Edgar:
I deny that everything that happens in the world is mere pretension or charade on the part of God. God has been very clear to state that He's the One in Charge, saying "I am the Lord". So if anyone is confused on that point, it is not God's fault.
So too, I disagree that there in no real or genuine accountability on the part of man to God. In fact, we are responsible to make our confession to God. It is to Him, by Divine Decree, that we must give an account of our deeds. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
My hope is that you would give a truthful account after the similtude of Job. That man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil of whom God said:
"My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."
God has already spoken concerning the works of His hands, saying "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Evildoers worship not the Lord of Heaven and Earth, to whom be glory for ever. Nor do they seek to know the Lord, in whom we live, and move, and have our being; of whom, and through whom, and to whom, are all things. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
They deny that there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him who also said "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. But men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
They despise His Authority and Government, Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of the saints.
The righteous know that all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, because we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. And we know that all things work together for good according to his purpose which He will accomplish when he shall have put down all who oppose His rule and authority and power, having proved all things subject unto Him.
For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
The wicked deny the truth we speak and will not hear us. They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever, who serve their own lusts and rejoice in the works of their own hands.
So God has said, "I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands."
According to their works, meaning things done not of God, but of their own agency. For all workers of iniquity boast of themselves and repent not of the works of their hands, neither will they give glory to God.
Having forgotten that God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble, saying "But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD."
Soby whom do they deny the Lord and His agency in all things? Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Why, then, if they heard have they no understanding? "They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
And so having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, ( the times before of this ignorance God winked at) but now the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, and He commandeth all men every where to repent, saying " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
This gospel was first preached by Jesus of Nazarath, the faithful witness, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: whereof God hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is eternal life: To know God as He truly is, and to know Jesus Christ whom He has sent to bear witness to the truth by his own blood.
