Before you answer that question, consider what God said through the prophet Isaiah as recorded in Isaiah 55:8,9: “for My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Also consider what Jesus said to the Apostle Peter when Jesus explained that He would suffer and be killed and Peter’s simple response was “God forbid it Lord!”. In Matthew 16:23 Jesus replied to him “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Let those two verses sink in. After spending three years with Jesus, wouldn’t you have wanted to say the same thing Peter said? How would you feel if that was Jesus’ response to you?
There is a lot of emotion being felt and expressed regarding this election and the Covid 19. It is hard to avoid discussions about them. And as Christians, we have a specific role to play in that conversation. In 1 Peter 2:5 Peter says that we are a “royal priesthood”. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul says “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ”. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 He also told us to “be imitators of me” . Ambassadors and priests are representatives. How does Jesus feel about how you are representing Him? Does it show in your conversations about what’s taking place in our world today?
While the first two verses of scripture should be terrifying, the only way to represent God to others accurately is to know what God has revealed about Himself through the Bible. Peter didn’t have the New Testament to read. We do. It is amazing how much God has revealed about Himself and what He wants from us, and shameful how little scripture most Christians really know – and a standard Bible is about one inch thick! How can we possibly represent Him when our image of God is pieces of Him we have snagged off the buffet line of life – rather than the fullness of God – from really knowing scripture?
When King David was passing the kingdom to his son Solomon, he said: “As for you my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Another passage that should get our attention!
David didn’t just say “believe in Him”. To know God would take effort on Solomon’s part. Not only that, but kings don’t serve anyone – they are served. If the “man of God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) who was the most powerful king in the land, understood that his purpose was to serve God – what about us?
It is interesting how some respond – especially in these times – when they see Paul declare in Romans 13:1 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” You can almost hear the Exacto knives come out and start cutting… The fact is – that verse doesn’t set well with most of us. But God doesn’t offer us the option of representing “our version” of Him. It is doubtful that anyone physically cuts verses from their Bible – but be warned – your mind does subconsciously! Our Perspective is Everything. Your mind filters everything through your Perspective.
Would your God command a prophet to marry a prostitute who goes on to have children sired from other men? God did. Hosea 1:2 tells us: “The Lord said to Hosea, ‘go take to yourself a wife of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.” Would your God command an army to kill children and infants? God did. In 1 Samuel 15:3 through the prophet Samuel, God commanded king Saul to: “put to death both man and woman, child and infant…” One day I had black “floaters” in my left eye. The doctor said they won’t go away (he can still see them when he inspects my eye) but my mind will filter most of them out – so I won’t be bothered by them. Praise God he was right! And pray to God that He opens our minds to gain a Biblical Perspective (Luke 24:45) – not just the parts our human perspective will allow us to see.
Peter also commanded us regarding governments and being subject to them in 1 Peter 2:13-17: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” He didn’t say honor the good kings!
The thought that God intentionally establishes an evil government completely messes with our minds – we all know that “God is Holy” – God is Holy! He cannot sin and is apart from sin. However, one of the most comforting thoughts from scripture is the understanding that God is sovereign over everything! God does not “allow” anything to happen. Through His sovereign plan, He causes everything to happen. Remember, our natural instinctive thoughts are not God’s thoughts. Just because we grew up learning that God is love and cannot sin, doesn’t mean He doesn’t have the ability to use evil.
It is difficult for us to digest that four times in 1 Samuel the term “an evil spirit from God” appears: “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, ‘behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.” (1 Samuel 16:14,15)
Here are just a few examples of God’s control over governments:
Job 12:23 “He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.
Daniel 2:21 says “It is He who changes the times and the epochs, He removes kings and establishes kings.”
Proverbs 21:1 says “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.”
