GOD IS IN CHARGE

GOD IS IN CHARGE

Pastor Mark Taylor

January 8, 2012

“Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered”

Luke 12:7

Many times the Lord Jesus Christ reminded His followers that God is in charge of both the big things and the little things that happen in this world.  This truth has been described in both the Old and New Testaments in the lives of both those who loved God and in the lives of those who fought against God and His people.

There is nothing too small or insignificant in the sight of men that is not in the care and providence of God.  There is nothing that is too small that God is not concerned with involving the happiness of His children.

Man can only see things at a small distance.  The eye of an eagle can see things from a greater distance.  Perhaps the eye of an angel can see at a distance of a thousand times greater than either man or an eagle.  But God sees everything through the whole extent of His creation.  The omnipresent God sees and knows all the properties of all the beings that he has made.  He knows all the hearts of men and women, and understands all their thoughts.  He sees all their sufferings, with every circumstance of them, and all that they feel.  “Know that the Lord He is God:  It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:3).

Yes, it is very hard to comprehend and to believe that God is in charge when we consider the complicated wickedness and the complicated misery all around us.  But He created mankind in His own image which contains a spirit, like Himself.  Within that spirit He gave them understanding, a free will to make choices, and liberty.  If we did not have that we would not be created in His image.  “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He them; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1:27).  God has chosen to govern man not as an animal or a stone, but as an intelligent and free spirit, capable of choosing either good or evil.  God has also provided man every possible help, in order to do good without turing him into a machine.   Unfortunately, many man and women have chosen evil instead of love and good that God desires for them.

We can see how God takes care of His creation by looking at it in a picture of three circles.  The outermost circle includes the whole race of mankind, both Christian and non-Christian.  God cares about all of His creation. “...for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

Within a second but smaller circle includes all that are called Christians, all that profess to believe in Christ but do not demonstrate it with their lives.  “This people draws near unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8).  Within the third, the innermost circle, are contained only the real Christians, those that worship God, not in form only, but in spirit and truth. “the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” (John 4:23).

To those in this innermost circle are all that love God and who walk as Christ walked.  It is to these in particular that He says: “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7).  He sees their souls and their bodies, and takes particular notice of their desires and thoughts, and all their words and actions.  Nothing that relates to these are too great or nothing too little, for His attention.  God is in charge!!

If then, we allow God to be in charge of our lives and put our whole trust in Him who has never failed those that seek Him, we do not have to fear about our welfare.  The Lord Jesus Christ continues His message to those whose “very hairs are numbered”, by saying: “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” (Luke 12: 7-8).  There is nothing in either heaven or in the earth that can harm you while you are under the care of the Creator and Governor of heaven and earth.  What an unspeakable blessing it is to be in the care of Him that has all power in heaven and earth.  To this confidence in God we owe Him our thankfulness for His kind protection.  Be thankful, for God is in Charge!!

But, while we have this confidence, we should take the utmost care to walk closely with our God.  Do not let your faith in His caring for you make you careless or lazy.  This is not a reason to take the attitude that you have no responsibility in what happens, just because God is in Charge.  “What does it profit, my brothers and sisters, though you say, you have faith, and have not works?  Can faith alone save you?...Even so faith, if it does not have works is dead by itself...You believe that there is one God? You do well: but the devils also believe and tremble.  Will you understand that faith without works is dead?” (James 2: 14-20).

God is in charge and He loves you and nothing can change that. “For I am persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).  That should be the motivation for you to enter that innermost circle and allow God to take charge of your life and walk with Him.

With God in charge, you can accomplish many wonderful things in your life.  There is nothing you and God cannot do together.  “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13).  If you will let Him guide you, there is nothing that happens to you that He cannot handle.  “The steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord: and he will be happy along his way.” (Psalm 37:23).  Even when seemly bad things happen to good people, they have this promise. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).  GOD IS IN CHARGE!!!

(Message adapted from John Wesley’s message “On Divine Providence”, 1737)