God Is In Control

by Elder Randy Slak

Twila Paris in her song of this title says,"God is in control, we believe that His children will not be forsaken, God is in control, we will choose to remember and never be shaken."In these troubling, confusing, and trying times of ours, who can we look to for hope, joy, and strength to make it through such a time like this? As finite humans, is there One of infinite knowledge that knows all things, past, present, and future? There is, He is described in the Bible in the book of Isaiah, chapter 46, verse 9 and 10," I am God and there is no other, I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still yet to come." "God is good and does good,"(Psalm 119:68), this is who He is. He could no more not be good anymore than the sun could stop giving light. He is perpetually good. And only God is good. But as we all know, many perplexing things come across our paths in a lifetime. How do we deal with them, is there hope, is there an end? "God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path," (Psalm 119:105), "He works all things after the council of His will,"(Ephesians 1:11), "He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom,"(Isaiah 28:29). But, "Behold the kindness and severity of God,"(Romans 11:22),His providence can be sweet and bitter. But sweetness does not have to be lost in bitter providence, not if we can grasp the truth of, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,"(2Cor.6:10). John Piper states,"The secret is, knowing that the same sovereignty that could stop the corona virus but doesn't, is the very same sovereignty that sustains the soul in it." He is the God that is" gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth,"(Psalm 103:8). We have human authorities placed by God over us that we need to be in subjection to,(Romans 13:1) often for our good and survival, to give us guidance in these difficult times. Though being subject to them, we desire not to do anything God forbids and to do everything God commands. Being apart from one another, in their estimation, though human and not omniscient, appears to be for our good and for our survival. These are not ordinary times we are going through. We have lost many people to the virus and stand to lose many more, and only God knows why. And we mourn with those that mourn. For the Christian, he could say, Liberty is dear, and life much dearer, but Christ is dearer than either. "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life".(Psalm 63:3)

Acts 20:22,"And now behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." The great English puritan John Flavel says in his book, Preparations For Suffering, "This journey was full of danger, Paul was not only to plant the gospel at Jerusalem with his doctrine, but to water it also with his blood, but so effectually was his will determined by the will of God, that he cheerfully complies with his duty therein,whatsoever difficulties and dangers did attend it."

So, my friends in Christ, keep fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, hold onto Jesus and you will hold onto hope, and be still and know that He is God.May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, may He lift his countenance upon you and give you peace.