God Does Not Control Everything

23 January, 2022
 
Oftentimes when we go through a rather difficult situation in our lives, people often console us by saying “God is in control of everything”. This may be true to a large extent, but not always. In some areas, God has absolute control but  He does not control everything.
 
1 John 5:18-21 says, ‘18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.’
 
The whole world lies within the hands of the evil one and God is not the one, controlling this. John the Apostle has received many revelations, witnessed the third heaven and the future and said that this world is under the control of the evil one.
The devil who is also called the  “God of this age”(2 Corinthians 4.4) pretends to be in charge of everything and leads astray the believers of the world. Satan once offered the world created by the Creator to Jesus, the Creator.
 
Going back to the verse, anyone born of God does not continue to sin. It means a child of God does not like/ love sin and doesn't live deep in sin; instead he resists sin. Even if that person falters now and then, he does not continue in sin but comes out of it and tries to live in holiness.
 
The ‘One’ who was born of God i.e. Jesus keeps them safe. Like a shepherd, God's duty is to keep his herd, that is us, safe. He calls us by name and leads us ( John 10). In John chapter 17, we see Jesus praying for the protection of God’s children. There is Godly protection for those who are the children of God; He keeps them safe, where the evil one cannot harm them. The Protector of Israel never sleeps or slumbers.
 
However, currently, while we are children of God, the whole world is under the control of the evil one, which includes  the world system such as politics, education, religion, education, finances and such. This is also why there is sin across in these critical aspects of the world.
 
However, there is good news. As children of God and we are born again in him, then the Lord Almighty will protect us from the clutches of the evil one. Children of God are under God’s control. God does not control the world system. We are living in an age where the core aspects of the world are under the control of the evil one. But through Christ, we know the true God and eternal life. Children of God are asked to keep away from idols. We must give money, family or any worldly thing, God’s place in our lives.
 
Who is controlling us ?
As children of God, when we believed in the Lord, we broke out of the shackles of the evil one, where God is protecting us. So we are not under Satan's control although the world is under his control. Jesus is our Lord/ Saviour/ Master. This is the greatest privilege of a child of God. God has lavished his love on us.
Hence in this world, we can live under the control of the evil one, or under God’s control  or by ourselves. I.e. Devil control, God control, man control.
 
What does living under the control of God mean?
The word ‘control’ might not necessarily be the apt word to use in the context of God, as God does not want to control anybody, which is why God has given us free will in order to make our own decisions. Instead of controlling us, God leads us and allures/ woos us. It’s up to each individual to be a believer, an unbeliever,  an atheist and so on. But if we surrender ourselves to God, then we will be under the lordship/ rulership of God.
 
Matthew 6:9-10 says, ‘9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’
 
In heaven, God’s will takes place, but even then people in heaven do not function like robots. We all know the story of Lucifer, the archangel and how he triggered a revolution against God where 1 in 3 angels competed against the Lord and became known as the fallen angels. Hence God is not controlling anybody, but if anybody surrenders themselves to God, then they will be led by God.
 
It is your choice, do you want to live under the rulership of Satan or God?
 
If you can humble yourselves before God, his Lordship and all the blessings in the kingdom of God will be bestowed upon them.

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