WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY GOD IS SOVEREIGN?
JOB 42:1-6
THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR THAT I LIKE TO WATCH CHRISTMAS MOVIES. NEW OR OLD IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER. I TAPE MANY FROM THE W CHANNEL, AND I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION OF THE GREAT CHRISTMAS MOVIES MADE DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS.
ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MADE FOR TELEVISION CHRISTMAS MOVIES, AND THAT IS I KNOW HOW THEY ARE GOING TO END FIVE MINUTES INTO THE MOVIE. WE WATCH THE REST OF IT TO SEE HOW THE ENDING PLAYS OUT.
THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS CHRISTMAS MOVIES ALWAYS END WITH THE CHARACTERS FALLING IN LOVE, AND GAINING THEIR HEARTS DESIRE. THE TOWNS ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE SNOW STORMS, NEVER SEEM TO DAMPEN THEIR ENTHUIASM.
IT DOES MY HEART GOOD TO SEE THESE MOVIES. I KNOW ITS ONLY A STORY, BUT IT’S A STORY ABOUT THE WAY I WANTED TO SEE THE WORLD, IN A POSITIVE LIGHT THROUGH ROSE COLORED GLASSES.
THERE ARE SOME CHRISTIANS, WHO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, THINKING THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR, THAT NOTHING BAD IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY WILL LIVE THROUGH THIS WORLD WITHOUT A CARE AND THEN GO HOME TO GLORY.
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A CORRECT PATH TO FOLLOW.
JOHN 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
WHAT WE MUST NOW CONSIDER IS THE ROLE THAT A SOVEREIGN GOD PLAYS IN OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY WHEN WE TREMBLE BEFORE THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD.
JOB WAS PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE HE STOOD TREMBLING BEFORE GOD ALMIGHTY. IN CHAPTER 41 GOD QUESTIONED JOB RELENTLESSLY, AND IN DOING SO, DISPLAYED HIS ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY IN JOBS LIFE. THROUGH A SERIES OF QUESTIONS GOD SHOWED JOB HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT IS FOR A FINITE MIND TO COMPREHEND AN INFINITE GOD.
IN HIS RESPONSE JOB REALIZES THAT HE MUST REPENT FOR EVEN QUESTIONING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN THIS WORLD.
JOB 42:5-6:
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
JOB’S LIFE WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN ORDER FOR HIM TO REALIZE THIS DESPERATE LESSON OF SOVEREIGNTY. THE QUESTION MUST THEN BE ASKED, CAN WE SEE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AND TRUST THAT HIS PLAN IS FOR OUR BEST GOOD, GREATER THAN ONE WE COULD PLAN?
DR. LARRY CRABB WRITES:
“CHRISTIANS WHOSE LIVES ARE REPLETE WITH BLESSINGS TYPICALLY DON’T BOTHER EVEN TO THINK ABOUT DIFFICULTIES. THEY THEREFORE RISK BECOMING LUKEWARM CHRISTIANS, CHILDREN OF GOD WHO NEVER DISCOVER THE UNSOUGHT GOOD THAT THEIR FATHER MOST LONGS TO DO IN THEIR LIVES, THE BEST GOOD THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE IN THE HARD TIMES THEY LIVE TO AVOID.”
WE MUST THEREFORE, IN THIS LAST MESSAGE OF THIS SERIES DARE TO QUESTION WHAT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IS. TODAY’S CHURCH NEEDS TO BE WARNED AGAINST “CHEAP SOVEREIGNTY” - WHICH IS TRUSTING THE SOVEREIGN GOD OF LOVE TO GRANT US WHATEVER GOOD WE THINK WE NEED TO EXPERIENCE JOY IN FOLLOWING JESUS.
TO BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IS TO BELIEVE THAT IN ALL OF THE BLESSINGS AND TRIALS WE EXPERIENCE THAT GOD IS DOING SOMETHING THAT FROM HIS PERSPCTIVE IS INEXPRESSIBLY GOOD. TO CALL GOD SOVEREIGN MEANS THAT HIS PURPOSE WILL BE REALIZED. TO CLAIM THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN OUR LIVES IS TO ABANDON OURSELVES TO GOD, TO TREMBLE OVER PRESENT OR PAST DIFFICULTIES THAT GOD HAS PROMISED NEITHER TO FIX OR TO PREVENT, AND TO TRUST THAT A STORY WORTH CELEBRATING IS ALWAYS UNFOLDING.
