God gave the first human beings the power to choose. They
could love and obey Him — or not. Since they choose not, they and their
offspring lost that ability. All of us are under the dominion of sin. Some say
that we can choose otherwise. A few passages in the Bible challenge us to choose
whom we will serve, yet as Bible history unfolds, it becomes clear that sin
means saying NO. The only way anyone can says YES to God is if the Spirit of
God gives them new life in Christ. Once that happens, God restores our ability
to choose. Will I love and obey Him? Or not?
Some people think that sinfulness means God cannot have
his way, or at least His way with us. However, the Bible says we cannot control
God. That seems obvious — we cannot control ourselves. Our sin messes up that
ability.
Some say Satan is in control and has God’s creation in chaos;
we opened the door to evil and God is powerless to do anything about it. If
that were true, then God would not be worthy of worship, trust, reverence and
submission. He would merit nothing but contempt.
Those who do not know God have a false idea of who He is.
Depending on their view, they wind up worshiping an idol, either their false
idea of the true God, or something else entirely, like money, fame, or other people.
In Bible days, it was idols they fashioned from stuff . . .
“Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. (Psalm 115:2–8)
So, if idols are helpless, what about that God who is in
the heavens? The Bible says He does all that He pleases. The psalmist describes
Him in connection to the weather:
“For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.” (Psalm 135:5–7)
Our insurance policies use the term “acts of God” or at
least they used to. Most people do not want to think of hurricanes, tornadoes,
blizzards, or even forest fires caused by lightning as acts of God, for that
implies deeper questions, such as: if God is causing all this, what kind of a
God is He? Why is He doing this? What is He telling us?
If indeed the unbelieving world has turned to idols that
are powerless, is it possible that God is saying LISTEN UP? If their idea of
God is a powerless, silver-haired old man without any care for this world or
the ability to fix it, could the weather contain a message from Him about His
power?
Of course, the massive loss of life does not fit with the
concept of a loving God whom many suppose only exists to make us all
comfortable. Again, is that a true picture? Or another idol?
If people make up a god based on their idea of what God should
be like, then events go contrary to their liking, why blame the true God for
not being like their false god?
^^^^^^^
Jesus, I know that You are sovereign. I know that the
triune God does what, when, and whom he will, in whatever way You decide. You
don’t need anyone’s permission to do as You please. You stand before no one to
be accountable for what You do. Someday, I will fully understand those things
that puzzle me, but right now, I trust You to do whatever fits Your will. Your
wisdom is great. You are God and not at all accountable to anyone, to me, nor
to those who refuse to love and obey You.
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