When we look at the world today, it looks like a car running at full speed with no brakes. And it seems like the devil has the upper hand even in our own lives, it may seem like the enemy is getting away with his wickedness, but please allow me to remind you that God is the Ruler yet.
Often, God can handle things in ways that appear to us as if He’s not as powerful as He says He is. I can’t help but think about Jesus who came into this world and proclaimed that He is the King of kings, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, yet was born in a manger, later on He was brutally mistreated by the very ones whom He came to save, He was crucified and gave His last breath on a shameful cross. No wonder the disciples were so confused about His kind of authority. Yet today the whole world needs Jesus. He is the only One who can help us. His name is above all other names and there is no salvation apart from Him because Jesus is the Ruler and will always be.
There is something so unique about God’s character, which I find very interesting. For instance, it is fascinating to know that when the crowd came to arrest Jesus, He could have called on His Father who would have sent more than twelve legions of angels to rescue Jesus, yet He did not call on His Father for help. And if we imagine the scenery when one of Jesus’ disciples struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear, Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed Him. This would have been the perfect time for Jesus to say: “Well, you should have never come for Me, so you got what you deserved!” yet Jesus did the exact opposite and even rebuked His disciple for his behavior and allowed the crowd to arrest Him only. It takes self-mastery not to exercise power when one has the right to do so. Jesus to whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth perfectly demonstrated that it is possible to have self-control when one has authority or is placed in a position of authority. The all-powerful Jesus was obedient until death.
It is easy to feel discouraged especially when things around you seem bleak, and fear and doubt seek your attention. When you see the enemy is at work, remind yourself that God still sits on His throne, Jesus’ tomb is still empty and forever will be. Also, remind yourself that the same God who allowed you and me to see another day is the same God who allowed the enemy to see another day. Therefore, the adversary is not all-powerful.
God’s rulership is out of the norm. Only God can give us free will while remaining in charge without self-imposing. God is the creator and ruler of all things. The same God who said let there be light and there was light, will not shed His light in our lives and our situations if we do not acknowledge Him and invite Him in although He is an Omnipotent God. He has given us free will and wants us to want Him. He will not force us to pray or seek Him. And only God can use our disobedience and still use it to draw us near Him.
As the prince of this world, I always thought that the adversary was in charge. I’ve dealt with fear, stress, and anxiety for many years. As crafty as Satan is, I used to think that he would always have his grip on me because I was completely oblivious to God’s power and had forgotten that God is indeed in charge. It wasn’t until I repented, invited Jesus into my situations, and received the revelation of whom God is that I realized that the devil is nothing but a puppet in God’s hands. For example, if God chooses to close a door or to open it, it doesn’t matter how crafty the enemy is, he cannot do anything about it. And if we consider Job’s story, for instance, we can see how limited Satan is.
God can reveal the ways of the adversary even before he even thought of them because his agendas are in God’s hands even before he had them. For example, when God told Moses to go to Pharaoh to set His people free, God already told him what to expect from Pharaoh, God already knew how everything was going to play out. Also, the perfect example is the story of the plan of redemption. God foretold the Savior’s birth, death, and resurrection; everything happened as He said. Therefore, nothing surprises God and He is not panicking over the enemy’s schemes for our lives because He already knows that no weapons will prosper.
I believe that’s why God always tells us to fret not because when you already know the outcome of something you are less likely to panic about it. Often, we panic because we don’t know how things will turn out and that’s understandable. However, God wants us to know that once we invite Him, He will guide us, protect us, and make the devil fall into the same pit he digs.
When Jesus says to come to Him and He will give us rest, He is not just saying it so we can have a peaceful night’s sleep but also so we can have victory over the adversary. When we come to Jesus, He will fight for us, protect us, go places we can’t go, dethrone all idols in our lives, break addictions, dismantle the forces of darkness, and tear down the walls that seem unsurmountable because He is God, He’s still the ruler yet and He reigns forever.
SCRIPTURES
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27
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