March 5th, 2021 – Saturday Evening
“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” ~Psalm 103:19
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” ~Romans 8:28
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” ~2 Peter 1:2-4
Everyone faces trials, hardships, pain, loss, and grief in their earthly life. The effects of sin are everywhere and they are devastating; we may get away from the real obvious effects like severe health issues or violence for a while, but no one is ever truly free from sin’s touch. Whether it is a breakdown of communication, the aging process, the unkind or evil actions of ourselves and others, or death in all of its forms, we are constantly affected by sin and its consequences. No one, no matter how “good” or godly can escape it completely this side of eternity.
Now before you stop reading due to discouragement or despair, let me explain further: We must rightly acknowledge the bad news before we can truly embrace the good news; we have to understand the awful nature and reverberations of sin if we are to even begin to comprehend the sovereignty and goodness of God. This world has been cursed because of sin and it continues to reel from sin’s continuance. We, as earth “inhabitors” and sinners ourselves, are constantly reaping the outcome of the curse, our own sin, and the sin of others. Yet, the good news is that the LORD God is over and above it all. He Himself provided the remedy for our sin through the death and resurrection of Christ, and He has promised to never leave or forsake His adopted children (through Christ). That is not the end of His goodness and sovereignty, though; no, far from it!
When we talk about God’s sovereignty, it is important to keep in mind that it does not mean absolute micro-managing or finite control of every single human action. He does not cause sin or lead us into sin; that would violate His nature. Yet, He is over and above sinful people, actions, and outcomes as the Lord of all; He can take sin and its consequences and bring about redemption, salvation, and glory. He can use the worst situation for His glory and for the good of those who love Him. He allows people to make decisions (even bad ones), but He is more capable and powerful than anything those decisions can bring about. Not only that, but He empowers His people with His Spirit in order that they may be His agents of grace, mercy, love, and truth.
What does all of this mean? It means that if you are a redeemed child of God (as opposed to a child of the devil) you have been indwelt by the third Person of the Triune God; you, through the Spirit of God, have become a partaker of the divine nature and you have been equipped with EVERYTHING you need for life and godliness by the Sovereign LORD. It also means that every trial, hardship, pain, loss, and grief is under the ultimate authority of our Father; He is using all things for our good. Not only that, but each of those situations serve as an opportunity for us to know the power, goodness, grace, and mercy of God in a deeper way. It doesn’t mean that our circumstances will change or that we will suddenly be taken out of our trouble (they may actually get worse); rather, our circumstances, relationships, troubles, and very existence become a showcase of God’s faithfulness.
What are you in the middle of right now? Pain? Sickness? A devastating diagnosis? A hurting, broken relationship? Despair? Something else? Remember that if you belong to Jesus this situation is an opportunity to know God in a more intimate way; He desires for us to draw near to Him and He promises His rest for our souls. In addition, He has provided everything you need (in Himself) for what you are going through – not just to survive, but to be a living example of His grace! Don’t hopelessly weep, don’t despair, and don’t give in to your situation; instead, give up and let the Sovereign Lord (of everything that exists) take over and give you His precious and magnificent promises!