There is so much at stake in our nation and so much in current events that is applicable to God’s sovereignty, which is the basis for this week's reflections. In today's uncertain times, it’s difficult to put a limit on how much information gets included, but I do try.
Ps 73:28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (NIV)
Scripture is clear that everything will come together in accordance with God’s sovereign decree—both good and evil. God doesn’t cause evil but allows evil people to do evil things. Jesus Christ is our hope and strength in all things, who guides and leads us, and even provides a shield around us—more than we realize or will ever know until we meet Him face to face.
Dan 7:27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ (NIV)
Scripture is clear that God is sovereign over all things, yet Christians wonder why God allows so much evil to exist in the world. This is a question that seems especially relevant for 2021, with the pending inauguration of a new president amid accusations of voter fraud that were never fully investigated by the Justice Department or FBI. Where will it lead our Nation over the course of this year, the next four years or even the next ten years? Where is the Church? Did God open the door for evangelism, or did Satan close it? A time of challenge rarely seen in modern history—with a pandemic and extreme political discord as never before in our lifetime.
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)
We will look at the question of good vs. evil more than once: “Why does God allow evil to exist?” He does not take pleasure in evil (Psalm 5) but He has a plan for the human race, for those who will be saved and for those who will perish due to their unrepentant and sinful hearts (Rev. 20:13-15).
Psalm 5:4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. 5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.
Rev 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (NIV)
Evil started with Satan, when he was Lucifer described as the morning star (Isa. 14:12), and 1/3 of the angels that followed him in rebellion against God. Nevertheless, evil is restrained by the Holy Spirit. When the Church fails to be the Church, evil will grow in intensity and expand throughout the culture. Something we are beginning to see; John MacArthur’s sermon at the end of this week’s reflections explains why.
Isa 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! (NIV)
Why did the Nazis embrace Hitler’s hatred of the Jews? Hitler stirred what was already deep within the German culture and gave them a reason to unleash that hatred. Why did God allow the Holocaust? God doesn’t cause evil, nor did He cause the Holocaust, but without it the Jews never would have emigrated from Europe, a culture they were very much a part of. As victims of the Holocaust and facing widespread persecution in Europe, they emigrated to Palestine after WWII. Few nations allowed the Jews who had tried to escape from Nazi Germany, to immigrate to their country. Even after WWII, there were few options for them other than their ancient homeland. God did not cause evil but used the evil that had already existed and inspired by Satan, to achieve good.
Ezek 37:14 I will put my Spirit in you [Israel] and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’” (NIV)
All of creation is in God’s hands—metaphorically speaking. We can only guess what may lie ahead as 2021 begins to unfold under very questionable circumstances. Nevertheless, nothing in this world is free of God’s presence. He is not the author of evil but does allow sinful people to willfully perform evil deeds that originate from within, just as Lucifer’s rebellion began from within, and not because of unfavorable circumstances in heaven. There is and will be consequences for sin as Paul tells us in Romans. God is perfect love, perfect mercy and perfect justice in every situation.
Rom 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. (NIV)
Tradition says the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down, not feeling worthy to suffer in the same manner as Jesus Christ. Why did God let it happen?
Downloaded (edited) from Psychology Today Magazine: We are prone to ask regarding personal tragedies: “Why did this happen?” and “Why me?”, which are natural and common questions asked by many people when faced with a sudden adverse event, such as a diagnosis of cancer. “What did I do to deserve this? Did I do something to cause it?” Many people are inclined to wonder if they are being punished by God for some past transgressions, or to ponder if there is some intended mysterious plan or higher reason for their misfortune, perhaps some intended lesson in their suffering. Since these tragedies are common to humanity; nevertheless, the flip side is “Why not me?”
1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)
The apostle Paul was a Roman citizen and could not under Roman law be crucified, as Peter was. His death was by beheading, as we are told by Eusebius (263-339 AD) a church historian, who claimed that Paul was beheaded at the order of the Roman emperor Nero or one of his subordinates. Looking back on Peter and Paul, why would we expect to be exempt from suffering? Without getting too theological, a simple answer is, we live in a fallen world, and as such are not immune to the circumstances or sicknesses around us, just as Paul tells us in his second letter to the Corinthians.
