By Rev. Christopher J. Derring ,Th.D

God is the supreme authority of this Universe as well as all that is within it.

He is oftentimes referred to by many as being in control of all things. And that everything that happens good or bad is a result of God’s Divine will and sovereignty being carried out. But I submit to you that the sovereignty of God and the will of God are two completely different things all together.

Every time we see tragedy and suffering we ask why did God allow this to happen ? From 9/11 , to tsunamis , hurricanes , and Earthquakes , etc. God gets all the blame for these horrible events taking place. And I believe it is because God’s sovereignty and God’s will are confused as being the same thing, which they are not, as we will see.

If Everything that took place in the Earth was God’s will , then how could we justify punishing the murderer, or the rapist, or the thief , or the child molester , for their acts of atrocity against their fellow human beings ? For if they were just doing God’s will who could fault them for obeying God ? If God happens to will for you to have cancer then why do we fight God’s will by going to the Doctor or by taking medicine or getting treatments to attempt to get better ? Shouldn’t we just take our sickness and enjoy being in God’s will ? Do you see how ridicules this all sounds ?

First of all lets look at God’s will. The first thing to know is that the word of God is the will of God. There is not one single topic that one cant find God’s will expressed and revealed within the Bible. All we need to do is look through the pages of this Holy writ and we will soon see God’s will revealed to us . From Salvation, Healing, walking in Love, to knowing what is morally acceptable and unacceptable . It’s all in there ! Those who don’t know God’s will, blame God for everything, because often times, they don’t understand the process of God’s will. Not only does God reveal His will through His word but He also gives us the steps we must take in order to achieve that will. An example would be God’s will concerning salvation. It is that all mankind be saved . We see God’s will regarding salvation revealed in this scripture.

God’s will is for all mankind to be saved that’s clear here, we can see that. But then once God’s will is revealed to us we have to find out how to fulfill that will in our lives. God’s will regarding Salvation starts out in 2 Peter

And continues on in the following scripture which then takes us to the next step on implementing God’s will regarding Salvation.

2 peter shows us God’s will Romans 10 shows us the process of God’s will.

God’s will : That all people would be saved.

God’s Process: Confess out of your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe what you confess out of your mouth with your heart.

There is knowledge of the truth , and there is also understanding of the truth. One without the other will do you no good. People blame God for everything that happens in the Earth and pass it off as God’s will because they either don’t know the truth or they don’t understand the process of the truth.

So God gets the blame for thousands of people dying in a hurricane by an uninformed preacher, and the world looks at God as a mean uncaring puppet master they want nothing to do with. If Christians would only take the time to seek the truth they would see God has nothing to do with the Evil in the Earth. Nor Is he in control of the wicked people that carry out these acts.

God is Sovereign but in His sovereignty He has delegated Authority, as well setting some guidelines, and parameters for us to follow in that Authority.

The first thing we must understand about the sovereignty of God is that God has delegated Authority unto us. We Humans have been give Dominion over this Earth and everything within it. But with that Dominion comes God given guidelines and parameters in which we must stay within. If we go outside of those parameters there are consequences . God will not override our will. That’s why , when someone says everything that happens is God’s will , they are totally misinformed and ignorant of what the Bible has to say on the topic. I will give you two Biblical examples that prove that not everything that happens is the will of God .

The first example is found in 2 Peter 3:9 in which we just read. God’s will is for all to be saved. And yet not everyone gets saved. Sadly, some people die and go to Hell, even though this is not God’s will, according to scripture.

It still happens though every single day. People die and go to hell. Why isn’t God’s will carried out in accordance with 2 Peter 3:9 ? Because like the bible says we have been given Dominion in this Earth. We are in control of it, as a result of our God given authority given to us according to Genesis 1:26 .

If God were to override our wills He would be in violation of His own word.

God will never, never , never, violate His word !

The second example is found in the next text of scripture concerning God’s will.

This is a profound and revealing text regarding God’s will and completely destroys the theory that everything that happens is God’s will. Jesus said here that not everyone will go to Heaven, but only those that do the will of the Father. That means that those who don’t follow God’s will, will go to Hell. Which also means we have the choice to do God’s will or not do God’s will.

Some things that happen in this Earth are not the will of God at all they are the will of men. And people who do not understand God’s word blame God for what man has done, as well as for the consequences that mans actions have brought about upon this Earth.

God has given man control of the Earth but God expects us to follow His will. Not by force but as an act of our own free will. God has given us directions and guidelines to follow, not because He wants to control us but because He loves us and knows the best way we ought to go. But when we stray from God’s way there are consequences we will have to bare.

People say that tragedies are God’s Judgment against sin. Well He said the wages of sin is death. God spoke forth this truth and revealed it to us in Romans 6 . Eventually those words come to pass. God gives many chances and is very patient with man, but there comes a time when sin must reap it’s reward, and God‘s word must be fulfilled .

Sin affects everything, sin brings pain and suffering, sin brings sickness and disease, sin brings misery and sin brings death. The whole Earth is effected either directly, or indirectly, by mans disobedience to God .

Many of the disasters we see is simply the Earth groaning and travailing in pain from the repercussions and effects of mans sin. For if we had only listened to God and followed the better way. Many things that have taken place, and several tragedies , could have been avoided altogether. But men have hardened their hearts to God and have chosen their own path and have sinned against God‘s word. As a result the whole Earth has been effected. All of the horrible and evil things that happen in the Earth are not God’s will but rather Sins consequences . God is Sovereign and as the supreme ruler He must uphold His laws. It’s not God’s will to bring destruction, He has given us the authority and the truth to avoid these things. But as sovereign ruler God must uphold the law. And so sin is dealt with. As a result of mans evil Judgment comes upon this Earth. But God still helps us, and loves us, and continues to help those who choose to listen and follow Him, protecting them, and empowering them to do better.

We can see the difference between the will of God, and the Sovereignty of God. The first is God’s desires concerning , things, people, and places, how He wants them to be, and what He wants them to have. The latter is God upholding and enforcing spiritual laws. We as humans, having dominion, Over this Earth and everything in this Earth , can and do effect God’s will in this Earth , to either come to pass, or never come to fruition, it is our choice. And we as humans also dictate what laws which will be enforced in our own lives, by either obeying God and following His path which leads to life, or following our own plans and sinning against God which leads to death.

Heaven records the choices we make. The Good as well as the evil. The condition of the Earth, as an individual, as well as a collective body, is determined by the choices we each make. God has given us two choices Life or Death. What we choose is entirely up to us, and the consequences of those choices, fall entirely upon us. I am tired of God being blamed for the evil that takes place when we are the ones who have, and continue to allow it to take place. If we would turn to God and follow His will and His ways, the world would be a much different place ! If we would stop violating spiritual laws then we would stop reaping the disasters and curses that come as a result of our actions. There will always be sin and those that choose sin , until Christ comes again and makes all things new again, but we can make a decision to live as an individual of character, Holy, and acceptable, as God has called us to live. But may we all please stop blaming God for what we ourselves allow. God is Good. And everything He sends is good God doesn’t have any evil to send for God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. The evil comes from Satan and fallen men, as well as poor misguided souls, in need of a savior to set them free. I pray that many ignorant preachers, and their misinformed followers, as well as all Christians alike would find the truth, take responsibility for their own actions, and stop blaming God for what they have allowed to come upon themselves ! And let it be known to all that God is good his will is always for the good, and His judgment is Just.