LOL. The Reformed haven't concocted anything. God reveals that truth in His holy word. And I, for one, thank Him every day of my life that that fact is true and has been made known to me by the Holy Spirit.
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?... Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." -- Isaiah 46:4-5;9-11
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained" -- Psalm 8:3
"He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names." -- Psalm 147:4
"Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass" -- Job 14:5
"And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" -- Acts 17:26 "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." -- Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
I believe the Scriptures. You believe something else.
What He gave us was a gift and the recipients are free to do what they please with it, to their benefit or demise. Otherwise it's not a gift.
The "gift" is Christ on the cross, the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
Non-refundable. Non-returnable. Personally-inscribed. Indelible. One gift to pay completely for all the sins of His flock (Hebrews 10:10.)
As God wills.
And thus, gratitude is the proper perspective.
Men love God to be everywhere except when he is on his throne. When he is there, he is revealed to be Sovereign. As you noted in one of my favorite verses, nothing, not even something insignificant as the death of a little bird, happens apart from the Father. It is in him we breath and move and have our being.
Not even random seeming events are beyond the LORD: The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Let those who oppose the Reformation, who act as the enemies of God, remember that they are but the clay and have no right to demand: “What are you doing?” It is only for men to bow before the Lord and acknowledge he is the the Alpha & Omega, the beginning and the end. What is so insignificant that it is beyond the perfection of God? Even the wind and waves know his voice and obey. OF him, FOR him, and TO him are all things.
“Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?” ~ Exodus 4:11
I also believe God. I love Him and I trust Him.
When I cry [unto thee], then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God [is] for me.
In God will I praise [his] word: in the LORD will I praise [his] word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows [are] upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [wilt] not [thou deliver] my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? - Psalms 56:8-13
“The Reformed have concocted this myth that God is there to control everything on this little speck of dust.”
From this passage it seems that is exactly what God does.
Deut. 8:7, “For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God,
which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee,
and that he might prove thee,
to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.”
AMEN, Dr. E.! And thanks for the spot on scripture. This dovetails with their idea that our inheritance can be lost or thrown away. I don't see that in scriptures:
Rom 8:16-17 : 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Gal 3:29 : 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
So, if we are children then we are heirs. I don't see anything about becoming an unchild or an unheir. :)