I would imagine that the majority of us, at one time or another, has heard someone say something along the lines of, “God is in control of your situation” or “don’t worry because God is in control”. The big question is, what does that mean?
Let’s take this back to the very beginning. In Genesis 1 we see God creating all things. He is simply speaking everything that we know as our universe into existence. Then in Genesis 1:26-28 God said, “”Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ” Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
We see a transfer of control here at the very beginning of time. God had control over the earth and he then passed that control onto mankind.
The Big Fall
Then it happened. The man who was created by God, who was given his own free will, chooses to be disobedient the command of God and because of that evil enters into this world. We as human beings have opened the door for the enemy to take control and with that came the curse on the earth.
1 Peter 5:8 says who our enemy is. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Ephesians 6:11-12 tells us to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
It is very clear that the devil is our enemy, he is all that is evil. God is not our enemy, he is not the one bringing on the evil. 1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.”
Actually, in Luke chapter 4 the devil is tempting Jesus and in verse 5 it says “the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus’s response indicates that yes indeed, the devil has all authority over the kingdoms of this world! “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'” If it really wasn’t the devils to give, Jesus would have said so!
Clarification
God is not in control of all that is happening on this earth. He gave us control and we had a choice to keep it or give it away and we chose to give it away to the devil who is creating havoc everywhere because his ultimate goal is to take as many people with him when he eventually lands in the place of eternal separation from God!
There is hope for us though. Jesus says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus, In his death, took back dominion from the enemy, * “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
Our hope comes through Jesus Christ! He has victory over the devil and when we believe in Him, acknowledge him as our savior, we to can have victory! * “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,”
Prayer,
Jesus I thank you for coming, living a sinless life, dying a criminals death on the cross, raising from the dead so that I can have hope, so that I can once again take control over the enemy. It is through you alone that I can have this victory! Thank you that you loved me so much that you didn’t leave me to my sinful fate! Thank you for the understanding that you are not the author of all the evil that surrounds me but that you are good, that you have given us all a choice to love and serve you. Help me to be mindful of all of this as I go about my day so that I can resist the enemy and give you glory!
Amen
* Colossians 2:15
* James 5:7