2 Cor 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (NIV)
Christians have never been exempted from persecution and were targeted in many countries and centuries, even today. The Romans, who believed in many gods, were an advanced civilization and yet they took pleasure in these events (images). But God had something special—an eternal joy beyond anything we could imagine—waiting for Peter and Paul and those martyred Christians. This life is but a blink compared to eternity. We too have to trust in God, just as they did. What does God want of me? Is something I ask frequently. Maybe part of the answer is that we are to seek God in all things.
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay [our body] to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. (NIV)
God is sovereign, but how exactly would God eliminate evil? To eliminate all evil, He would have to eliminate the root cause of evil, the entire human race. Why doesn’t He just eliminate evil people? Even Hitler’s mother was described as a gentle, saintly woman, but she gave birth to a child who was the embodiment of evil—an example of how good and evil are intertwined. God does restrain evil. We can only imagine what the world would be like if God didn’t restrain evil and evil was totally let loose. Satan would unleash his full fury on the world if God didn’t restrain him—he will be let loose during the Tribulation along with the Antichrist. It’s also a time when God’s wrath is poured out on a sinful and unrepentant generation. At the end of the Tribulation, the Antichrist and False Prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.19:20-21), and the Devil will be locked away in the abyss for a 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3). People born during the Millennium are born with Adam’s DNA and propensity to sin, just as Adam and Eve had sinned in a perfect Garden paradise. So as people have always sinned, people will sin even during the Millennium.
Rev 20:3 He threw him [the Devil] into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (NIV)
Why didn’t God the Father spare His Son from the crucifixion? Without Jesus’ crucifixion, His death and burial; no sin could have been forgiven by a Holy God. Sin is a permanent stain that could only be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. To do otherwise and just forgive people, would be a violation of God’s own nature. Perfect justice is an integral part of who God is. Within that context, there are no good people, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The bottom line is we don’t take sin as seriously as God does. So, He had to do something we are incapable of doing for ourselves, earning salvation on our own merits. We could devote our entire life in a monastery on our knees and it wouldn’t suffice as was once believed in the medieval church.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)
What would you think of a judge that never convicted a criminal for his crimes no matter how heinous, and just forgave every criminal without any consequences? What would you think of a justice system that never locked away habitual child molesters or rapists or even murderers?
What would you think of a judge whose every sentence perfectly matched the crime? What would you think of a justice system that was 100% fair in making the punishment fit the crime?
Now compare the two and ponder that God’s perfect justice is a reflection of Who He is—perfectly just and perfectly holy, there is no middle ground. For every repentant sinner who puts their faith in Jesus Christ, He paid the debt, and washed it clean with His blood, so we didn’t have to.
Lets look back on 2020 and now 2021. What’s happening in today’s America? Before we answer that, lets look at a couple of the world’s great empires. Every great empire down through history has fallen. The United States is not an empire, as such, but it is a global influence and world power.
Map shows the full extend of the Roman Empire before its collapse, stretching across southern and central Europe, north Africa, Asia minor, and into the Middle East. Could any Roman have ever imagined it would ever cease to exist?
Ruins of the Roman coliseum (photo on right), stands as a symbol of a once mighty empire (shown on left). Rome’s collapse was caused by a lack of resolve from within, that eventually led to military defeat.
The Roman Empire covered more than 1 million square miles. It was founded in 27 BC and ended in 476 AD, although the Eastern Empire, later known as Byzantium, lasted until 1453 AD being defeated by the Islamic Ottoman Empire. After centuries of persecuting Christians, in AD 313, Christianity was made legal in Rome under Emperor Constantine. In AD 380, Emperor Flavius Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, yet it fell less than 100 years later. Why? Not everyone in the Church was of the Church, just as seen in certain churches today—Jesus calls them wolves in sheep’s clothing in Matt. 7:15. Many pagans proclaimed to be Christian to earn and maintain the Emperor’s favor. Even within the Church, some pagan ceremonies were shrouded and professed to be Christian, but retained certain elements of a pagan culture to maintain popularity and appeal--not everyone in the Empire accepted Christ as Savior though they wore the title of Christian as deemed by the Emperor.
