By Tyler Warner
The sovereignty of God is not meant to spark debate, but to bring us to our knees. If God is in control, then we can have peace and trust Him. And if God is on our team, then we can walk through life victorious and full of faith. Even if things break down for a while, we know how it is going to end, like a good movie. This is God’s authority; not only does he have the power and the right to rule over these things, but He does, despite how it seems sometimes.
God has authority over kings. The nations of the world, their rulers and various governmental systems are all under the authority of a sovereign God. He chooses who will rule and who will fall. Even though we live in a democratic republic, and choose our rulers, even then God is able to exercise His authority. The hard part is trying to understand why God would allow certain rulers or governments to persist. But God is smart and sovereign enough to orchestrate the nations for purposes of blessing, mercy, victory and even judgment. Especially in an election year it is important for us to remember who is really in charge, the One who laughs at the foolish schemes of wicked kings.
God has authority over the trials in your life. Circumstances and even internal pressures can feel overwhelming, and it is in these moments that we tend to doubt God the most. But the Lord is always in control, like a coach. He knows what you can handle, and He knows what you need. You can trust that God will not allow the trial or temptation to be one bit harder or one second longer than necessary. Fathers will allow their children to struggle and even perhaps to suffer, but not because they hate them, but because it will make them ready to face a corrupt and sinful world. God knows when we need to be refined, rebuked and even to be broken. He has complete authority over our trials, and we must learn to trust Him in the struggle.
And God has authority over salvation. The process of salvation is not left up to the whims of chance or the malevolence of Satan. God is constantly exercising His authority over souls to draw them to Himself. If you are in Christ Jesus, you should rejoice and feel humbled that God in Heaven chose you for salvation. Because you have been chosen by a sovereign God, you can rest assured that your ending will be a happy one. God picked you, He sent you His Spirit to purify you, and in the end He will present you to His Son like a father presents a bride to her bridegroom.
Tyler Warner is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Trussville. CCT meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30am, at 5239 Old Springville Rd. Listen to Tyler’s verse-by-verse Bible teaching at CalvaryChapelTrussville.com or Sundays at 8:30am on 101.1 FM.