GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL !?
The biblical Word of God declares: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). But when many people see the world of troubles around them—troubles involving wars, disasters, relationships; families, finances, health, evil, life and death–They may wonder or ask “is God really in control?” However, when you study the biblical scriptures and ask God to give you his understanding you are able to see how God is in control of the world (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Proverbs 3:5-6).
THE WORD SHOWS GOD IS IN CONTROL OF NATIONS
The Word of God, in 1 Chronicle 20:15-28, shows that God is in control of nations. It tells us that King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel were confronted by a vast army. The Lord spoke to them through one of his prophet, saying, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
…Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord
>>> The Bible foretold us: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
…There will be famines and earthquakes in various places…increase of wickedness.” But he said, “see to it that you are not alarmed,” for those who trust in the Lord “will be saved. (Matthew 24:6-13).
THE WORD SHOWS GOD IS IN CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL LIVES
In the book of Job in the Bible, God permitted Satan or the devil, who is called “the god of this world” to afflict God’s servant Job; God permitted this to glorify God and prove Job’s faithfulness to God. Satan used evil men and calamities to take Jobs wealth and possessions, and kill his children. Satan afflicted his entire body with festering sores; and the devil persuaded Job’s wife and friend to turn against him.
However, Job’s faith was strengthened by the trials God allowed. Job said: “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (1:21)—“All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (14:14)–“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (19:25-26).
For Job’s faithfulness, “the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (42:10).
>>> The Bible shows God permits afflictions for his glory and our good. God would have us know, “there is no power but of God” (Romans 13:1). But he may allow us to be tried, as he permitted the devil to test Job, to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to him (I Peter 4:12-13). In our trials as people of God we experience a spiritual struggle with “powers of this dark world” (Ephesians 6:12). Nevertheless, we are assured of winning. For all things are made for the Lord’s glory (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11; and he “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28)
THE WORD SHOWS GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL CREATION AND BELIEVERS’ SALVATION
The Bible reveals that God has created and controlled things of the world since its beginning; and is working out his pre-creation plan of salvation for people who fell because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman he created.
God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it; and said what he made was good (Genesis 1). But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, who were deceived by the serpentine devil, mankind and the world were cursed with troubles (Genesis 3). Yet God had planned to redeem the world through the obedience and atoning death of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ—”For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” (Ephesians 1:4).
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
When Pilate, a Roman authority, was unwittingly about to crucify Jesus that we might be saved; he told Jesus, “do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered , “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above (John 19:10-11).
>>> The Bible affirms all authority is given to Jesus. After Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was crucified and rose from the dead, he said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew28:18).
- Jesus demonstrated that he has power and control over the physical and spiritual worlds, He calmed a stormy sea (Mark 4:35-41). He healed all manner of sickness and “all who were under the power of the devil” (Acts 10:38).
- “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31).
- Jesus told his believers, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Whoever has repented and believe in the Lord and are filled with the Holly Spirit (Acts 2:38), can say: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
The Lord wants all people to know of his love and power “to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25).
He instructs those who love him and recognize his power: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16:15-16). “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”( John 3:16).
And in the Bible our Lord and Savior told his believers to encourage one another with the fact that he has power over life and death and the world; and is coming again to take them to live with God in heaven forever (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
