A lot of people are concerned about a lot of things. Global warming is going to kill us all. Trump might get elected, which will be the end of America as we know it. Biden is going to push us closer to the brink of extinction. What will happen if we vote in the wrong person? The church is on the decline; will it end? Marriage is on the decline ... same question. Guns are killing children (and, apparently, abortion isn't). Christians are the bane of our existence (and, for reasons I don't quite grasp, not, say, Muslims or Buddhists or ...). All the way down to "Where is my next meal coming from?" Concerned about a lot of things.
I have some good news for you. Well ... some of you. As some of you know and claim to believe, we have a Sovereign God. This Sovereign God claims to be in control. That would mean that He (and not we) controls the climate. Those of you with a Sovereign God can work to change things, but you needn't worry that human beings are going to end this planet outside of His plan. God claims that "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; He turns it wherever He will" (Pro 21:1). We know that "there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" (Rom 13:1). So we vote and we express our wishes and views, but no "bad government" (wherever you fall on what is "bad government") can do what God does not intend for it to do. Statistics tell us that the church is in decline, but Jesus said, "I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt 16:18). Relax. As for marriage, humans didn't institute it; God did (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:4-6). We can and should address the abuse and destruction, but, ultimately, we know Who is in control. All the way down to "Where is my next meal coming from?" We are told, "My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Php 4:19). We are assured, "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Rom 8:32). Why should we worry?
We live in a real world with real problems and real difficulties. We should, obviously, address them, large or small. What we should not do is worry about them. We should not be wringing our hands and wondering, "Is it all going to end??" On one hand, yes ... yes it is. Exactly when God plans it and in the way He planned. On the other hand, we have nothing to actually worry about because our God ... and not all those other spiritual forces ... is in charge. We can and should work toward these concerns, but never allow them to bring you despair. We are assured that, indeed, the Lord gives and takes away ... and in every case we should bless the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). Relax. He's got this.
3 comments:
Inspired writing!
This is an encouragement to us all to be able to work boldly for Him without concern for the outcome because we can know that He will see His ends met. Now if could only remember this every day.
This is a helpful reminder for today...and every day. If one’s faith is real and the object of that faith is sovereign, good, loving, benevolent, wise, and all-powerful--as my God is--how on earth can one worry about, as you say, “problems we don’t have”? Lois Lane may say, “You’ve got me? Who’s got you?” to Superman, but I have no such worries about the Lord.
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