Pastor's Ponderings, August 21, 2017

God is in Charge

Moonraker (1979) was a spy film in the James Bond series.  The plot was for James Bond to prevent an attempt to wipe out the world’s population and to re-create humanity with a master race.  The plan was for bad guys to be up in space and control the nascent race from an orbiting satellite.  Hugo Drax, the super villain, uttered the memorable line to his staff, “Your seed, like yourselves, will pay deference to the ultimate dynasty which I alone have created. From their first day on Earth they will be able to look up and know that there is law and order in the heavens.” 

Although the good guy ultimately defeats the villain, the thought behind that line could have been spoken by every two-bit megalomaniac who has tried to create a world in his image from Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Stalin to the current cast of egotistical dictators and leaders.  Satan leads people to try to replace God as Lord of all existence by attempting to make their subjects bow down to them. This is because he himself wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-14).  The devil’s purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy mankind (John 10:10).  He forgets that all of existence is God’s (Psalm 24:1) and He controls every aspect of it (Hebrews 1:3).  Everything in life works according to God’s will (Ephesians 1:11).

God reigns supreme and has given us the honor of being seated in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6). Thank God that we do not have to serve changeable men and women, but we serve an unchangeable God who lives eternally. It is comforting to know that God is still on His throne and in spite of challenging events in the world; there is indeed law and order in the heavens and on earth.

Isaiah 14:12-14
New International Version (NIV)

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

John 10:10
New International Version (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Psalm 24:1
New International Version (NIV)

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Hebrews 1:3
New International Version (NIV)

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…

Ephesians 1:11
New International Version (NIV)

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will

Ephesians 2:6
New International Version (NIV)

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,