Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
Is God in control? This question has puzzled many throughout history. Some believe that God created the universe and then allowed it to run on its own, while others believe that God controls every minute detail. Today’s passage of scripture teaches us that creation could not exist without the constant care and intervention of its Creator.
The term that is often used to describe God’s control over creation is ‘sovereignty.’ When we speak of God’s sovereignty, we are saying that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present, and therefore, He is the ruler over all things. Nothing can happen without His knowledge or permission.
It is easy to accept the sovereignty of God when everything is good. But when bad things happen, it’s hard to believe that God could allow it. Take for instance, the story of Job. As we begin to read about Job, we learn that he was a righteous man who feared God and was blessed exceedingly. But then the story of Job changes. One day, Satan came before God and suggested that Job’s faithfulness was only due to his prosperity and that if his earthly blessings were taken away, he would change. God allowed Satan to test Job’s faith by stripping him of all his earthly possessions and even his health. Job was left with nothing except for his life and his faith in God.
Job struggled to understand why God would allow him to experience such trouble. This is a question that many believers ask when faced with adversity. As far as we know, Job never received an answer to his question. However, he did not lose faith in God. In fact, he declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:5).
A verse of scripture that has become a favorite to many is Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. “(Romans 8:28) This verse does not say that everything is good. Rather, it declares that God has the ability to cause all things to work together for the good of those who yield their life and their circumstances to His purpose. Therefore, the question we might ask is – “What is God’s purpose for suffering? What is the good He wants us to experience?” We read in the next verse, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:29) God’s ultimate purpose is to make us more like Jesus.
Eventually, God restored many of the blessings that Job had lost. However, the greatest blessing that Job received was a more meaningful relationship with God. As Job declared, “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5).
God bless you, Brethren.
* Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the New King James Version.
"Seeds of Faith" 