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED CHRISTMAS. WHEN I WAS IN MY TWENTIES I WOULD STAY UP BY MYSELF, TURN THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS ON, AND REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE I WAS. I STILL HAD MY PARENTS, IN FACT DEATH HAD NOT VISITED OUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR ME. I WOULD JUST TAKE IN THE JOY OF BEING WITH MY FAMILY, AND HOW WE SPENT CHRISTMAS. IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME OF CLOSENESS FOR ME.
IN 1986 MY PARENTS DIED OF CANCER, DAD IN SEPTEMBER AND MOM IN DECEMBER, IN FACT SHE DIED ON DECEMBER 23RD. IT WS A DIFFICULT YEAR TO BECOME AN ORPHAN. WE PUT UP A TREE FOR THE CHILDREN, BUT THAT YEAR I TOOK NO JOY OR PEACE IN THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS. I NEEDED SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT.
GOD WOULD GIVE ME THAT SOMETHING MORE THE NEXT YEAR. I PUT UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE AGAIN, STAYED WITH MY SISTER THOUGH FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AS THERE WAS A SNOW STORM. WHEN I WENT HOME CHRISTMAS DAY, I SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM AND TURNED ON THE TREE LIGHTS. AN OVERWELAMING SENSE OF LOSS HAD TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE. THEN I SAW THEIR WEDDING PICTURE AND I REMEMBERED THAT IT WAS THE LAST GIFT MY MOTHER GAVE TO US. I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE TREE ORNAMENTS AND REMEMBERED WHEN WE GOT THEM. I REMEMBERED DAD DRILLING HOLES IN THE TRUNK AND PUTTING BRANCHES IN TO MAKE THE TREE JUST RIGHT. IT STARTED FEELING SO GOOD. THAT NIGHT THEY WERE SO FAR AWAY FROM ME IN DEATH, BUT I FELT THAT THEY WERE SO CLOSE I COULD ALMOST TOUCH THEM.
SINCE THAT TIME I PROMISED THAT I WOULD ALWAYS PUT UP A TREE. I WOULD TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER OUR GOOD TIMES AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME THAT I WILL SEE THEM AGAIN. NOW WHEN I PUT UP THE TREE I TREASURE THE TIME THAT I HAVE WITH MY WIFE, AND SOMETIMES IT IS SO GOOD I THINK MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE WITH HAPPINESS. GOD LED ME THROUGH A DARK PLACE AND I’M A BETTER PERSON TODAY BECAUSE OF IT.
IN CLAIMING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD ONE MUST ALSO ASK SOME DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. IF GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND ALL POWERFUL:
1. DID HE CAUSE MY PARENTS CANCER?
2. IF HE DID NOT CAUSE THEIR CANCER DID HE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN? COULD HE HAVE PREVENTED IT?
3. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A THIRD ANSWER THAT IS BETTER THAN THESE FIRST TWO OPTIONS.
DR. LARRY CRABB GIVES THREE VIEWS ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
1. METICULOUS SOVEREIGNTY
2. CONTINGENT SOVEREIGNTY
3. UNTHWARTED SOVEREIGNTY
WHEN CHOOSING WHICH ONE TO FOLLOW HE ASKS THE QUESTION, “WHICH VIEW DOES THE BIBLE MOST CLEARLY ENCOURAGE ME TO AFFIRM? THAT IS THE VIEW I WANT TO LIST IN MY STATEMENT OF FAITH.
WHAT IS METICULOUS SOVEREIGNTY?
THE WORD METICULOUS MEANS TO BE EXACT, PRECISE, THOROUGH IN EVERY DETAIL. BRIDES ARE METICULOUS OF THEIR DRESS AND MAKEUP ON THE DAY OF THEIR WEDDING, LAWYERS ARE METICULOUS IN WRITING LEGAL PAPERS.
