We’ve been addressing the troublesome question: Is God in control of everything?
Let’s be clear what we’re talking about… Everything is a BIG word.
It describes the total of all things. Yet when we look at our world, and compare what we see with scripture and our understanding of our Good God, there are obvious contradictions. So God can’t possibly be in control of everything.
So why do people say that? Is it scriptural? I don’t think so. In fact, I agree with a ministry friend of mine who calls it “No-Fault-Religion.”
I’d like to believe this kind of thinking isn’t intentional, but I do believe it’s true. When people can’t explain something, they pull a rabbit out of their hat and say, “Well, God must have had a reason.”
Really?
God has a reason for a young child dying in a car accident? God has a reason for a building falling on 32 people?
No.
There’s a reason, alright. But it’s not God causing it. If it was, it contradicts His own Word. “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:16-18).
We could say it this way: He who fears has a lack of understanding of God’s love and care for us.
God loves us! He doesn’t need to send tragedy to teach us a lesson or accomplish His will. In fact, when presented with similar tragedies, Jesus responded with an explanation of how God operates:
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
Basically, the disciples were telling Jesus the front page news and asking if these things were God’s doing. In other words, they were asking if these died because it was God’s punishment on them (His intended will for them).
But Jesus answered very clearly: NO.
Emphatically, Jesus responded by telling them these weren’t God’s doing. But…
As we learned in Part 1 of this teaching, the earth is a dangerous place. Tragedies will continue to happen on the earth as long as there are people who refuse to let God in, AND as long as we have Satan as our enemy.
Repentance simply describes how we come into a relationship with God. We confess Jesus as our Lord, accept Him as Savior, and repent of our sins. Yet even after becoming a Christian (a follower of Christ), we still have a choice to follow Him partially or fully; adhering to all of His Word, or only the parts we like.
These kind of choices determine how much God is able to help us.
I recently had a good conversation with another ministry friend of mine, and we discussed this topic at great length, specifically the words “cause” and “control.” Control describes the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events. Certainly, God is ultimate, supreme, and sovereign, but does He control us? No. By His choice, He has given us choice.
The word cause defines a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition that happens (typically something bad). Does God cause all things? Again, the answer is no— not all things. Unless God is working out a particular plan of His, or unless a believer asks Him to intervene, God allows “free will” and “cause and effect” to operate without His interference.
And as C.S. Lewis said, “Why, then, did God give [us] free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.”
One final scripture: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Most people only quote the first half of this verse, but notice God is able to help (and intervene) for those who LOVE Him –not just in word, but in sincerity and action also. Remember, God doesn’t have favorites.
And as sad as this is, we have to understand that this scripture is also saying God isn’t always able to work things out for those who don’t love Him. But then there’s grace and mercy (another topic). I can look back on my life and see the hand of God helping me long before I committed my heart to Him. I think it means He knew in advance that I would one day give my heart to Him, and therefore through His grace, He saved me from myself!
In the least, I hope I’ve given you some things to think about in your walk with God. I hope you will help me defend God’s good name when He is blamed for things He allowed others to control. I know I have been challenged to look at areas where I have too much control. I’m thankful God has given me a choice—but regardless, I choose to let Him have full access to my life because I love Him.
And this means His Word, and my choice to obey it, must become a priority.
