“As I have purposed, so it will happen”
(Isaiah 14:24)
Have you ever thought about what you would do if you ruled the world? Maybe rid the world of cancer and other disease? Or make certain that no one is homeless? Would you remove certain dictators from countries and replace them with better leaders. Or perhaps you would rid the world of starvation, protect the unborn, stop terrorism, wipe out human trafficking, make sure everyone has clean drinking water. The list could be endless. There are so many plights in the world that we see on the news. They are things that bring us to tears, and cause us to cry out for justice.
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t wipe out all the disease and unjust, dishonest, immoral things? One move from God and everything would be right. In a split second, God has the power to undo every wrong, and place us in the paradise we were originally designed to live in.
I believe there are two factors we need to take into consideration when we think of the sin and chaos we find in our world. The first is the darkness that works above us. By that, I mean the one who dwells in the realm just above us – the devil. The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:2 that he is “a ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” He then goes on in Ephesians 6:12 and tells us that our struggle is with “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The devil and his demons are not some creatures conjured up by Hollywood. They are very real, and have been given a certain realm of influence. They reside between the earth and heaven – for now. John wrote in I John 5:19, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
Now you may be wondering why God doesn’t just kick the whole evil bunch out of there.
He will, but not just yet. And that, is the other thing we need to consider as we think of the sin and chaos in our world. God has a plan – a sovereign plan. The devil is on a short leash, and one day God will strangle him with that leash. Paul wrote in Romans 16:20, “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” God WILL do it, but in his perfect timing.
When that happens, all the disease will be gone – no one will be homeless – there will be no starvation, abortion, terrorism, human trafficking, or unclean water. Revelation 21:4 promises us God will, “wipe away every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
We don’t have to think about what we would do if we ruled the world. We just need to wait in faith until God’s rule makes all things new.
Darlene