WHY WORRY WHEN GOD IS IN CONTROL – The Church Of Christ, 15 Grey Street, Warri

Text: 1 Chron. 29:12

By: Stephen Umukoro

INTRODUCTION: The God the bible revealed to us as the creator of the universe is not merely an idea, a myth or a figment of human imagination. By his own declaration, He is a living being. Dan. 6:26. He can see and hear 1 Pet. 3:12. He is eternal Deut. 32:40. There was never a time when he did not exist and there never will be a time when he will cease to exist Psm 90:2. He is omnipotent because he has all power at his command Matt. 6:13. There is nothing He cannot do 1 Chron. 29:12. He is omniscient because he knows everything and His understanding is infinite. Ps. 147:5. Darkness hides nothing from Him Psm 139:12. The future is as clear to Him as the past for he sees and understand the end from the beginning. Isa. 46:10. He is without limitation of any kind Matt. 19:26. There is no secret he does not know Dan. 2:22. These are some of His powerful attributes. More so, by virtue he is a personification of love. 1 John 4:8, He is holy 1 Pt. 1:16. Full of compassion Lam. 3:22, He is merciful Ps. 136:2-3, He is approachable Heb. 4:16, He is abundant in goodness Rom. 2:4, The fact that God provided us with such a unique and high spiritual potency hook which revealed things that we could never find out is a proof of His love and care for mankind Ps. 8:4. God did not simply give us the bible and lose interest in us, Bible assured us that God is not far off from each one of us Acts 17:27.

MAN IN THE BEGINNING

In creation, it was for God pleasure to have made man in His own image and likeness Gen. 1:27 That is the reason why God is so mindful of man. Thus the writer of the book of Psalm says “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” and the son of man that thou visiteth him? Ps. 8:4. Man visit by God is from the beginning of creation in the Garden of Eden, when God established a spiritual relationship with Adam and Eve as he often visit them Gen. 3:18. He did not make them to be independent of him, but to depend on him and to enable him exercise authority over things that are subjected under his feet. The writer of Hebrew revealed “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and hast crown him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hand. Thou has put all things under his feet for in that he put all in subjection under him. He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him” Heb. 2:7-8. So it is crystal clear that in the beginning man was actually blessed and equipped with all it takes to leave a happy and fruitful life. However, (Verse 8b) make a contrast and astonished remark for man, it says “But now we see not yet all things put under him” what a depressed statement! Why has man not been able to have dominion over the natural world and its creatures? Now it is obvious that throughout human history the journey of man on earth has been that of chronicles of predicament.

DEPLORABLE CONDITION

Let us consider some of the problems afflicting and affecting human that has cause unrestiveness. For instance, death, sickness, poverty, barrenness, disabilities such as cripple, deaf and dumb, blindness and other body deformity. What about natural disaster like flood, earth quake, tsunami, hurricane etc. increasing human spiritual debasement and moral decadence and so many other unfavorable conditions? Why has suffering plague the passage of human existence? All these calamities has prompted some persons to question the existence of all these problems under the God who is powerful, loving and caring. Some are even blaming God reasoning that He does not care about human family. Some think that Satan is the cause of our problem, blame God for not destroying him, some said that God is aware of our predicament but simply chooses not to intervene. So many opinion and question about life tragedies. Does God ordain human suffering?

CAUSES OF HUMAN WOES

When studying a disease epidemic, Investigator try to find the cause, what triggered the outbreak? The same principle applies to understanding the plague of human suffering. Does God ordain human suffering? Scripturally suffering was not God purpose for mankind the bible revealed that mankind predicament begun when our progenitor, the first human couple Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s commandment Gen. 3:6, they lost all the blessing which was supposed to be their birthright inheritance as Esau who sold his birthright because of pottage. Gen. 25:33. Even if we Christians knew this, I felt we should remind ourselves regularly of this tragic event. The book of Job commenting on this trend says “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of sorrows” Job 14:1. Thus Christians and non-Christians are susceptible to spiritual and physical problems. Also commenting on this perplexing problem that is affecting all a sundry Paul wrote to encourage the Roman Christians to endure as we wait for the redemption of our body at the coming of our Lord. Rom. 8:22-23.

CHRISTIANS AND PROBLEMS

In this world of uncertainty, a world rule by Satan 2 Cor. 4:4 afflictions doesn’t discriminate for instance death, illness, barrenness, poverty, blindness, injury, deaf and dumb, bodily deformities and natural disaster can afflict anyone anywhere, anytime. So, its never the teaching of the bible that Christians are excluded or free from problems. The more we understand this reality the better for us. I want us to know that trials and temptations are part and parcel of the Christian race James 1:2-3.

In time of trial and temptation of any nature a Christian should be assured that God is not a distance entity devoid of concern for his children Acts 17:27 His tenderness exceeds that of any earthly parents Psalm 103:13. In the book of 1 Cor. 10:13, Paul reminds Christians of the willingness and the promise of God to help those facing temptation, his words “There hath no temptation taking you but such as its common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye may be able to bear it.” In some cases, God can allow his faithful worshipper to be tempted, that is to face any unpleasant situation without momentary intervention. How could we have known that Job trial and predicament was allowed by God to try his integrity because Satan asserted that Job was serving God because of his providence Job 1:6-12. Job was able to prove Satan wrong, maintaining his integrity in face of such downcast, circumstance is a proof that his services and loyalty to God was not on condition but unconditional. Whatever be the case be rest assured that “The eye of the lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers” 1 Pet. 3:12. In time of trial, a Christian should not give way to fear and doubts that may lead to intense anxiety. But follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t be anxious over anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.” What though if we pray to find relief from an ongoing problem and the answer does not come as expected? In the bible some faithful and God-fearing Christians had experience such conditions for instance, Apostle Paul begged God three times to remove “a thorn in the flesh” 2 Cor. 12:7-8 Paul was suffering from a chronic body affliction. How disturbing that must have been for him. Paul had been given the gift of healing and had even performed a resurrection Acts 19:11-12 yet he had to endure his own illness. Even though the answer to his petition did not take the form he wanted, he accepted God’s with gratitude 2 Cor. 12:9-10. To some of us how frustrating that would have been. If there is a delay in His answering our sincere request, we need not see this as a lack of interest on God’s part. He is interested and care for his children welfare or well-being Psalm 84:11. Come what may, Christians should not lose confidence in the value of prayers. Remember Jesus illustration of a needy widow who kept going to an unfair judge to obtain justice Luke 18:1-8 Jesus story here is to encourage Christians to persevere and be persistent in prayers.