THOUGHTS ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD ON A BAD DAY

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:11-12
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

“What dost thou mean by the providence of God? The almighty and everywhere present power of God; (a) whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs (b) heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, (c) fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, (d) riches and poverty, (e) yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.” The Heidelberg Catechism Question 27

Today I lay on my bed with a sore throat and fever that caused me to miss my first Sunday service in over thirty one years of ministry. To top it off I have had someone utterly break my heart with a phone call this morning; the implications yet to be seen in regards to the effect on my life.

It is in moments like these where my faith in the absolute sovereignty of God is put to the test. What do you do when problems come your way? When people make decisions that could impact your life? Is my life under control of my illness? Am I a victim of people's decisions? Is God really in control when everything seems to be falling apart? Paul says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." ESV The NASB translates it, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God".

In reading this passage I am reminded that today matters and must be embraced because the sovereign Lord has seen fit that I must endure it. I must bear today's sickness and sorrow with the eyes of faith. E. Stanley Jones, the great American missionary to India in the 19th century said, "Don't bear trouble, use it.Take whatever happens-justice and injustice, pleasure and pain, compliment and criticism-take it up into the purpose of your life and make something out of it. Turn it into a testimony."

Oh this is what can free us from bitterness, fear, depression, despair, and anxiety when troubles come our way. At this moment when I feel weak, sore throat, uncertain about my future, overwhelmed with pressure, exceedingly sorrowful, heartbroken, and angry I can proclaim to all of these feelings and thoughts that God is working at this moment and it will all be for the good or God is not God.

My theology has been verified over and over again by my past experiences. Looking back in my life I can truly say God has worked all things for the good (Romans 8:28) and that what man intended for evil, God intended for the good (Genesis50:20). I have made many mistakes along the way. I have failed God, my wife, my family, my church, and my friends. Also, there have been plenty of those who have hurt me as well either intentionally or unintentionally. That is why I can say with such passion that there is no truth that has meant more to my life than the truth that God is sovereign.

During some of the most trying, difficult and darkest seasons of my Christian journey; I have held on for dear life to this most precious truth and by His grace this truth has brought me through to the other side.
I had been a Christian for only a few months when I experienced in the most supernatural way a calling to the ministry. I was lying on a hammock on a hot Mexican day at a beautiful point called Punta de Mita when God came to me and called me at the age of twenty-two to the ministry. I heard this voice in my head that told me to turn in my Bible to Jeremiah chapter one. I had never read Jeremiah, by the way. So I read the account of God’s call to Jeremiah and when I was finished reading, a voice said to me in my mind, “Bill, you will be my Jeremiah, and I will make you a Pastor.” At that point all I could do is argue with God about how this wasn’t possible and laugh inside at the absurdity of it all. I had barely graduated from high school, I had never held a job for more than a few months, and my only goal in life had been to travel and surf all over the world. Not to mention the fact that since I had become a Christian I had not even been to a church! Yet here I write thirty four years later having been a Pastor now for thirty one years. Praise be to God!

It would take a book to describe the wild journey of how God put this plan together. My journey has been fraught with plenty of mountaintops and plenty of valleys. Sometimes I can only chuckle and wonder at God’s ability to get me through some of the most difficult, frightening, low, and lonely times when it seems as if being a Pastor was more of a wish that I had than a sovereign call of God. During those times I have experienced much brokenness, setbacks, divine chastening, constant weaknesses, character flaws, foolish pride, selfish ambition, and gross incompetence. Yet during these times I also have seen miraculous providence's, last minute deliverance's, amazing provisions, deep and profound moments of renewal and revival in my soul, and much sovereign love and sustaining grace. The only way I can describe it is that no matter what I have done, no matter what man has done, no matter what circumstances have taken place, God has been in control and working to fulfill His purposes for my life.

The Westminster Confession says in its opening lines of Chapter III:
“God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.”

The most fundamental thing we can say about God is that He is sovereign. God’s sovereignty is, as John Piper puts it, “The strong wood of the tree that keeps our lives from being blown over by the winds of adversity. It is the rock that rises for us out of the flood of uncertainty and confusion. It is the eye of the hurricane where we stand with God and look up into the blue sky of his mastery when everything is being destroyed. ‘When all around gives my soul gives sway, this is all my hope and my stay’.”

This word I use to describe this attribute of God, sovereignty, is not a word that can be found in Scriptures, yet is constantly implied by scripture. To speak of God’s sovereignty is to speak of His authority and power. As sovereign, God is the supreme authority of heaven and earth. All other authority is lesser authority. Any other authority that exists in the universe is derived and dependent upon God’s authority. All other forms of authority exist either by God’s command or by God’s permission.

The word “authority” has in its root the word “author”. This further helps us to understand God’s sovereignty. God is sovereign because He is the author of all things over which He has authority. He is the Creator of the universe. He is the owner of the universe. As owner, He therefore has certain rights over His universe. He has the right to do with His universe whatever is pleasing to His perfect and holy will. “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3-4).

God’s sovereignty is the ultimate sovereignty, the supreme sovereignty. As the one in ultimate power, the ultimate authority, and the author and the owner of all things; God is in ultimate control over the universe. He reigns and rules from the farthest, most distant galaxy to the tiniest ant in my backyard. He reigns over my present illness and reigns over others decisions that have been made than affect me. Listen to what the Scriptures have to say about this peculiar sovereignty:

“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, "My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
“The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on
whomever He wishes” (Daniel 4:32)
"But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. "For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such decrees are with Him” (Job 23:13-14)
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the
plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of
His will” (Ephesians 1:11-12)

I will never forget a sermon by R.C. Sproul discussing the sovereignty of God. It was called “Joseph’s Technicolored Coat”. At the conclusion of his sermon he went through from Joseph to Christ the implications of God’s governing every event that led to Christ. He took us all the way back to Jacob’s giving Joseph the tech­nicolored coat. If there had been no coat, perhaps there would not have been so much envy and jealousy among his brothers. No jeal­ousy, no selling to the Midianite traders. And if the Midianite traders had been headed in the opposite direction, Joseph would never have gone to Egypt. No Egypt, no selling to Potiphar. Had someone else purchased him, there would have been no encounter with Potiphar's wife. No Potiphar's wife, no prison. No prison, no meeting with the baker and the butler. No meeting with the butler, no meeting with Pharaoh to interpret his dream. No meeting with Pharaoh and Joseph never would have become prime minister.

It goes on. If Joseph had never become prime minister then the Jews would never have settled in the land of Goshen. Had that not occurred, there would never have been an enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt. No slavery, no need for the rescue of a crying baby named Moses. No Moses, no Exodus. No Exodus, no Law. No law no prophets. . . And so it continues all the way to Jesus and His redemption on the cross.

If we telescope this collection of "what ifs?" we conclude that if it were not for Joseph's technicolored coat there would be no Christianity, and every chapter of human history would have a dif­ferent ending. But no matter how many “what if’s” you play in your own mind, there are absolutely no “what if’s” in God. Never forget and anchor your life on this great promise: "My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.”

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a better taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain. William Cowper

Today on my back and with troubles around me I will take all of my unbelieving fear, anxiety, discouragement, perplexity, confusion,and I will rejoice that there is more than meets the eye.
I will Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; knowing by faith that behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face. There is my God working His purposes for my good and His glory.
Pastor Bill