Who is in charge?

This morning, at L'Église Evangélique Libre in Bergerac, the message was based on Psalm 33:13. However, as I followed reading, my eyes caught the earlier verses in the Psalm, particularly vs.10-11. I read: "YHWH frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.   But YHWH's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken."

What wonderful words those are!  We live in an age of increasing tension; of nations either attempting to band together in opposition (whether military, economic, or whatever) to other nations, or coalitions of nations; of terrorism at a level that may well be unparalleled in human history.  Many are in despair. Financial markets are apparently facing total melt-down.  Where can anyone turn?

Those words of the Psalmist remind us that, in the words of the old adage - "Man proposes; but God disposes".  In other words, mankind does not have the last word!  How can this be?  The answer to that question is found in words like those of the prophet Isaiah: "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,' " (Isa 46:9-10; emphasis added).  Or we might consider these words form the Book of the Revelation given to John: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Rev 22:13).  I deal with this more fully in the chapter on Eternity in my book "Great Words of the Faith" (see above!) but, basically, Almighty God sees everything from the perspective of eternity.  This means that He is not bound, as we are, by time. From His vantage point, He sees all of time simultaneously!  What is, to us, "future" is, to Him, "now"!

So, let men (I use the term generically) who think that they are something make their grandiose plans. Let them plot and scheme to bring about their desires.  At the end of the day, Almighty God is in charge, and for that we may be truly thankful. People with authority make decisions that affect the destinies of nations - but when God is not permitted to rule, He over-rules, for His will shall be accomplished.

The story is told that, in the heat of the American Civil War, one of President Lincoln's advisers said that he was grateful that God was on the side of the Union. Lincoln replied: "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."

On whose side are you?  Who is in charge in your life?  May I commend the Creator of all that is; the One Who, alone, knows the end from the beginning?  Others will let you down; He never will.