would believe the one Christ later called the father of lies (Jn. 8:44).  How do we know this?  Because the Word of God describes Jesus as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. 

John wrote in Revelation 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (the Beast; the Antichrist), whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."  For those objecting on the grounds that the word is "from," and not "before," there are other references which clearly show God's plan was based upon His knowledge of what was going to occur, before Creation (Mt. 13:35; 25:34; Eph. 1:4; etc.).

God provided "Himself a Lamb" (Gen. 22:8).   Jesus was ordained to die before the foundation of the world.  1 Peter 1:18-21 says, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God" (1 Pet. 1:18-21).

What amazes me is, once a person accepts Christ as his Lord and Savior, he somehow forgets that God is Omniscient.  He somehow thinks he can have "secret sins" and not be held accountable by his Lord.  Oh, he knows the verses that warn God's children that our sins will surely find us out," but he appears to disconnect his knowledge of the Bible from his thoughts, words, and deeds (Gen. 4:7; 44:16; Num. 32:23; Isa. 59:12; Jn. 7:3; etc.).  God's Word is clear:  "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, 'The Lord knoweth them that are His.' And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, DEPART FROM INIQUITY" (2 Tim. 2:19)!

If you say you are a believer, put up or shut up!