“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson
As we have slowly worked out way through the chapter on the sovereignty of God, you may have had the passing thought that it sounds great, but we live in a fallen world and at times it looks like evil is winning. I must agree it can look that way. We can contend, as we have seen in recent sections from Steve Lawson, that God is supreme, creator, executor and meticulous, yet still wonder if God triumphs in the end.
Steve seems to anticipate our apprehension as he writes, “No matter what resistance is mounted against God, He is determined to execute His sovereign will. Regardless of how Satan or sinners may oppose God, He cannot be moved from accomplishing His original decree….God is determined with immutable resolution to bring His eternal plan to completion.” He goes on to quote Psalm 33:1-11, “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” Steve summarizes this by stating, “God is overruling.”
Some familiar verses drive home the point that God “could not divert His purposes from advancing to their appointed end.” Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Steve reasons, “To be sure, Satan is not a power equal to God. The forces of darkness are not in a position to conquer God – not in the least.” He then cites 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18 show this overruling power, “I will build My church and the gates of hell will not overpower it.” Lest we forget who God is, Steve points us to 1 Timothy 6:15 that glorifies “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”
We must also understand that God is completing what He has planned from time eternal. “Whether directly or indirectly, whether by direct intervention of by secondary causalities, God is bringing all things to their appointed end in fulfillment of His predetermined plan.” To my surprise Steve did not quote the classic text on this truth, so I will add it from Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
He then adds that “God is ultimate.” By this he means, “In the end, all things will be subjected to God the Father. There will be no end to the eternal reign of God. Throughout endless ages to come, He will sit on His throne and perpetuate the free exercise of His supreme authority.”
If ever asked if the sovereignty of God is applicable to life, please quote these words from Steve, “The sovereignty of God is like a soft pillow upon which the believer lays his head at night. There is no attribute more comforting to god’s children than the sovereignty of God. Under out most adverse circumstances, we believe that sovereignty has ordained our afflictions…All things – both good and bad, both prosperity and adversity – are being directed by God for a far better good. If it was not for the sovereignty of God, we would despair. But because He remains on His throne, ruling over every storm of life, we remain full of hope, knowing it is all under His guidance.” These are words to live by to His glory! Pastor Gillikin