Articles
He Reigns, We Stand In Awe
In a conversation today about why people live as they do, both ends of the spectrum were mentioned, and the determination of those in the room was that people basically live the way they do because they choose to.
Now, I'm not talking about rich and poor, although some people's decisions certainly determine their economic status, but I'm talking about the way they choose to live that determines who they are as a person.
Neither I nor anyone else is in a position to judge, and even if we thought we were, we don't know all the facts about anyone or their choices in life. We see daily though, the result of the choices people make, including ourselves. We see what our decisions get us, or perhaps don't get us, and we wonder why some people choose what they do knowing what the result will most likely be for them.
That's why when it comes to serving God, He didn't leave it open for us to determine the ways and means. He didn't leave it up to us to develop our own plan of salvation, nor does He allow us to pick and choose which portions of His plan we accept and follow. God has given the directions, and He demands that we follow them, unchallenged. They are not open for comment or manipulation.
In our country, majority rules in most things. The United States is a federal republic and a constitutional representative democracy, so in theory, the people decide how to live and how to be governed and we make our own laws. That makes it a little harder for us to understand that God doesn't rule that way. He's not the president nor a CEO somewhere. We should not think that way when we consider Him and His authority. He is the boss, but not in the way we think of bosses, where we can opt out of the job if we don't like the rules.
God is the Supreme Ruler of mankind. In a nutshell, He's the top, the head, the sovereign the principal. He alone makes the rules, and we are to obey Him whether we like the rules or not. He is righteous, and His precepts are for our benefit, not our detriment. Because of His position, we should stand in awe of Him and willingly submit to His rule. Protesting in our society might bring about change (both good and bad), but in God's Kingdom there is no place for protesting.
The Psalmist understood, (Psa 97 NIV)
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, Lord. For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