Pagan temples were converted to Christian churches, and pagan gods given the name of a Christian martyr/saint. Nevertheless, Christianity spread into and across the parts of Europe that had been under Roman influence without which most, if not all of Europe, would have remained pagan.
Map shows the full extend of what had once been the British Empire (shown in red). It held sway to more than 412 million people, 23% of the world’s population at the time. At its height it was the largest empire in history and covered 24% of the earth’s total land surface. It was referred to as “the empire where the sun never sets”. Today it is an Island nation of the United Kingdom, consisting of Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. It was followed by what was called the Commonwealth, initially formed at the beginning of the twentieth century following the decolonization of the British Empire, which began in 1945 and fully dismantled by 1997. What’s the message? Even great kingdoms collapse from within. Great Britain was one of the victors of WWII, yet, they could not sustain their global empire. Its end was not from external defeat, but internal factors and differences; they were no longer a united people. Why is this relevant? The following slides explain.
Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall..." (NIV)
If you wonder about God’s sovereignty over history and man’s affairs, we now turn to Britain, who unintentionally played a pivotable role in the rebirth of Israel. British involvement in the Middle East long predated World War I, but Britain's "moment" in the Middle East, as it has been called—the period in which it was the dominant power in much of the area—lasted from 1914 to 1956. The axis of Britain's Middle Eastern empire stretched from the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. At its height between the two world wars, Britain's supremacy was almost unchallenged either by other powers or by indigenous forces.
After 1945, British dominance began to weaken, making Jewish immigration possible, ultimately leading to creation of the State of Israel in 1948; the hand of God, and His perfect timing. The European Jews never could have gained a toehold anywhere in the Middle East at Britain’s peak of power or after its total loss of power, giving sway to Arab dominance. We can attribute everything to the sovereignty, wisdom and perfect timing of God in the affairs of man, even great empires.
Ps 33:9-11 – 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (NIV)
So, what about the USA? I don’t see how anyone can deny that January 2021 is a very different United States of America than it was in January 2020. So, where is God? Did He abandon America? It’s important to note once again that God is sovereign, and Satan can only accomplish what God allows him to accomplish, and it’s up to us to implore God to restrain Satan. God does listen to the prayers of His people. Jesus, Himself, tells us to pray.
Matt 6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
2 Chron 7:14 if my people , who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)
The photo represents the America most of us grew up in—with thanks to the Greatest Generation for securing our freedom. But doubts have now arisen with the 2020 presidential and GA senate elections. Who exactly are we? Are we sill One Nation Under God? This is something that few doubted or ever gave any serious thought to. So, is it still who we are? If not, what happened? Alteration of wording of the Pledge of Allegiance came on Flag Day in 1954, when the words "under God" were added, under President Dwight Eisenhower. Ike served as Supreme Commander of all Allied forces in the European theatre and defeat of Nazi Germany. Ike was a practicing Christian, who attended Palm Springs Presbyterian Church. What would he think of today’s events and today's America?
Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, VA, was established in 1864 for Civil War military deaths, as well as reinterned dead from earlier wars. It is truly a hallowed ground. You can’t appreciate the extent of it and the sacrifices it represents in American lives lost in defense of these United States, until you see the full scope and extent of it…
Arlington National Cemetery covers 639 acres. How many school children today can even name the National Cemetery or who it’s for? Has our national heritage quietly slipped away over the last few decades? In 1963, a 6 to 1 landmark decision by the Supreme Court declared religious activities in public schools unconstitutional, such as reading from the Bible, displaying the Ten Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, etc., which opened the door to exactly the situation we’re witnessing today, when Satan quietly crept in, when all remnants of Christian thought was removed.
So, what happened on January 6th at the Capitol building? Why did protesters storm the Capitol building? Who were they? The slide tells the tale as to what happened, but not why it happened.
Photo shows some of the protestors that entered the Capitol. The American flag may not really describe who they are. Just one example of a new level of evil being released in America.
