Who is In Charge?

November 9, 2008

Introduction

 

            I’m sure most, maybe all of you, have heard about the two elderly ladies that were out driving.  The passenger saw the light turn red, but said nothing, and her friend drove right through it.  Thankfully, there was no accident.  As they approached the next light, it also turned red, but the passenger said nothing, and her friend ran the second red light.  They came to the third light, and again it turned red, and her friend ran it as well.  That was enough, her friend said, “Melba, why do you keep running those red lights?”  Melba replied, “Oh, am I driving?”

 

            I remember a Hertz Rent-a-Car commercial that had a car moving without a driver.  Then a driver was dropped from the air into the drivers seat, and then the statement, “Let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat.

 

            This morning, we ask the question, Who is in the driver’s seat?  Who is in control?  I believe it was after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated that someone stood up and said words to the effect, “Fellow citizens, God still reigns.”  Where does the statement come from, and what does it really mean?

 

            (Isa 52:7-8 NKJV)  How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" {8} Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.

 

            If the passage ended at verse 7, it would be emphasizing God reigning now, but verse 8 says, they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.” “Shall see” is future tense, so where are we now?

 

Body

 

I.        How do we explain world events?

 

1. Do bad things happen to people here on earth?

 

1.      We all know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

2.      We know that ten righteous people would have saved Sodom.

 

(Gen 18:32 NKJV)  Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten."

 

2. But we don’t always know God’s math.

 

(Ezek 14:13-20 NKJV)  "Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. {14} "Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness," says the Lord GOD. {15} "If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, {16} "even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate. {17} "Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, 'Sword, go through the land,' and I cut off man and beast from it, {18} "even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered. {19} "Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, {20} "even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness."

 

II.     Who is in control?

 

1. The Devil claims he is in control.

 

(Mat 4:8-9 NKJV)  Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

 

2. Does he have any control?

 

(2 Cor 4:4 KJV)  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.

 

1.      The world is said to be under the sway of the wicked one.

 

(1 John 5:19 NKJV)  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

 

2.      God allows Satan to have tremendous control over men’s lives, sometimes over the lives of good men.

 

(Job 1:12 NKJV)  And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

 

3.      We as Christians may be called upon to suffer.

 

(1 Pet 4:12-16 NKJV)  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; {13} but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. {14} If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. {15} But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. {16} Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

 

III.   God is ultimately in control.

 

1. God will take control from Satan.

 

(Rev 20:1-3 NKJV)  Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. {2} He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; {3} and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

 

2. God will take complete control.

 

(Rev 11:15-18 NKJV)  Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" {16} And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, {17} saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. {18} The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

 

3. What do we do now?

 

(Luke 21:34-36 NKJV)  "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 

Conclusion

 

I.        This earth will pass, and with it common trifles, but until then, are you ready to stand before the Son of Man?

 

II.     Is your life right with God?

 

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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