Who Is In Control

“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’” Acts 1:7 (NIV)

"’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9

A famous story, whether true or not, tells us about the faith of the inventor, scientist and farmer George Washington Carver. One day he was walking among his fields pondering God’s great creations while he prayed. He asked God to share with him the knowledge of how the universe works. God responded, “Your brain is not able to comprehend something so vast.” He then asked God to explain how the solar system works. God replied, “Your brain is not able to comprehend even that.” George then asked God to share with him how this planet called Earth works. God responded again that he was not able to comprehend even that. Finally looking down at his crops, George stoops and picks something off one of the plants and says, “God, this peanut, could you teach me all about this peanut.” To this God replied, “Now that is about the size of your brain.” And he shared with him the knowledge about peanuts. Carver is famous for discovering over 300 uses for peanuts including cosmetics, dyes, paints, gasoline and nitroglycerin.

Sometimes we like to question God’s right to control things, including our own lives. It is in times like this that God has to remind us politely that we are not nearly as smart as He is, nor do we have the authority and power that He commands.

Look at how God responds to Job beginning in chapter 38…

Even in the midst of such great turmoil as Job was experiencing, God is telling us that He is in control. C.S. Lewis said it this way:

“God whispers to us in our pleasures,
He speaks in our conscience,
But He shouts in our pains.
It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
C.S. Lewis

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dirty Feet

Image
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” Isaiah 52:7 (NIV) I have never been very comfortable in shoes. It really doesn’t matter whether they have great arch support, ultra extreme amounts of cushioning, or how much they cost. The first thing I do when I arrive home is take off my shoes and stretch my once imprisoned feet by bending them at the arches and wiggling my toes. I then remove my socks and begin to feel my feet relax as the fresh air washes over my tingling, sometimes sweaty, toes. Pretty picture, I know. It must be the right thing to do. A billion Chinese could not be wrong. My mother could not be wrong. After all, she was the one who always told me to, “Take off your dirty shoes before you come in here. I just finished mopping this floor and I don’t want mud tracked all over my clean house.” It became a normal ritual around our house to put the dozen or so shoes away before company was expected. My mother didn’t want dirty f
Read more

Pampered and Pacified

Author J.M. Barrie created the character that never wanted to grow up. Peter Pan, also the title of his famous book, did not want to become an adult and be forced to deal with all of the stress and struggles that came with the transformation. So Peter found his way to Neverland where, along with his lost boys, he could remain a carefree child forever. But those who know the story also know that carefree was not all that it promised for villainous Captain Hook constantly lurked around the corners, and then there was that tantalizing Wendy who stole Peter’s heart before he even knew what hit him. Millions of Americans have seemed to follow in the footsteps of Peter Pan. We have become a nation that no longer values the virtues of adulthood: especially responsibility, strong work ethic, self-dependence, selflessness, and community awareness. You don’t have far to look in our American society before you see lost boys, and girls, running around everywhere. Grown men and women who want
Read more

Silent Lord's Supper

Image
I planned this service in 1995. ====== Please enter into tonight’s service humbly in silence and meditation. There will be no words spoken, so you need to follow the bulletin closely. We pray that this service will be a meaningful one for you. Come in …be seated …be still for a season …pray …and reflect with us upon the matchless love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Not a word will be spoken during this entire service. The only sound will be that of the piano as some familiar hymns of Christmas and Calvary are played. “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:13 KJV) Prelude “Kings of Orient” Removal of the Cloth “What Child Is This” Scripture Meditation “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people li
Read more