| Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
A Heavenly Treasure by David Rich, May 15, 2026
Many of you may remember a movie that hit theaters in the 70’s called, “Oh, God!” It starred George Burns and John Denver. I loved that movie. It wasn’t a box office smash by any means, but it did have a very simple and profound message. It called on the world to “THINK GOD.” John Denver was instructed by George Burns, (who played God) to spread that message, even putting it up on billboards everywhere.
Fast forward 40 years, I think the need to THINK GOD is even greater today. Church attendance is down. Political divide is crippling. Evil seems ever present, and bad news and negativity rules every news cycle. I have often told my children that I don’t think I could make it through this life if I didn’t THINK GOD was in complete control.
I can still hear Glenna’s voice in my head when someone would call her a “religious” woman. She would tell them in no uncertain terms that she was “absolutely NOT religious, but she was a fearless believer.” As a result, I have always identified myself as a “sovereigntist,” someone who sees and rests in God’s supreme sovereignty. We don’t need more religion. We need more God.
When the world sees divide, we need to see a set up for God’s victory. When the world sees struggle, we need to see the lesson God may be trying to show us. When the world sees climate and weather disasters, we need to see and respect God’s creation. When the world sees sickness and disease, we need to see the journey to a perfect existence. When the world sees evil, we need to see that EVERYTHING works together for those who love God – Romans 8:28.
One of the most overlooked, yet comforting lessons in Scripture is in Matthew 10:29-30 that states, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But even the vey hairs of your head are all numbered.”
If this doesn’t open our eyes that God is everywhere, in complete control, and He is a micro-manager, I am not sure what will! He doesn’t delegate the details. He doesn’t leave His grand plan and design to chance. RC Sproul, the great theologian, once put it this way, “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”
Now, make no mistake. God created Satan (Isaiah 45:7) and allows him to temporarily, and with limits, cause chaos and strife while we are still this side of heaven. But Satan is not sovereign and cannot go beyond the limits and authority God has set. The story of Job is a perfect example of this. I will paraphrase a bit, but as you can read in the Book of Job, it was God who offered Job to Satan and allowed him to test his faithfulness. However, God set clear and distinct guidelines by telling Satan in Job 1:12 to do as he wishes but do NOT harm him physically. So Satan tormented Job as he was allowed to do, but let me ask you this, if Satan was not bound by God’s direction, don’t you think he would have done the exact opposite of what God had decreed? If for no other reason than sheer defiance. Of course, he would have. Satan didn’t choose to obey God; he didn’t have a choice. Satan has no freer will than any of us. That’s for another Heavenly Treasure.
So, try this: when you see suffering, look to the big, blue beautiful sky and think God. When you see ugliness, look at the green trees and the birds with not a care in the world and think God. When you see evil, look at your loved ones, give them a hug, count your blessings and think God. When you THINK GOD, you will THANK GOD.
The big take-away is that God is omnipotent. He is everywhere and in control of everything. Our peace on earth is directly and proportionately tied to how much we believe and embrace His complete sovereignty.
Prayer:
Father, we can’t help but see evil and strife in almost every part of our earthly walk. It’s part of the human condition. Yet, we must be reminded, and reminded often, to see you in all things. Teach and show us to find comfort in knowing that whatever may come our way, it is exactly, no more and no less, than what you have allowed. Heartache, pain, struggle, despair will happen, but when it does, help us remember that you are still God. You are still on your throne. You have not turned your back on the comings and goings of this world, and one day, we will see how and why all things have happened. And we will rejoice that it worked together for your glory.
Amen!
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