"Who is in Control?"
WHO IS IN CONTROL?
I asked you last week to look around the world in which we live. What is an unbiased summary of the condition of planet earth? Does it exhibit the glory of God? If most Christians were candid, they would lean toward the “Our world’s a mess” answer over “The world is full of God’s glory” response. If so much transpires in our world including countless deplorable acts which God does not approve, then is God really so much “on top of things?”
On the other hand, if God is totally sovereign then why did He allow the death of my loved one, this disease and pain in my body, the hurricane which took so many lives, and the rampant sin and evil in the world? More people are angry at God than you think.
I do not think it is quite sufficient to simply answer “Don’t worry about it. God’s ways are much higher than ours (which is true, though). We cannot understand all of this. Just have faith in Him.” Why? God has given us reason and logic and godly wisdom in order to better know Him and to understand His ways.
I do not want to leave you hanging at this point for another week because the enemy (as he is prone to do) may begin to sow seeds of doubt in our minds. So let me briefly summarize some important points.
The Bible clearly reveals God as a sovereign, almighty, all-knowing Creator of all things, far above us, His creation. Let me give you one example of His providence and ultimate determination of all things to set you at ease – Predictive Prophecy. God reveals in His Word (the Bible) certain, specific events which will take place years (hundreds if not thousands of years) in the future. And guess what? They come to pass. There is no other possible explanation except that God decided it would happen…and it did. What's more, God has written a certain book called Revelation which, in simple terms, declares “We win!” The outcome is certain.
Once again, on the other hand, let us be clear that God is not the author of evil and sin and disease and confusion and terror. WE are. We have produced the fallen world in which we live because of our sin and rebellion against God. WE are to blame, not God. God is trying to redeem the world.
WHO IS IN CONTROL?
I asked you last week to look around the world in which we live. What is an unbiased summary of the condition of planet earth? Does it exhibit the glory of God? If most Christians were candid, they would lean toward the “Our world’s a mess” answer over “The world is full of God’s glory” response. If so much transpires in our world including countless deplorable acts which God does not approve, then is God really so much “on top of things?”
On the other hand, if God is totally sovereign then why did He allow the death of my loved one, this disease and pain in my body, the hurricane which took so many lives, and the rampant sin and evil in the world? More people are angry at God than you think.
I do not think it is quite sufficient to simply answer “Don’t worry about it. God’s ways are much higher than ours (which is true, though). We cannot understand all of this. Just have faith in Him.” Why? God has given us reason and logic and godly wisdom in order to better know Him and to understand His ways.
I do not want to leave you hanging at this point for another week because the enemy (as he is prone to do) may begin to sow seeds of doubt in our minds. So let me briefly summarize some important points.
The Bible clearly reveals God as a sovereign, almighty, all-knowing Creator of all things, far above us, His creation. Let me give you one example of His providence and ultimate determination of all things to set you at ease – Predictive Prophecy. God reveals in His Word (the Bible) certain, specific events which will take place years (hundreds if not thousands of years) in the future. And guess what? They come to pass. There is no other possible explanation except that God decided it would happen…and it did. What's more, God has written a certain book called Revelation which, in simple terms, declares “We win!” The outcome is certain.
Once again, on the other hand, let us be clear that God is not the author of evil and sin and disease and confusion and terror. WE are. We have produced the fallen world in which we live because of our sin and rebellion against God. WE are to blame, not God. God is trying to redeem the world.
