Volume 51 Number 6 June 2009
Because of evil and suffering in the world, some have decided that there is no one in charge. They reason that if there was an authority over all things, He would not allow anything bad to ever happen. This way of thinking ultimately allows a person to follow the flesh, but it is inexcusable, according to the Bible (Romans 1:19, 20). While a person may not fully understand the reasons for suffering and injustice, there is no excuse for denying the overwhelming evidence of our Creator, clearly seen every day and night in His marvelous creation!
By virtue of being the Creator, our God is the ultimate Authority. If you make something, it is yours. So it is reasonable and right for God to be over everything since He made it all. Consider these verses from God’s Word:
“But our God is in the heavens: he has done whatsoever he has pleased.” (Psalms 115:3). “The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all.” (Psalms 103:19). There is a great comfort in knowing that God is on His Throne!While God is over all, the Bible also shows us that He has put the Lord Jesus Christ in charge:
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18). He has a right to be in charge, not only because of his great sacrifice for us, but by virtue of the fact that God created us through Jesus! (John 1:1-3). Jesus will be in charge until the end, and then He will turn the Kingdom back to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). In these last days of grace, Jesus is the benevolent Ruler in His Kingdom and is inviting us all to submit to Him who has the rightful claim to be in charge!Yet being in charge does not mean that all are in submission to the true authority. We read in the Bible that there is a great power struggle in the spiritual realm, unseen by human eyes. There is a being known as Satan who has also been granted some degree of authority over this world. He was created by God like all the rest of the angels, principalities, and powers (Colossians 1:16, 17). There appears to be a hierarchy among the angels, since the term ‘archangel’ is used in Jude 9 to refer to Michael, in addition to Satan himself being included among the ‘authorities’ that we mortals are not to rail against. Similarly, it appears that Satan was also given power over the world, but as we so often see in earthly authorities, the power went to his head and he rebelled. Paul alludes to this when giving the qualifications of a bishop in 1 Timothy 3:6,
“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” It would appear that Satan was a ‘novice’ when given authority over the earth and the power went to his head, thus the warning not to appoint a neophyte (immature person) to the eldership.In Satan we find another dominion present in the world, a ruler of darkness who exerts great influence in the affairs of this life. As the Lord Jesus Christ has a Kingdom received from His Father, so also the Devil has his own competing dominion and is in charge of all who do things their own way instead of God’s way! (Acts 26:18).
Note the following designations given to Satan by Jesus and the Apostles which show he has authority over the world, and thus, the Kingdoms thereof:
In view of these designations of Satan, it is no wonder he could say to Jesus,
“All this power I will give you, and the glory of them; for it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whomever I will.” (Luke 4:6). Jesus doesn’t argue with him, for Satan did have power to delegate to whoever God allowed him to. But it wasn’t God’s will for Jesus to rule through carnal means - Jesus was determined to attain the right hand of the Throne of God where all power comes from by remaining obedient to His Father!To show the superiority of the Lord Jesus over the god of this world, demons were cast out of those who were so afflicted:
“But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20). It may seem at times in this wicked world that Satan has the upper hand, but make no mistake, he is no match for the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gives His Spirit to all who obey Him. “You are of God, little children and have overcome them, for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).Following Satan in disobeying God is called sin. Sin is to ‘miss the mark’ of why we were created (I Timothy 1:5, 6). Living in sin is not according to the reality of our being and what our Creator intended for us. We were made by God, not by Satan. We must choose God’s perfect Will, not our own!
Jesus spoke to those who thought they did God’s will but were actually the Devil’s children by disobedience (whoever you act like is your father):
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32). Freedom is not found in doing your own will as if no one is in charge. True freedom is found in knowing God and abiding in His Word. Believe and obey, or cry forever.If you live for the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word guides your life. But if you walk after the things of this world, you have already put Satan in charge of your short life. The Bible teaches in I John 2:15-17,
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Have you been following the ruler of this world, who is already condemned, or are you submitting your soul to King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? Always remember the One Who is truly in charge!