Articles
God Is In Control
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Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)
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In a world that is sinking deeper into secularism, it takes a strong heart to cling to belief in God. But this verse reminds us that's not enough. We must also believe--be convinced, cleave to the hope--that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. When life becomes hard and bitter, and the forces of evil surround us on every side, the believer must hold firmly to the conviction that God is still in control.
It's easy to embrace the sovereignty of God when life is pleasant and we are surrounded by friends who share our faith. But when the bottom drops out and we find ourselves alone in an alien environment, what do we think of our God then? How can we continue to trust the Lord, when the world has gotten so bad that it seems even God Himself can't fix it?
When Israel became thirsty in a desolate wilderness, they gave God an earful: “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Ex. 17:7). Their incessant complaining over the next several years, fueled by a lack of trust in God's supervision, cost them an opportunity to reach the Promised Land.
The Jews of Jeremiah's day, beset by internal corruption and external threats, denounced God as a heartless bully, or worse: “Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?” (Jer. 5:19). Oh, they believed He existed; but they impugned His competence.
Even righteous Job had his moments of doubt: “Why have You set me as Your target?” (Job 7:20). Sometimes it can seem that God is not just indifferent to our suffering, He is rubbing it in our face.
Sooner or later, every one of us must confront a similar challenge in our own life. When that hour comes, can we maintain a confidence that God has a firm grip on His creation, that He really does know what He is doing, and that it is only a matter time before He will set this crooked world straight again? Can we look at all the suffering and injustice around us and view it as merely a minor detour in a majestic master plan, a plan that will consummate in a final glory? That's the kind of faith God is looking for in us.
So consider this simple question: Are you seeking God in your life? Before you respond, take a close look at how you handle adversity in your life. There's your answer.
--David
