Who is regulating affairs on Earth today– God or the Devil? This is a question that A.W. Pink asks in his book the Sovereignty of God… which I highly recommend (you can read it online for free) It’s one of many questions that new Christians (and even seasoned) ponder while on their journey upon the narrow path. For the last 6 years I have had difficult ‘Why” questions bouncing around in my head. And unfortunately each of the 6 churches I attended during that time seemed to make the waters even more muddy as opposed to clearing things up. The simple reason why the churches could not give me any insight to many of my questions was because they have a watered down view of who God is.

In the introduction to the book “The Sovereignty of God,” Pink declares that “Present day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God’s omnipotency, God’s sufficiency, God’s sovereignty.” If that were the case during Pinks era in th early 20th century, it must be equally true about our age and time. The truth be told, our churches today do not teach the true God. They teach a “disappointed” God, “who is filled with benevolent intentions, yet unable to carry them out.” They teach of a God who “is earnestly desirous of blessing men, but they will not let Him” So one has to conclude that “the Devil has gained the upper hand, and that God is to be pitied rather than blamed.” But doesn’t the troubles of our time prove that the Devil “has far more to do with the affairs on earth than God has?” It all depends upon 2 things, Pink states.

1) Do you walk by sight OR 2) do you walk by faith.

“Are your thoughts.. concerning this world and God’s relation to it, based upon what you see?” Pink asks. Unfortunately this is the case much of the time. But to walk by faith means “our thoughts are formed and our actions regulated, our lives moulded by the Holy Scriptures.” These Scriptures, as declared by the Westminster Confession, “principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.” These scriptures are the infallible Word of God. They teach us what and who God is.

So back to the original question… Who is regulating affairs on Earth today– God or the Devil?

if we are walking by sight, and judge things by what our eye sees, then it looks as though Satan has the strong hold. But if we are walking by faith, we acknowledge the truths of the Scriptures. Pink’s famous line, “What sayeth the Scriptures,” give us insight on how he arrived to his conclusion to the question presented. The scriptures give us an apprehension of the full character of God. Granted, there is a level of comprehension about our Lord that our finite minds are unable to grasp (Duet 29:29), but what about His attributes that are understandable and are presented in the Scriptures? What about His Character?

Ephesians 1:11 tells us that the Lord “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” The words “all things” in this scripture give us an understanding about His power and His providence. As Christians we should fear nothing, for “all things” are working together for the good of those that love God. “It must be so,” says Pink, for “of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things.” (Romans 11:36)

So if the Lord is all powerful and all things work according to his will, does man or the Devil have the power to thwart His will. Does our freewill negate His decrees? Does the power of Satan, in this world, nullify the desires of the Lord? Short answer, absolutely not. Long answer… because God is omnipotent, “nothing can successfully resist Him, still lest overthrow His counsel; and because God is omniscient no problem can master Him and no difficulty baffle His wisdom.” His will is done in ALL THINGS.

What about the tragedy that befalls man… the pain, the suffering, the torment? That’s a very profound question that I would imagine most all of us have asked at one time or another. But if we realize the true condition of man, that he is dead in his transgressions, each one of us deserving of Hell, we will understand the judgments of God and “in view of His inflexible justice and immaculate holiness, we could not expect anything other than what is now before our eyes,” Pink writes. Remember though, that the Lord’s judgments are “unsearchable” and His ways “past finding out.” (Romans 11:31) Again our finite little minds are incapable of fully understanding why the Lord does what He does, but we need to take comfort that everything works together for the good of those who love Him. Even that which seems unbearable.

Easier said than done, right. These last few weeks I have been challenged in this area almost daily. I gone back to 1 Thessalonian 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God’s will is that we rejoice in His providence, take heart and fear not. He is in control of all things.

The Devil has no real power in this world besides what is given to Him by the Almighty Lord. Martin Luther likened him to a dog on a chain which the Lord holds back or releases at His will. The Devil has no real power but God is all powerful. God is the one who is, who has, and who will always regulate the affairs on Earth today.

Tags | A.W.Pink, God, Theology