IN THEOLOGY THEN METICULOUS MEANS THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS COMES ABOUT ACCORING TO GOD’S INTENDED DESIGN. HIS ABSOLUTE CONTROL ATTESTS TO HIS POWER.
PSALM 114:7-8:
Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water
ADVOCATES OF THIS VIEW OFTEN USE THE STORY OF JOB AS A DEFENSE FOR THEIR POSITION. THEY POINT TO THE FACT THAT SATAN HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM GOD IN ORDER TO STRIKE OUT AT JOB. GOD EVEN SET LIMITS ON WHAT SATAN COULD DO.
IN CHAPTER 42 JOB POINTS TO AN ASPECT OF SOVEREIGNTY THAT OFTEN ESCAPES THOSE WHO FOLLOW METICULOUS SOVEREIGNTY.
JOB 42:1-2:
Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted
JOB EXPRESSES NO INTEREST IN THE QUESTION. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO HIM WHETHER OR NOT GOD ACTIVELY CAUSED OR ACTIVELY ALLOWED HIS TROUBLES. HE IS ABLE TO FOCUS ON GOD’S UNTHWARTED SOVEREIGNTY AND THAT GOD HAS A CHOSEN PURPOSE THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR JOB NO MATTER WHAT COMES IN THIS LIFE.
I CAN CELEBRATE MUCH OF THE TRUTH OF THIS POSITION. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO DENY THAT GOD HAS THE POWER TO CAUSE OR ALLOW ANY ACTIVITY UNDER THE SUN. STILL THOUGH I CANNOT EMBRACE THIS BELIEF.
THIS BELIEF DOES NOT TAKE INTO CONDITION THE FALLEN NATURE OF MAN AND THIS WORLD. PEOPLE WHO ARE KILLED IN A NATURAL DISASTER, THOSE HURT AS A RESULT OF CRIME, LIVES FOREVER CHANGED AS A RESULT OF A HOUSE FIRE, ARE ALL THESE DIRECTLY CAUSED BY GOD, OR IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.
MANY OF THE TROUBLES THAT WE FACE IN OUR WORLD COME AS A RESULT OF OUR SINFUL NATURE. WE CAN REST IN THE HOPE THOUGH, THAT GOD CAN AND DOES RISE ABOVE THESE TROUBLES, AND CAN BRING BEAUTY FROM ASHES TO FULFILL HIS PLAN FOR GOOD IN OUR LIVES.
WHAT IS CONTINGENT SOVEREIGNTY?
CONTINGENT SOVEREIGNTY CENTERS ON TWO BELIEFS.
1. GOD LIVES ABOVE TIME
2. GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN ALL THAT HAPPENS IN THE UNIVERSE HE CREATED AND FOR EVERY PRSON BORN ON EARTH.
IT TEACHES THAT GOD LEAVES THE FUTURE OPEN TO UNFOLD IT’S WILL, WITH NEITHER HIS AWARENESS UNTIL IT HAPPENS NOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS. IT ADVOCATES THAT SINCE PEOPLE HAVE TRULY BEEN GIVEN FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY WILL, GOD CANNOT KNOW WHAT CHOICES WE WILL MAKE UNTIL WE MAKE THEM. THEY BELIEVE THAT TO STATE OTHERWISE MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT TRULY FREE TO MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES.
THEREFORE GOD’S ACTIVITY IN RESPONDING TO THE CHOICES WE MAKE IS CONTINGENT ON WHAT WE DO, UNKNOWN TO GOD UNTIL HE DECIDES THE BEST ACTION TO TAKE. IN THAT ACTION HE IS SOVEREIGN.
THOSE WHO HOLD THIS BELIEF TAKE OFFENCE TO THINK THAT A LOVING GOD HAS A GOOD PURPOSE FOR THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN. HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW A CHILD TO DIE, OR A MAN TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER’S?
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT TERRIBLE THINGS DO HAPPEN, BUT THEY JUST HAPPEN. THERE IS NO RHYME NOR REASON TO IT. SINCE THERE IS NO GOD GIVEN PURPOSE FOR THE TRAGEDY, THERE IS NO NEED TO SEARCH FOR THAT PURPOSE.
