God Is In Control

It is the posture of choice.
It is the way most people walk to get from one place to another.
Head down.
Hands holding a device as they walk along.

It is rare to see someone walk with their head held high.
Gone are the days of meeting someone’s eye as you pass by on the street.
It has become a solitary world.
A world of personal playlists, text messages, and Twitter updates.

It is the world of the individual.
Music once shared and enjoyed by all is now heard through ear buds.
Conversation that took place, as you looked someone in the eye, is now impersonal.
Truncated messages of 140 characters replace heart to heart talks.

It is the looking down that is the concern.
It is a hazardous posture as people walk around the city.
Oblivious to their surroundings, it is an accident waiting to happen.
The transit system of the city of Philadelphia’s took steps to remedy the problem.

SEPTA, South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is piloting a program.
They have begun their Safe Turn Alert program.
The program will be available on twelve buses that are part of the regular rotation.
The program is in place to protect those pedestrians who are not paying attention.

No extra effort is required on the part of the bus drivers.
When the driver turns the steering wheel, a strobe light is activated on the side of the bus.
There is also an audio alarm to let the pedestrian know that the bus is turning.
The program will run for the next seven months using a different route each time.

The chosen routes are the ones where the buses turn frequently.
The chosen routes also have many pedestrians.
The program should help alleviate accidents or close calls.
It is a sign of our times that the program is even necessary.

As I heard this report on the news, another report followed with a different focus.
A woman was killed as she was walking on a New York City street.
She was killed when a piece of plywood from a construction fence fell and hit her.
It was discovered that the plywood was not properly secured.

The construction work has been halted at the site.
The construction company is being investigated for negligence.
The Safe Turn Alert program would not have protected this woman.
This accident happened on a windy day without warning.

We could put all sorts of safeguards in place.
We could try to imagine all of the what-ifs.
We could ban the use of hand-held devices while walking.
We could enforce the perfect posture for pedestrians.

Some things happen for which we are directly responsible.
Other things happen with apparent randomness there is no time to be proactive.
What seems random to us is by no means random to God.
God is sovereign over all.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. (Matthew 24:36-44)

Keep watch!
Why did the plywood fly off the fence and hit the woman, killing her immediately?
Why are others safe as they walk along, oblivious to their surroundings?
Who is the Sovereign Determiner of the events of our life?

God.
Always God.
Nothing is random to Him.
One person is not luckier than another.

When a tragic event happens, speaking of the sovereignty of God seems heartless.
When people are struggling, they don’t want to hear about God being in control.
They want to blame and point fingers.
God often becomes the focus of their blame.

God has given us His own Safe Turn Alert program.
Turn from sin and turn towards God, then no matter what happens we are secure.
We are eternally secure when we trust the Sovereign One who holds our life in His hand.
God’s sovereignty should be a great comfort to us.

Trusting in Jesus does not mean that we will never have trouble again.
Trusting in Jesus does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen.
Trusting in Jesus means that even when things are hard, we can rest in Him.
Trusting in Jesus means that even if the worst happens to us, we are not alone.

God is with us, and nothing that happens to us is a random event.
Everything that happens has a purpose and a meaning.
Sometimes only God alone knows that meaning.
We can trust God with our life.

We are not to act foolish and purposefully do things that could harm us.
We are to be wise in our choices.
Even one who trusts in Jesus can be blindsided on occasion.
Even when we don’t understand, God does.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Look up.
Keep watch.
God is in control.
You can count on it.

2 responses to “God Is In Control”

1. I think this is the hardest thing to learn–that God is in control of EVERYTHING! We can trust Him with our lives, good times and bad, and know He is there for us. We don’t have to “fix” all situations; sometimes we just have to trust, pray, and wait for His will to be done. Our God is an awesome God, and to know He is with us at all times is a gift beyond measure.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     Believing that God is sovereign over everything is a great comfort.
     We can rest in that Truth.
     We can rest in Him.
     Gina

     Reply