God is not in control

We often hear those words, "God is in control." And he is in total control of the heavens and the earth and everything he created and spoke into existence, except for man. The one creation of his that he is not in control of is man. He gave man something he didn't give to his creations of the universe, the 200 billion-plus galaxies, the stars, the sun, the moon and every other creation. First of all, he gave man breath, made man a living soul; and then he gave man a free will. That put man in control of his choices and decisions, and obedience or disobedience, to God's word.

How could a man rape a woman if God is in control? How could a human being cruelly abort an unborn child if God is in control? How could murder and debauchery exist if God is in control? Why are there car accidents? Why were thousands of Christians martyred this past year? Why is there war? Why are some poor? And why do some marriages end up in horrific battles and pain? If God is in control, why are you locking your house at night, securing your money in a bank and wearing a seatbelt? If God is in control, then why are we instructed to be taught, and teach our children, about God? If God is in control, why are we told to get knowledge and understanding?

Isaiah 1:17 tells us to "learn to do well." In Deuteronomy 28, the first 14 verses are linked to obedience that will bring blessings from God. The rest of the verses cover the curses man will be suffer if he chooses disobedience. If God is in control, then obedience has no reward. There are 331 times in the Bible that God says "if." "If my people will pray.... If you will be willing and obedient.... If you worship me.... If you heed my instructions.... If you will humble yourselves."

"If" means you participate. God will never force you to obey! If I am the activator of divine desires, I activate divine design in my life. I unleash God's will on earth. It is your decision to obey, your decision to forgive, your decision to do well. Jesus said, "I am not willing that any should perish." Yet, millions are perishing! God's will being done is based on our decisions. God gave promises to us in his word. And, above all, he gave the promise of his Spirit, the Holy Ghost. He has set all things in order! The rest is up to our decisions. This is wisdom!

Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The new birth, being born again of the water (baptism) and of the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, does not ensure you will walk in the Spirit. That is the birthing; the pursuit thereafter is wisdom. The word of God is the wisdom of God. When we make the right decisions, we change our life! The Holy Ghost is called "the Spirit of wisdom." Wisdom doesn't come through genetics. The word says this about wisdom in Proverbs 4:5-8, "Get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her (wisdom) not, and she (wisdom) shall preserve thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding. Exalt her (wisdom), and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor when thou does embrace her." Wisdom moves you from where you are to a new and beautiful place in obedience to God. Make every decision in life by the wisdom of God.

The Bible is a book about decisions. We make conscious decisions every single day to either obey God and his word or disobey God and his word. Every bit of the unbelievable drama in America is caused by disobedience to the word of God. Every addiction, every evil deed and every evil thought is from disobedience. And disobedience to the word of God brings trouble on every side in life. A careless life is a dangerous life to live. Then disobedience brings spiritual death in the end, and that eternity never ends.

There are only two destinations for the soul's eternity: heaven or a lake of fire. No one wants to go to a lost eternity! That's why we must be vigilant about making the right decisions in life. A life focused on and based on the word of God, and obedient to his plan of salvation in Acts 2, will find not only wisdom and understanding, but that life will be peaceful and joyful and blessed of God, and you will be his people, called by his name. The entire message of the scripture people love to quote is a call to humility and repentance and turning from wickedness. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." And, his word says, "The blessings of God addeth no sorrow!"

So, if you have sorrows in life, you are not living under the blessings of almighty God. You are living under the curses that follow disobedience. The remedy? Repent! He is just and compassionate and will forgive sin. It is the will of God that we as human beings make the right decisions in life, because life is like a vapor.

LINDA SCHRECKENBERG is a former Bollinger County resident now living in O'Fallon. She can be reached at Linda.schreck63@gmail.com.