God and God Alone

He is the great I AM. He reigns over all of His creation and does whatever He pleases. Nothing escapes His notice and all is under His Sovereign control. Our enemies have no say or do against us without God’s plan and permission to make it work for good in Him.

2 Cor 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As children of God we must keep our eyes on the eternal reality just a vapor ahead of this mortal existence in this physical earth. Diseases, disasters, difficulties, and even fiery trials coming from humans --who accept lies and work attacks on us in their deceptions-- are under the Sovereign and wise Hand of our God in Christ Jesus. For He makes even the wrath of man to praise Him. Ponder this poem I found…

The wrath of men shall praise Thee,
The rest shalt Thou restrain,
And out of earth’s disasters
Will bring eternal gain.
The purpose of man’s evil heart
Works out Thy sovereign will.
Our God is still upon the throne,
Therefore, believe, be still.
Be still and know that I am God,
This banishes our fears,
While passing through this scene of strife,
Of sorrow and of tears.
The One who rules the heavenly hosts
Holds all within His hand,
And none can say, “What doest Thou?”
Can His arm withstand.
—Author unknown

I couldn’t help but recall the recent news story of some believers who were brutally and mercilessly tortured by very young Muslim extremists for their faith in Christ Jesus. It sounded like a very hellish thing to endure and suffer through. Yet we all have to face the facts that this life can bring many difficulties in many ways. At the very least, most of us will likely have to endure the deterioration of our mortal flesh through our bodies failing and disease taking it’s toll as we age. And some of this may occur to younger members of the human race. Some of all ages will suffer the reality of our frail bodies as we suffer accidents. Some of us may suffer and/or die at the hands of sinful men as their evil hearts are revealed through violence. God has all of these things designed to ultimately bring great glory to Him as the only Sovereign and to prepare His children to know an eternal bliss and reward for the faith we have been given by grace to see us through these varying and various trials of this life. We must keep this faith in our hearts at all times and be ready always to give an answer for this great hope our Lord has given to us as believers in His Sovereign grace and power.

Please let this Word of Christ dwell richly in your hearts as believers in His Grace and never forget this under any circumstances…

Hebrews 12:1-11
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

And the Apostle Peters reveals this Word from our God…

1 Peter 3:13-22
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Only our Sovereign God knows our future, so continue to know Him through grace and He will prepare your heart for whatever is to come. Good days, bad days, or evil days, our Good Shepherd will see us through to the other side of this life. Praise Him forever for is unfailing love towards His people and for His Eternal Glory. AMEN!