Colossians 1:16,17 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
The Bible says that God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26). One of the greatest errors man makes is in subconsciously trying to “return the favor”… If we don’t have a Biblical understanding of God, we tend to recreate God in our image! A natural human image of God typically results in Him being “bigger than Superman” – where He “allows” things to happen – and then reacts to events – which simply isn’t true. The fact is, our human minds cannot fathom the vastness of God.
When we don’t have Biblical knowledge of God we are in danger of violating the first of the Ten Commandments – “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Just because you call your god “Jesus”, if it’s one you’ve made up – is that not idolatry? How do you feel when people make up things about you that aren’t true? How does Jesus feel about it? I am motivated to know His Word (John 1:1-3) both as a way to honor Him, and from fear of misrepresenting Him!
Way more governments have been evil than good – and the Bible says God appointed every one of them. Knowing that makes the thought of possibly loosing this one even that much more real… and painful. Most of us are very grateful for the freedoms this nation has provided. If we were to loose it, it would be ok to mourn it’s loss. Probably an emotion many are feeling right now. However, we should also take comfort in knowing that God is not “reacting to evil”, but in fact, everything that happens is part of His plan – and He loves us more than we can possibly comprehend (John 3:16). Understanding that is experiencing “the peace of Christ.” “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
One of the more difficult concepts the Bible teaches is God’s 100% Sovereignty at the same time that Man has 100% Free Will (or Responsibility). Trying to rationalize both truths from a human perspective has resulted in a lot of doctrinal error. The fact is, our minds can’t comprehend that either. The best way I know of to keep it straight is to imagine a Balance Sheet used in accounting. The letter T is drawn on a page with Debits (assets) on one side of the page and Credits (liabilities) on the other. The biggest errors in accounting occur when an entry is made in the wrong column. The same is true when considering God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility. Just like Debits and Credits – both are true at the same time but you cannot co-mingle them or you will end in error.
Ever wonder why we have churches today that are considered “evangelical”? If Jesus gave us the “Great Commission” to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19,20), why wouldn’t every church be considered “evangelical”? The reason is that for centuries many churches have confused their “debits and credits” (God’s Job and Man’s Job).
The error occurred when theologians considered the “doctrine of predestination” and erased the entry from the Man’s Responsibility side of the balance sheet (to be God’s witnesses). Ephesians 1:4,5 says “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” Predestination is a very confounding doctrine. Frankly, it doesn’t set well with our concept of “fairness”. The only solution is to seek a Biblical perspective – not a natural one. God is God, and His Word is His Word, regardless of how we feel about any of it. But, if God predestined us and chose us, why would He give us the Great Commission? Because God’s Sovereignty is on one side of the page at the same time that Man’s Responsibility is on the other – and like debits and credits – we should never co-mingle them. Praise God for Man’s Responsibility – because it gives us Purpose and real meaning in life!
(Part Two Addresses God’s Sovereignty)
Kim Fettig
ksf@spiritualgym.life
God Bless!
Stay in the Spiritual Gym!
PS, I have received quite a few questions asking if readers can send these papers to a friend. Yes – that is why they are on my web site (spiritualgym.life) along with other materials focused on discipleship. (If you haven’t read Corona Virus Care Package it is still very relevant. )Please share with others and discuss and grow spiritually. Also, I know that I am a human and prone to error. Luke said the people in Berea were “more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Please be a good Berean! If you find what looks to be Biblical error, or you simply have questions, please let me know and lets discuss! I can be reached at ksf@spiritualgym.life. One more thing. God has blessed me with an abundance of resources. I don’t want your money. I am investing in God’s 1001k Plan. (Doesn’t even compare with a 401K). It lasts for ever, can’t be stolen, won’t rust or rot, and I know is better than anything we can imagine on this planet! (God’s 1001k Plan is also posted under blogs on the site.)
This was interesting to read. Another good read is ” persecuted for christ. Romanian author who is on the top list of most popular Romanians in their history. Surpassing. Nadia comaneci and illi. Nastase. please forgive brevity and grammar sent by Android.