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What the Bible says about God Rules His Creation
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Ecclesiastes 7:10

The times we live in are indeed becoming steadily more difficult. Christian values are consistently being attacked. Under such circumstances, a person is apt to say what Solomon warns us against saying. It is easy to let ourselves become “down.” But we need to be careful because discouragement is a child of impatience. In difficult situations, we want the trouble to pass quickly. However, be aware that in such times it is easy to allow one's carnality to take the bribe of doing a “quick and dirty,” less-than-good job to make life less stressful and tiring.

Taking a quick-and-easy approach is understandable because conditions in this nation give no sign of positive change. Those governing us seem to be delivering us into the hands of the nation's enemies. Others who are illegally invading us appear to be dragging us into the gutter, and much of the nation's wealth is flowing into the hands of the few. Jobs are becoming scarcer.

These things are true to some degree, but we have to resist allowing this influence to get a firm grip on us, as it indicates that our focus is too much on carnal men and all their self-centered flaws rather than on what God is accomplishing to fulfill His promises. Yes, living is growing less comfortable, but He is telling us to focus on what He will accomplish in the future. God wants us to evaluate honestly what we have received by virtue of His calling.

Consider an interesting aspect of the mindset of father Abraham. Genesis 13:2 describes him as very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. Hebrews 11:10 reports that despite all that wealth, he looked for a city whose Builder is God. We know that Abraham was wealthy enough to put together an army of over 300 men, but in this way, God shows us what dominated his mind.

What lay in the future, not the present, motivated his life. Abraham bought no land to call his own, and Hebrews 11:9 records that this very wealthy man lived in tents. A tent is a symbol of temporariness, as well as lack of wealth and status. The wealthy live in solid homes; the poor live in tents because they can afford nothing better. Yet, Abraham was not merely wealthy but very wealthy.

Abraham was aware of the riches of the world around him. He came from Ur of the Chaldees, a prosperous city. He visited Egypt, the world's most powerful and wealthiest nation at the time. What Hebrews 11:9 does not say is that, all the while he lived in what appears to be a lowly status, he was heir of the world (Romans 4:13)! To a person of faith that means a great deal.

Some may mistakenly think that everybody lived in tents in Abraham's time, so the way he lived was the way every wealthy person lived. Thus, there is nothing unusual in the Bible pointing these things out. Not so. The way Abraham lived reflected where his heart was, a glimpse into his faith, vision, and humility. Archeologists have compiled a great deal of evidence about the time Abraham lived. The people of that day built fine houses and huge buildings. The cultures were highly developed, and their building projects were grand and extensive.

It has been said that the “good old days” are the result of bad memory and good imagination. Old folks are prone to declare, “The old was better.” That is true sometimes. Solomon's advises that, though we must look back to learn, the future must nonetheless dominate our minds. A person looking over his shoulder while trying to move forward at the same time is likely either to crash into something or to trip and fall over an impediment. Jesus cautions in Luke 9:62, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Solomon is urging us, the called, to move on with life and its problems by looking and working toward the future. In context, then, the “former days” refers to the time before we were converted, not some earlier time in the history of our culture. This makes this warning more individual and potent.

Being called creates new difficulties, but especially now because we are living in nations that are losing both their moral and economic powers. What we are experiencing can create feelings of despair that keep us focused on just merely making it. This kind of attitude is not good.

God warns us in verse 10 that it is not wise to hold a strong opinion that former days were better. He wants us to keep our minds on His sovereign power and purpose while accepting His governing judgment on the circumstances of our times. We do not want to be guilty of calling Him into account, but that is exactly what we would be doing. We must never forget that He rules—constantly!

John W. Ritenbaugh
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Nine): Wisdom as a Defense

Romans 13:1

In Romans 13, Paul speaks primarily of our response to civil government, and the subject is submission. But the principle holds true for other authorities as well. The principle is given in the first verse: All authority derives from God, and He appoints the existing authorities. A Christian must recognize and live by this principle. All power is from God! If we say it is not, we deny His sovereignty and involvement in His creation. God rules!

Do we see God? The ungodly do not. Psalm 10:4 says of the wicked, "God is in none of his thoughts." Conversely, the Christian sees God ruling over everything. Paul insists we are to be subject to authority because of God. Our submissiveness to authority has nothing to do with equality or weakness. Rather, it is an act of faith in God's governance of His creation. Our submission is an act of trust in our God, in His authority, and in the wisdom of His appointments.

The Christian consciously chooses to suffer evil rather than to do evil. Why? He does this, not because he is a masochist, but because he is taking a step in faith to establish peace and prevent conflict by recognizing that two wrongs do not make a right. Evil is not overcome by evil. Echoing Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:44-48, Paul counsels us to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

We all agree that abuse of authority is evil—whether that authority is a governor, a king or president, a police officer, or a husband in a family. God has set the husband in authority in the family (I Corinthians 11:1-3). Under the principle taught in Romans 13:1, if the husband is unjust, it is also sinful for the person under that authority to rebel against it. The husband's injustice does not excuse sin on the part of his wife or children. Keeping oneself from rebelling or striking back is not an easy thing to do!

Of course, Scripture says that we ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). If an unjust husband tries to force us to sin, to break God's law, then we have the right not to submit to him. Instead, what do we do? We submit in faith to God, who says we do not have to submit to the unjust husband who is trying to force us to sin. But if he is not causing us to break the law of God, we have to submit.

However, just because God requires that we submit in no way prohibits us from appealing to the unjust husband and, above all, to God for relief or protection. Moreover, Jesus says that if we are persecuted, we are to flee (Matthew 10:23; 24:15-20; John 10:39; etc.). In terms of our relationship with God and growth in His character, it is better to flee and appear weak than to rebelliously sin against an unjust authority. By doing so, we are following God's instruction through Jesus Christ.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Submitting (Part 2)

Hebrews 11:27

Why was Moses able to do what he did? He knew God. Because of this, he was strong and did great exploits. The prophesied events of the end time can only be seen, understood, and endured through the eyes of faith, and so we will continue to grow. Faith is always occupied with God. Faith will enable us to be strong, do exploits, and endure the disappointments in the mysteries of life because we know that because we are God's chosen people and God is who He is, He is involved and the Master of every situation.

Because we know His character—that He is too wise to make mistakes and too loving and concerned about the outcome of our lives—we know he will not allow us to be totally overwhelmed. And we know and believe that Romans 8:28 is still in the Book. Because He rules His creation—He is there—therefore we can live through these times and continue growing, with a peace that passes all understanding.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Sovereignty of God (Part One)


 




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