God's sovereignty blows my mind. Every time I think about it I am continually amazed at the power, majesty and glory of who He truly is. Although I know I am but merely scratching the surface, the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the reality of this Truth, I am thankful for the grace of God that has opened my eyes to even seeing a faint glimpse. The sovereignty of God and our responsibility are not concepts that fit well together. In our logical brains we can't seem to grasp both at the same time and therefore we don't like to think about it. But I believe that this is such a huge part of God's character, it is so much so that it is what demands a childlike faith and trust and whole and humble dependence upon a holy God. His sovereignty is a foundational Truth that helps explain all of who He is!
I recently have had to come to grips with the power of God's sovereignty even over the sinful affairs in this world, and even more specifically within my own life. The following two quotes have encouraged me in this pursuit of understanding...
"A "god' whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt." -A.W. Tozer
"In efficacious grace we are not merely passive, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest. But God does all, and we do all. God produces all, we act all. For that is what produces, viz. our own acts. God is the only proper author and fountain; we only are the proper actors. We are in different respects, wholly passive and wholly active." -Jonathan Edwards
There is an unresolvable tangent that we as believers will face when it comes to the problem of evil, especially in our own lives and God's sovereign affair over all of creation, and more specifically within our lives. If God is really sovereign, did He make me sin? No absolutely, we as humanity are fully culpable. James 1:13 says, "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;" Yet, nothing happens that is out of His doing, His authority, and His control. In Job we read of the scene between God and Satan and the fact that Satan has no power without God giving it to him, evidenced in his asking God permission to test Job. With these Truths said I have to admit that I don't always trust it fully. And then God, in His grace and goodness, gently reminds me of this Truth. He reminds me that He works through EVERYTHING, the good and the bad, to fulfill both His overarching redemptive purpose, His purpose and plan for me for my good, and all the while to ultimately bring Jesus Christ glory!
My prayer is that I would seek to grasp more and more of God's sovereignty, in fact all of His character that I might hope more and more in Him!
"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth." -Psalm 71:5
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