In This Issue:
It’s Under God’s Control
How Long?
My God Reigneth
How Peace Was Won
Volume: 834 November 1, 2021
Theme: God’s Will and Way
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It’s Under God’s Control
Bill Brinkworth
When reading of current events, seeing how society is morally declining, and hearing of one tragedy after another, it can be very discouraging. It sometimes seems chaos surrounds us and is gaining a foothold closer to us each day.
Politicians, particularly liberals, are no longer backing common sense and the apparent betterment of those they represent. Public education seems to enforce and encourage their charges to grasp godless theories and thinking. A media that was once expected to expose the truth and help preserve law-abiding has also accepted and joined to move society against godly behavior and force heathen philosophies on the public. Too often, it seems there is little order and only destruction on society’s horizon. Hope for a promising future appears to be disappearing daily.
Stop right there! Be not deceived. As the beginning words of a hymn remind us, “The Lord reigneth.” Most of us do not understand why such changes in society are allowed, but we can be assured God is still in control. He knows exactly what is going on. He knows who is lying. He knows who is deceiving. Our God knows all about the greed that motivates so many. None of what is going on is a surprise to Him.
“The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.” Psalm 93:1
God uses many horrific actions and attitudes that we see for society’s eventual betterment and to accomplish what He has planned to happen from the beginning. From the Genesis flood to what will happen in the future (Revelation 19:6), God has and will use those events, as wicked as they often seem, for His purpose. Despite what our leaders, media, and other influences believe, God reigneth! Nothing happens without His allowing it for His purposes.
“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.” Romans 8:28 Also: II Tim. 1:9.
“He who counts the stars and calls them by their names is in no danger of forgetting His children.” — C. H. Spurgeon
How Long?
Bill Brinkworth
Psalm 94:3, and many others, question the same thing. How long are the wicked going to get away with their sin? We see and hear so many in blatant disregard for God’s moral laws and His desired behaviors. It is often wondered how some get away with the terrible things they are doing.
“LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?” Psalm 94:3
The answer is, they will not get away with their sin. The payday for iniquity will come someday. It may be today; it may be ten years from now. They may appear unscathed by their wrong-doing in this life. However, we have God’s promise that in the next, they will stand before a judge, who will issue a verdict they will fear and which will cause them to regret their past actions.
As I have told many Sunday school classes, no one gets away with sinning against God. True to that biblical promise, I have seen many sinners pay the price for their wrong-doing that they never thought they would pay. The wage for their offense against God came after the transgression and brought grief and regret that lasted much of their lives.
When raising my daughter, I remember her observation of one in our church that regularly sinned. One day, she commented, “See, so-and-so is doing this and that, but nothing is happening to them.”
My reply was, “Be patient. They won’t get away with it.” Sure enough, a time came, several years later, that they received the wage for the transgression they had sown, and it was devastating.
God is the judge, and nothing escapes His scrutiny. Vengeance is His, and He will receive it (Psalm 94:1-2). All wrong-doing will be dealt with (Psalm 94:4-6).
A sinner may think their iniquity escaped the eye of the Lord, but it did not (Psalm 94:7-10). He even knows our thoughts (Psalm 94:11), so there is no escaping sin’s consequences. With this in mind, it is prudent and wise to flee iniquity and get as far away from it as possible.
“And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.” Psalm 94:23
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
“It is much easier to repent of sins that we have committed than to repent of those we intend to commit.” — Billings
My God Reigneth
Bill Brinkworth
No matter the chaos and troubles about us, God is still in control. Often, what we see as a terrible situation is God’s means to turn people to Him, teach others a lesson, punish sin, or accomplish His will and way.
Some of the biblical proofs confirming He reigns on this Earth are:
God (John 10:30) reigned over His creation.
When the raging waves threatened a ship and the crew’s safety, Jesus bestilled the waters.
“And he [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow… 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:38-39 Also: Mat. 8:26, Luke 8:24.
“He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.” Psalm 106:9 [Rebuke: to sternly correct (often exhibiting authority over the one being corrected), to restrain, to put to shame]
He reigneth over the ungodly.
“Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.” Psalm 9:5
“Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.” Psalm 119:21
He reigneth over demonic influences.
“And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.” Matthew 17:18
“And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.” Luke 9:42 Also: Mark 9:25.
He reigneth over the weak.
“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” Mark 8:33 Also: Luke 9:55.
He reigneth over health problems.
“And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” Luke 4:39
He reigneth over His own.
“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:” Hebrews. 12:5
“One God helping is more than all men opposing.” — Joseph Caryl
How Peace Was Won
Author Unknown
With eager heart and will on fire,
I sought to win my great desire.
“Peace shall be mine,” I said. But life
Grew bitter in the endless strife.
My soul was weary, and my pride
Was wounded deep. To Heaven, I cried,
“God give me peace, or I must die.”
The dumb stars glittered no reply.
Broken, at last, I bowed my head
Forgetting all myself, and said,
“Whatever comes, His will be done,”
And at that moment, peace was won.”