For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.
Romans 13
Paul explains, in these verses, the full extent of God’s control over His Creation. All that we see and know, as human beings, is under the control of the Creator of the universe in which we exist. And, that includes the systems of governing that have existed on earth since the beginning of time. All authorities that have ever existed, and still exist, are there because God has ordained that they exist. Since God is NOT the author of evil, how is it that there are such evil rulers of men throughout human history? Paul answers the question, “They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” God does not leave His Creation without rule to the sinful desires of humanity. But, God does use the sinful nature of humanity to govern those who do NOT want to be ruled by another. Therefore, governments are in place to be instruments of authority ruling over sinful humanity. Even Satan is ordered by a hierarchy in hell. Paul wrote that Christians are to submit to the ruling authorities because they are God’s way of keeping in check the ways of sinful men. This was written during the reigns of some of the most despicable rulers ever to exist on earth. We, today, may not want to think of some rulers as God’s instruments but, they are allowed to exist because God has allowed them to exist! And, Christians are to pay homage, obedience and, taxes to those in authority over us. However, we, as God’s chosen, are not to obey authorities who command us to disobey whatever God has commanded us to do! Oh, Christian, we live in an evil world ruled by Satan and his demons. As God’s ambassadors, we are called to witness to the state to be the state to protect the sanctity of human life, not to legislate life to be ended at every whim of human evil thought! Pray today for our rulers that they will be rulers who protect life and not take life from humanity as Satan wants to destroy life as we know it because it strikes against God whom Satan hates!
Source: S C Ball September 7, 2023
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