Is Satan behind Voter Fraud? Is this a political battle or spiritual warfare? If anyone were to lay out a road map for the Antichrist’s rise to power, this is exactly how it would begin. So where is God? Why is He letting this happen? Dr. John MacArthur’s sermon at the end of this week’s reflections, explains why. But, don’t jump ahead just yet. There’s still a few slides to go.
More than one U.S. Post Office worker were seen dumping Trump ballots into a dumpster. Oh my! Did anyone in the Justice Department investigate this? Apparently not. What about the FBI? Neither the Department of Justice or FBI conducted an investigation of what appeared to Fox, Newsmax and OAN viewers as apparent voter fraud in key battleground states, especially Georgia and Pennsylvania. Are we beginning to see a road map for the rise of the Antichrist? Keep in mind, a strong America, both militarily and economically, stand as a deterrent to the rise of the Antichrist and world domination. Has Satan unleased his fury against America? Why isn’t God restraining him?
Pictures show some of the incidents at the Capitol building. What’s behind it? The bottom line in all this is “political power” at any cost and by any tactic. The crowd of a million pro-Trump Americas was mostly peaceful. Lead protestors that broke into the Capitol building causing destruction, were identified as Antifa posing as Trump supporters. Have you heard any of that on the mainstream media? Keep in mind that withholding the truth constitutes a lie. And Satan is the father of lies.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (NIV)
Is this something Christians should care about? Why should I even post it here? Let’s begin with an important question that affects all of us. Why would the House of Representatives vote to impeach President Trump with only a few days left in office? Are their accusations even factual? I think not. So, why is this happening? The goal is to prevent Donald J. Trump from running for reelection in 2024, AND to prevent him from being a political influence in the 2022 elections. Why? Is this an honest above-board effort or a behind the screen effort shrouded in darkness? Is it rooted in political differences or does it go deeper? Are we seeing spiritual warfare as Paul warned us in his letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 6:12). For the Antichrist to rise to power, America’s economic strength and global influence would have to be neutralized, just as we’re seeing with the Covid-19 lockdowns and voter fraud. Is all of this a matter of reality or imagination? You'll have to decide for yourself.
An American president who stood up for the people, fulfilling every political promise, is now called a threat. By whom? The swamp of corruption and personal power feels threatened. Are we seeing political differences or spiritual warfare? I think the answer is obvious.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (NIV)
Much of what’s happening in Washington DC, begins here. Political power and economic power go hand-in-hand. Political power not only equals economic power but leads to personal wealth as well. One can only wonder why there are so many millionaires in Congress. The Antichrist will not have any trouble getting the world power brokers to cooperate, believing it will further enhance their own wealth and power. Ill-gained worldly power and wealth are short lived. There will be a day of reckoning before a holy God (Rev. 20:11-15).
Prov 10:2 Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death. (NIV)
Communist Christ is an “atheistic” world power. It Satan was to award a “favored nation” title to any nation, Communist China certainly would merit that award and title. So, what does this mean for the USA?
Chart shows China’s projected growth and the U.S.’ decline. Why is that? Other than Wuhan where the Covid-19 virus originated, China did not go into a total lock down as did the U.S. governors. Those actions by governors literally stopped economic growth and put the economy into a tailspin. Was it science or politics? Was it a plan to destroy the Trump legacy? A yes, is highly probable, all of which plays into the hands of Satan and the Antichrist. Setting the stage? It sure looks like it. Bottom line? Pray for America, knowing God is sovereign. Will He uplift us or let us fall? God is sovereign over the affairs of nations, He is also sovereign over our salvation, which we will look at in next week's reflections.
John MacArthur’s 60-minute sermon, When God Abandons a Nation (Romans 1:18-32), [oh my! Dr. MacArthur's sermon is not for the faint of heart.]
https://youtu.be/Cz8AA_Oa0EU
(copy and paste into your web browser)
Prayer is the remedy for evil as we are told in Eph. 6:12-18, especially in these uncertain times.
Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (NIV)
End of the Sovereignty of God #2
