Word For The Day: God Is In Control
Is God in control? If God is both powerful and good, why is there so much suffering, pain, and heartache in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? Many assume that you can’t have it both ways as they look at the pain and adversity in the world today: “God is either good but not all-powerful, or He is powerful but not all-good.”
The Bible teaches that God is both! He is sovereign, and He is good. This teaching is called the Providence of God. The Providence of God refers to “His care of and governance over all of His creation at all times.”
JI Packer defined providence as,
“The unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts os angels and men and directs everything to its appointed goal for His own glory.”
There are two big truths for us to believe about God today:
God sustains all things
God governs all things
Jerry Bridges writes, “All things are indebted for their existence to the continuous action of God exercised through His Son… Nothing in all creation stands or acts independently of the Lord’s will. The so-called laws of nature are nothing more than the physical expression or the steady will of God.”
Hebrews 1:3
“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.”
Colossians 1:17 says that Jesus:
“He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.”
God also governs all things, meaning that He rules over the universe. He regulates the actions of men and animals. God is called the Ruler of all things. Even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without the knowledge and care of God.
Daniel 4:17
“For this has been decreed by the messengers;
it is commanded by the holy ones,
so that everyone may know
that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world.
He gives them to anyone he chooses—
even to the lowliest of people.”
Matthew 10:29
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
God’s rule is invincible, and it is, therefore, incomprehensible.
Isaiah 55:9
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Romans 11:33
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable (unsearchable) his ways!”
“The sovereignty of God is often questioned because man does not understand what God is doing. Because He does not act as we think He should, we conclude He cannot act as we think he would.”
The reality is that all people – Christians and non-Christians – experience suffering, problems, and stress! But a Christian responds by trusting God because we know that God is in control.
Jerry Bridges, in his book, “Trusting God,” summarizes it this way.
“All people – believers as well as unbelievers – experience anxiety, frustration, heartache, and disappointment. Some suffer intense physical pain and catastrophic tragedies. But that which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God; our suffering has meaning and purpose in God’s eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.”
Have a blessed Tuesday, knowing that whatever you will face today, God is in control.
Pastor Phil
J.I. Packer Quotes – oChristian. http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/J.I.-Packer-Quotes/
The sovereignty of God is often questioned because man …. https://gracequotes.org/quote/the-sovereignty-of-god-is-often-questioned-because/