God’s Cause
“22 Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. 23 You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Today’s Text: Ezekiel 14:12-23 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
God is sovereign. God is in control, and God will do what God will do. And we are in no position to judge God.
But praise be to God! Not only is He sovereign, but God is just and God is love. Although God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal, there is one thing that God will not do. and that one thing is to act against His own nature.
But we cannot fully comprehend the complete nature of God. Only God knows.
In our lifetime, we have witnessed some devastating disasters. The recent floods in Texas killed 135 people, including over 35 children, alone. But the US is better prepared to deal with natural disasters than most countries. Of course, we must not forget the devastation of the COVID pandemic, either.
In the midst of these devastating disasters all around us, we continue to affirm that God is sovereign. Given that, how do we continue to also affirm that God is good and just? How do we continue to affirm that God is love?
In the message to the students at the youth retreat, Pastor Sammy preached over John 14:1-3 -
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
For those who believe (truly believe), we know that this world is not our home. But that message is no encouragement to anyone who holds their allegiance to the world rather than to Christ.
And yet, for those who believe (truly believe), we experience God’s hand of protection and provision over and over again, even in this world. And (in the style of Pastor Sammy) don’t miss this! God does that (1) because He loves us, and (2) so that we might use the opportunities that His hand of protection and provision provide us to glorify Him in Christ Jesus through the enablement of the Holy Spirit.
All of us easily accept (1), but we have a tough time with (2). And that is because our tendency is to think that it’s all about me-myself-and-I, when in reality it’s all about God—Father, Son, and Spirit.
Basically, (1) and (2) make up the “cause” that the Sovereign LORD speaks of in verse 23.
There are great blessings to be had and shared when we live within the framework of God’s “cause”. Our lives within that framework is what the Bible calls the kingdom of God. And that is one of the reasons Jesus said -
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
— Matthew 6:33
I have little doubt that there were people and children in the Texas floods who walked in the kingdom of God. But for them and for us who believe, our lives will continue in the “mansion” (NKJV) that Jesus has prepared for us.
Father, You are holy and righteous and just and sovereign. Forgive me whenever I live my life as if Your word is not true. But let me live for Your cause and walk within Your kingdom. Thank You for always providing for me and family and for protecting us. Continue to do so, because You are our Reward and our Shield. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
