God is in control

Article by Pastor Bobby Clark 

Of LightHouse Church CO 

For context this article was written in the morning of November 5th, 2024, right before the election for president. This article will have some political undertones. However, this article is meant to serve a deeper reason. Which is to remember that God is always in control. This is not to tell you who you should have voted for or anything like that. 

I can still remember the last four presidential elections before this one. I can remember the feeling of uneasiness and anxiety. Not knowing what was going to happen, or who was going to be elected president. I of course had those who I voted for and who I thought should be president. But like many others in America, I had no idea what was going to happen, or how it was going to affect the country I call home. As I write this, I once again have these feelings of uncertainty. However, this time appears to be different. Because of how divided the nation feels. Now granted, there are multiple reasons for this divide. However, it seems like the main cause is political. Which is nothing new. One side always thinks the other side is wrong. This time however goes beyond that by thinking each side is just straight out evil. Again no matter what party you belong to, the other side thinks you're wrong about everything. Now as Christians we need to remember we are not apart of the party system, or “side”. As Christians the only side, we are a part of is our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes it might sound cheesy to say. But it does not make it any less true. 

Since we are a part of Jesus’s and in turn God’s side. (Because Jesus and God are one). We must remember one thing. No matter what side wins, no matter how much hate and evil there is in the world, and not matter what happens in the future. God is and always will be in control. “6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” Isaiah 45:6-7. (ESV) We need to remember that God created the world, the light, the darkness, and all in-between. Yes, we have free will as humans. Which I will talk more about later on. However, God is still in control. And everything that happens, the good and bad, God will use it all for His glory. He has a plan for everything. And in specific, no matter what happens in this country. God is still in control. Now we might not like what happens. But us followers of Christ must take comfort in that it will be according to God’s plan. To tie it back to what I was saying earlier about the presidential election. I am confident that whoever does become elected president it will be because God appointed that person for some reason.  “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” Romans 13:1-2(ESV)  This shows us that God chooses who is of authority over us. And so we need to follow those leads and orders. As long as it does not go against God's commandments. Now this does not mean we should not do our civic duty and not vote. But it means that we understand that who is in authority over us, there is a reason and plan for it. 

This does not mean that we do not have a part to play. Yes, God is in control and knows what will happen. However, he welcomes us to play a part in his well and plan. One of the ways we do this is by living out the great commission. "18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20(ESV). This was the last command that Jesus gave us. To go out to world and make disciples. This show that we do have a part to play, even though God is in control. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul tells us to pray for our leaders. "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (ESV) We need to understand the best thing we can do at this time is in prayer for our future leader. As well as to interceded on their behave. So, there is much we can do along with our civic duty. Because this is our duty. To be willing to be used by Him in any and every way.

When talking about God being in control, we need to take a bit and talk about free well. There is different view in the Christain would on free will. Some believe that we have free will. While others believe that we do not. Where I stand right not, I believe that it is a mix of both. What I mean by that is this. I believe that God is all know, all powerful, and all mighty. He knows what will happen. God also draws people near to Himself. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:44(ESV). However, I believe that we have a chose to sin or to ultimately decide to accept Jesus as our Lord and savor, and love God. This is why as I said we sin. And distance ourselves from God. Think about it this way, God wants us to choose to love Him. He doesn't want us to be forced to love Him. Because that would not be true love. This is why I believe we have free will. Now saying that God know what we are going to choose, and all the other choices we will make. And God is still all powerful and in control. Again, we might not be able to see it from our limited view and infinite knowledge. God is in control and has an endgame.

The Bible tells of one complete story. The story of God's love and grace. In the last book of the Bible. Revelations tells of God's endgame. Actually, it tells of Jesus's victory over evil and the great deceiver. "7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven[b] and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelations 20:7-10(ESV). Jesus will be victorious. And that is because God is in control.

So, things might look bleak now. The world might look like a dark and horrible place. The person you might not want to win, might win. Or the country you might live in might not be there in ten years. We still need to have faith that God is in control, and all will work out in the end. We will still feel pain, anxiety, and fears. And it is ok to feel this way, we all will and do. We just need to remember that God is in control, and Jesus and His followers are victorious in the end. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”" Revelations 21:1-4(ESV). This is what we have to look forward to. So, let's not let the election get us down to much. And let us celebrate the fact God is in control.

AMEN