God’s Rule and Care for His Creation

Transcript:

Hello this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

One of the main critiques I hear about the biblical idea of God’s sovereignty is that it makes God into a “micromanager”. No one likes someone obsessed with controlling everything and everyone!

Well, good news! God has no need of being controlling. He is not threatened by you having power. He doesn’t need any power; He already has it all!

As a matter of fact, when God made the world, He did not “horde” power for Himself. Rather, He gave “dominion” to humankind (i.e., Gen. 1:26-28), welcoming us to participate in His power. Genesis 2 tells us that He delegated to us the responsibility of guarding and cultivating the earth. We are not mere “puppets”, but responsible agents, sharing in His dominion over creation. But this in no way threatens God’s sovereign power or authority.

God is the ground of all being; you can never completely remove Him from the equation. As the Apostle Paul puts it, God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11, emphasis added). “In Him we live move and have our being” (Acts 17).

So, how does God have all power, and yet, we are responsible agents? No doubt, this is a deep mystery that goes beyond finite comprehension.

All earthly illustrations ultimately break down, but maybe this one might help. Consider the difference between the will of an author and the will of the characters created by that author. The characters all have their own being and free choice within the story, but that doesn’t preclude the author superintending the story. As a matter of fact, it’s premised upon it! Each character within the story is acting freely, and yet, no character acts without the will of the author. Shakespeare is not threatened by the free actions of Hamlet; he controls them.

We are characters in God’s story. Our freedom is confined by the time and space, but God, the author and sustainer of time and space, is not so confined.

Something to think about—and ponder for quite a while—from The Kingdom Perspective.

Job 38 (ESV)

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Dress for action like a man;

   I will question you, and you make it known to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

   Tell me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

   Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 On what were its bases sunk,

   or who laid its cornerstone,

7 when the morning stars sang together

   and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors

   when it burst out from the womb,

9 when I made clouds its garment

   and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 and prescribed limits for it

   and set bars and doors,

11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

   and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

   and caused the dawn to know its place,

13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

   and the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It is changed like clay under the seal,

   and its features stand out like a garment.

15 From the wicked their light is withheld,

   and their uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

   or walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

   or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

   Declare, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,

   and where is the place of darkness,

20 that you may take it to its territory

   and that you may discern the paths to its home?

21 You know, for you were born then,

   and the number of your days is great!”

*Below, we are appending some basic catechism questions that go along with this Kingdom Perspective. A catechism is a classical Christian teaching device, helping both children and adults better understand the unique claims of the Bible. Below, you will find questions taken from both a children’s catechism and a more advanced catechism. For the full catechisms, you may go to our website by clicking here.

Questions for Kids: A Basic Catechism for Children

17. What does God do for His creation?

He rules and cares for it.

An Advanced Catechism

12. What is the work of creation? 

The work of creation is a picture of redemption through Christ Jesus, with God making all things (Genesis 1:1) of nothing, by the Word of His power, (Hebrews 11:3) in the space of six days, (Exodus 20:11) and all very good. (Genesis 1:31)

13. What is God’s providence? 

God’s providence is His wise and absolute rule over all of His creation, including all of man’s actions, in order to reveal the glorious Gospel of His Son for His eternal glory. (Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:34-35; Ephesians 1:3-14)