Articles
God’s Sovereignty Over Me
Dictionary.com defines sovereignty as “having supreme power or authority” and “dominion, power or authority.” True sovereignty means having the right and ability to do whatever you want to do and never having to answer to anyone for your actions. It is being devoid of consequences imposed from an outside power or authority.
We’ve finished our studies looking at God’s sovereignty over creation, over nations and His sovereignty over the church. Today, we will look at God’s sovereignty over me. This is the most personal, and in many ways, the most significant aspect if His sovereignty. So, what do we mean when we talk of His sovereignty over me?
Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20). We have been blessed by the sovereign Creator with a free will. We can choose our own course in life. However, the sovereign God has the right to tell us how He wishes our choices to be. If we obey, we will be rewarded. If we don’t, then we reap the consequences of eternal damnation.
Paul wrote, "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" (Rom 9:20). Sometimes, we are tempted to treat our obedience to God as a privilege we are granting Him. In truth, it is our spiritual service (Rom 12:1). He has the right to rule over us because He made us.
Consider…
- When God tells us to remain pure, we do because He said so.
- When God tells us to be kind to one another, we do because He said so.
- When God tells us to be immersed for remission of sin, we do because He said so.
- When God tells us how to worship, we do it that way because He said so.
In a culture where our rights are so important, we often forget that in the spiritual world, we live in an absolute monarchy. Our spiritual life is not governed by democracy. When God speaks, we obey. What He says is law. Period. There is no discussion. He says, we do. That’s what it means that He is sovereign over me.
We are fortunate to serve a benevolent Monarch. He invites us to bring our cares, desires and concerns to Him. But let’s not forget the words of James when we do: "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." (James 4:14-15)
If the Lord wills. He is sovereign. "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." (Ps 115:3).
