God Rules

Mercifully, the 2016 presidential election will be over in a couple of days.  Although there is a good chance the loosing candidate will contest the results if the election is close, at least the endless speculation about which states will go for which candidate will be over.

I was in a major department store a few days ago, while my wife shopped for clothes.  They have a place to sit and rest near the fitting rooms, and there is a TV you can watch.  It is probably provided to keep husbands occupied, so they will not interfere with the ladies’ shopping.  Another retired gentleman sat down, and we discovered that the TV only had two channels.  “Dr. Phil” was on one, and “The Talk” was on the other.  It was worse than water boarding, so we shut the thing off.  I mentioned that those shows were almost as bad as the political stuff.  We agreed that this election year is “a mess.”  Then we moved on to talking about deer hunting.

The idea that “life goes on” stuck with me.  I was reminded that God is sovereign and all powerful.  He has a plan for the ages, and He causes and allows things to happen so that His plan will come to pass.  Men have free will, but God directs the flow of events to fulfill His plan.

I began a Bible study about it, and I found some of the verses that provide us with comfort and assurance:

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

(Psalm 103:9-19 NIV)

He rules forever by his power,

his eyes watch the nations ---

let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Selah 

(Psalm 66:7 NIV)

…so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to the lowliest of men.

(Daniel 4:17 NIV)

You (Nebuchadnezzar) will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals … until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.

(Daniel 4:25 NIV)

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

When the wicked rule, the people groan.

(Proverbs 29:23 NIV)

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

(1Peter 2:17 NIV)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men …

(1 Peter 2:13 NIV)

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

‘He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.’

When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

(1Peter 2:21-23 NIV)

However 

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said.  ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’

Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’

(Acts 5:27-29 NIV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

(Ephesians 6:24 NIV)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone --- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

(1Timothy 2:3-4 NIV)

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is His love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

As for a man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children ---

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

(Psalm 103:9-18 NIV)

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(2Cronicles 7:14 NIV)

If calamity comes upon us … we will stand in your presence … and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.

(2Chronicles 20:9 NIV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

(1John 1:9 NIV)

… for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.

(Philippians 2:13 NIV)

Then the end will come, when he (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

(1Corinthians 15:24 NIV)

Praise God!  Amen