who can’t I be?..

who can GOD be that i can’t be? the answer to that is simple. no matter how much we try, no matter how much we act like it, you and i can’t be GOD.

we have been looking for the past few weeks at what is GOD really like and i want us now to look at GOD's sovereignty. read with me 1 chronicles 29.11 (lb), everything in the heavens and earth is YOUrs, o LORD, and this is YOUr kingdom. we adore YOU as being in control of everything.

now GOD's sovereignty simply means that GOD is in control. we’re not and we can’t be no matter how much we try. HE's in control of everything because HE created everything. HE's in control of nature. HE created nature. HE sustains nature. when HE wants to overrule it and do a miracle, HE can do it. it's HIS prerogative.

GOD is in control of history. the bible says everything is moving toward a focus, that there is a plan, a purpose, a climax that history is moving toward.

GOD is in control of our lives. scripture says that GOD's sovereignty decided when you were going to be born. also how long you’re going to live. the bible says GOD decided which natural abilities and gifts you were going to have. GOD gave them to you in HIS sovereignty.

now when i say things like that you might say, but bill, if GOD is in control of everything, then do i even have a choice? and that's a good question. i'm glad you asked.

and the answer is yes. you have freedom but it is limited. there are boundaries, parameters of which you cannot go beyond. because you're a human being you have freedom of choice, but it's not totally free.

it's like you were to get on an ocean liner and you were to go to china. while you're on the trip you could get on the first deck, the second deck, or the third deck. you could watch movies, sleep, eat food, play shuffleboard, swim. you could do many different things – lots of freedom on the boat but there is nothing you could do that would alter the ultimate destination of that ocean liner.

the bible says GOD gives you freedom to choose the way you want to live, the way you want to act, but once you make those choices you are no longer free of the consequences of your choices. you reap what you sow. if you do a then b is going to result in your life.

just a thought from the front porch...