It seems that daily we are being informed of struggles and turmoil throughout the world. For this reason many of us are filled with anxiety, worry, and concern about what will happen next. In the midst of all of this, is there really anything that can enable us to live with peace of mind? Are there things we can think about that will help us go through this troubled world?
Revelation 19:6 states, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Think about that verse and its meaning to those who serve God.
When sin entered into the world it would seem as though God’s plan had been stopped by the devil, and that all the things God had made for man would be lost forever. Was there really any future or hope? Look at the darkness of Genesis 3. The fellowship that man had enjoyed with God had been broken by sin. Can it be repaired? Can there be fellowship again? Is there any future?
Time passes on and we read that wickedness had become so prevalent in the earth, that every thought of man was evil continually. All the righteous people that would remain among the whole earth were just eight souls. Is there any hope? Can sin and the damage it brought ever be undone? God brought the flood and started over again.
Time passes as you come to Genesis 11 and the building of the tower of Babel, which was outright rebellion against God. Since God had said He would not destroy the earth with a flood ever again, how is He going to handle this problem? We read of the calling of Abraham, and then of Isaac and Jacob. Jacob journeys down into Egypt and his descendants prosper, but a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph comes along and puts the people in bondage. How can God’s purpose undo the damage of sin?
We read of Moses leading the people out of bondage. They cross the Red Sea, and the people begin to murmur and complain. Is there any hope? Joshua and Caleb still believed, so the purpose of God continued. They settle Canaan and you come to the book of Judges where man did that which was right in his own eyes. Things seemed to spiral out of control. Is there any way God can determine the issues that lie ahead? It looks dark, as if there is no hope.
Then we have the call of Samuel and the nation rebelling due to its desire to be like the surrounding nations. An earthly king is appointed and it leads to division. The people of Godare sent into captivity. Is there any hope? Sin is on every side.
After roughly 400 years the prophesied Messiah is born and things begin to look up, but then He is nailed to a cross. It looks like sin is victorious, is there any hope? Then we see what happened at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 , the epistles were written, and then we come down to Revelation 19:6. That passage says that despite all that has gone on or ever will go on, God is on His throne. What a thrill it is to the soul, in the midst of all the confusion that surrounds us, to be able to say and to know that God is still on His throne. We progressed through the difficulty of the Old Testament as the unfolding of redemption. Just when it would seem that God had lost control, it was revealed that such was not the case. In the final book of the Bible shortly before it closes, the statement is made that God omnipotently reigns. God is on His throne!
If we can secure this thought into our hearts, while those who are not in Christ live in a disturbed way, we can have peace that the One reigning on the throne does all things well. That is worth more than anything this world offers. To know that God is our Father and He is on the throne, we can lay down with a rock as a pillow, just as Jacob did.
Are you Christian? If you are not, consider what you are missing. God tells you through the Bible how you can leave sin, live right, and dwell with Him in eternity. Will you not listen to Him?