Who rules?

THE SOVEREiGNTY OF GOD

Who is regulating affairs on this earth today – God or the Devil? A.W. Pink asks this question five times in the first chapter of his book called the ‘Sovereignty of God’. Theologically, intellectually and doctrinally most Christians would admit God rules in Heaven, but here on earth?  Well, that may be another matter. 

Many deny God’s creative and regulating work in the world today.  Through the teaching of evolution and other non-creation theories, the ‘laws of nature’ and ‘man’s free-will’, God is effectively sidelined. 

Looking at the world around us we see much chaos and disaster.  In his commentary on Psalm 46:1-3, C.H. Spurgeon notes that even in his day there was much chaos and disaster.  Pink shows how this led many to doubt God’s sovereign rule in reality. 

But the Biblical evidence that God is in control of the nations and all of nature is clear and overwhelming.  People try to use evidence from the physical world and the spiritual realm to cast doubt on God’s sovereign rule.  God, who created this world from nothing and sustains it, is often reflected by our words and actions as being less than the Almighty God. 

One of the challenges that Pink raises for us as Christians is what impression do we leave with others, especially non-Christians, in this regard?  Do they see that we live by faith, trusting our sovereign God?  Or does our practical lifestyle deny this reality? 

Some time back I was involved in a discussion with someone who was complaining about how much they had as a family in the midst of the poverty around them.  I left the conversation wondering who he was actually complaining about, God who has provided for them, or his employer, or the job God provided.  The reverse is also true, when we complain about how little we have, how ‘much’ we have ‘given up’ to serve God, who are we complaining against?  Do we really walk by faith believing in a sovereign God or do we walk by sight? 

As we read the Bible we see so clearly that God rules over all things.  “…God is on the throne of the universe; that the sceptre is in His hands; that He is directing all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Pink, commenting on Eph 1:11) 
 

Where does this leave us?  We look around us in the world and see difficulties and great problems.  We see the breakdown of law and order, our own weakness and sin.  But God is not surprised; God is not caught off guard.  We must not despair or want to give up.  The God of Psalm 46, the only true God who rules, is working out His purposes in your and my life.  This must give us great courage.  I am reminded of passages such as Romans 8:28 - 39 and this gives us great encouragement.  At the same time I also identify with the father in Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”