28 Feb It is What It Is (Discovering the true character of God…because He is not a car-wrecking, cancer causing Creator, but a loving, life giving Lord!) part 28
Over the last number of months we shared with you our key verse found in Hebrews 11:6, “For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
This month we jump back into our 11 Characteristics concerning the Character of God:
#1. You can’t create God in your own image (Rom. 1:25).
#2. Heaven yes…Hell no!
3 Hell Happenings:
1) Hell was not originally created for man (Matt. 25:41)
2) God will respect your will all the way to Hell (Matt. 25:34,41)
3) It’s not sins that send one to Hell, it is a sin that sends one to hell (John 16:7-9)
#3. Sin ruins the view
#4. Will the real God please stand up? (John 10:10)
#5. The weather outside is frightful (Rom. 8:19-23, Matt. 24:1-8)
Today, let us continue with…
#6. Who’s in charge here? (II Cor. 4:4, Luke 4:6)
Here the Bible tells us in II Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Notice the devil is the god (lower case) of this world. The Greek word translated “world” is kosmos. “Kosmos” means “world system”. Therefore this eye-opening verse clearly tells us the devil is in charge of this world’s system.
The Bible also tells us in Luke 4:6, “And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me: and to whomsoever I will give it.” This verse tells us how the devil got this kind of authority. It was relinquished to him by Adam when Adam committed spiritual high treason and sinned.
This week we continue with three sincere but silly sovereignty statements. Now let me warn you, some of these statements may be your favorites. Before you get mad at me, let me reiterate that these statements came from very sincere hearts! However, sincere and Biblical can be two different things:
- “God is in control.” This is a statement that many Christians utter when their life is spinning out of control. If we are honest and not looking at life through Sunday school glasses, if God is in control of everything…He is doing a pretty lousy job! Again, I submit to you that He is not in control of everything that occurs in every apartment complex unit!
- “Everything happens for a reason.” While I certainly agree that “everything happens for a reason”, I also believe that reason must be qualified. Not everything that happens comes from God. Yes there is a good God, but there is also a bad devil, a cursed world and stupid people! Therefore the reason so many bad things happen to good people is because of a bad devil, a cursed world and stupid people. (I truly believe the devil could retire and leave us to our own decisions…and still do very well!)
This week we continue with…
3. “All things work together for good.” You might be saying, “Now wait just a minute, Pastor Jim, that statement comes directly from the Bible. I know, I have a plaque from my Christian bookstore over my fireplace that tells me just that!” Well let’s take a look at that verse in context. We cannot isolate a verse and make it say whatever we want. We must always take Scripture in context and in light of the entire Bible. Here’s what this verse tells us in context:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:26-28).
Here you can plainly see that all things will begin to work for us only as we are praying in the Spirit! Things will not just automatically get better for us simply because we are Christians.
Plus, people who espouse that don’t truly believe everything that happens is the will of a sovereign God and that all things work together for good. If I pressed those people that say they believe that, they always paint themselves into a corner. If I asked them, “Did God cause that car wreck?” Most of them would say “Yes.” However if I continued to press and ask them, “Did God cause that innocent little child to be raped?” Almost unanimously people would say, “No.” You see, you can’t have it both ways. Either He did all those things or did none of those things! I say none! Why? Because your God is not a car-wrecking, cancer-causing Creator…but a loving, life-giving Lord!
Next month we will continue our series!