Monday, May 2, 2011

Who is in charge here anyways?

In Norman Geisler’s book, Chosen but Free he discusses the question of who is in charge? I loved how he brought up different attributes of God, affirmed them by Scripture, and then showed how they point to the fact that God is in charge of everything. First, Geisler points out God’s eternity and the fact that He was before all things. Colossians 1:17 says that God is “before all things.” Next, he points out that God created all things. Genesis 1:1 says that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Not only did God create all things, but he also upholds all things. Hebrews 1:3 says that God is “sustaining all things by His powerful word.”Geisler next point is that God is above all things. Ephesians 4:6 says that there is “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” As if that weren’t enough, God also knows all things and can do all things. Psalm 147:5 says “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. It is an incredible, comforting, and yet scary thought to know that the God that we serve knows our every action and our every thought. Having this is mind should change our actions and our thoughts. Luke 1:37 says that “Nothing is impossible with God.” This however brings up the question: Can God make a mountain big enough for him to move? This can easily be solved by clarifying that God can do anything that doesn’t contradict itself. In other words, God cannot lie because it is against his nature. Also, God cannot make a triangle with two sides because, by definition, a triangle is a three sided figure. All of these attributes clearly point out that God is in control of all things. This is called the sovereignty of God.
God rules over all things and is even called the “Great King” in Psalm 48:2. In Job 42:2, Job confessed to God: “I know that you can do all things; no plans of yours can be thwarted.” God even controls earthly kings. Revelations 19:16 refers to God as the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Not only are all men under his control, but even the angels, both good and evil. Colossians 1:15-16 says that God is over all creation including “visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers.” Philippians 2:10 says that “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow.” This includes the fallen angels. The story of Job tells us that even Satan himself is under the control of God. Satan wanted to take Job’s life but God would not let him do so.
It has now been made clear that God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth and under the earth. With this in mind, ask yourself the question: Who do you think is in charge?

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