BUT IF WE HOLD TO THIS BELIEF, WE MUST ALSO HOLD THAT ANY GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES IS NOT UNDER THE AWARENESS OF GOD UNTIL THEY HAPPEN. THERE IS ALSO NO GOOD PURPOSE PLANNED BY GOD FOR WHEN THEY OCCUR. JUST AS WE MUST ACCEPT TRAGEDY WITHOUT AN ULTIMATE POSITIVE PURPOSE, WE MUST ACCEPT THE GOOD THINGS WITHOUT ANY ULTIMATE REASON OR PURPOSE. THIS GOES AGAINST THE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE.
JAMES 1:2-4:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
WE CAN SEE PURPOSE IN TIMES OF TRIAL. WE CAN SEE THAT GOD HAS A PLAN IN PLACE, AND WE CAN HOLD ONTO THAT FACT AS WE DEAL WITH STRUGGLE.
EPHESIANS 1:7-12:
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
NOTHING CATCHES GOD OFF GUARD. HE IS ABOVE TIME. OUR FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THOUGH REMAINS INTACT AS GOD SEES TOMORROW AS IF IT WERE TODAY, AND KNOWS THE CHOICES WE WILL MAKE. THIS PRESENTS US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPPOSE OR COOPERATE WITH HIS PURPOSE. GOD IS PREPARED WITH A PLAN TO PUT DIVINE LOVE ON DISPLAY FOR ALL TO SEE AND BE A PART OF. THEREFORE CONTINGENT SOVEREIGNTY CANNOT BE MY CHOICE.
UNTHWARTED SOVEREIGNTY:
THIS BELIEF OF SOVEREIGNTY IS BASED ON FOUR BELIEFS:
1. GOD IS FREE TO DO WHATEVER HE WISHES. GOD SOVEREIGNLY CHOOSES TO AFVANCE HIS STORY ANY WAY HE WISHES, EVEN IF IT MAKES NO SENSE TO OUR FINITE MINDS. WE REALIZE THAT HIS ULTIMATE PURPOSE IS TO GLORIFY HIMSELF AND REVEAL HIS HOLY LOVE IN ALL HE DOES.
2. GOD IS ALWAYS ACTIVE, ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING GOOD. GOD EITHER CAUSES ALL THINGS, GOOD OR BAD ACCORDING TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOOD OR BAD, TO HAPPEN, OR HE ALLOWS THEM TO HAPPEN, ALL FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF ADVANCING HIS LARGER STORY.
ROMANS 8:28-30:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified
3. EVEN THE WRATH OF MAN, ENERGIZED BY OUR FLESH, DIRECTED BY HELL’S WISDOM AND APPROVED BY THE WORLD, WILL FURTHER GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE TO REVEAL HIMSELF ABOVE ALL ELSE AS WORTHY OF PRAISE.
GENESIS 50:20: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
1. THE SOVEREIGN GOD SEES TO IT THAT NOTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THIS WORLD, NOTHING THAT EITHER LOST OR SAVED PEOPLE CAN DO, WILL THWART HIS PURPOSE.
OUR LONGING FOR EVERYTHING TO BE AS IT SHOULD BE IN A LOVING HOLY SOVEREIGN GOD’S UNIVERSE LEAVES US GROANING INWARDLY WITH UNSATISFIED DESIER AS WE WAIT FOR EVERY DESIRE IN OUR REDEEMED SOULS TO BE ALIVE WITH UNENDING JOY.
BUT OUR FAITHFUL ENDURANCE OF ALL THAT IS WRONG IN OURSELVES AND IN THE WORLD UNTIL IT IS MADE RIGHT, JUST MIGHT BE THE LONGIND DESIRE JESUS HAD IN MIND WHEN HE PROMISED TO ANSWER OUR PRAYER.
IF SO, THEN WE ARE TO ASK GOD TO SATISFY OUR LONGING TO ENDURE TRIALS WITHOUT QUITTING, TO SEEK ALL WE NEED TO STAY THE COURSE ON THE NARROW ROAD OF LIFE, AND TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR THAT OPENS ONTO A RESERVOIR OF STRENGTH TO TRUST THE GOODNESS OF HIS SOVEREIGN PLAN, EVEN WHEN TROUBLES COME, AND FRIENDS DISAPPEAR.
