Believing in a Sovereign God

Awhile back I received a text from one of our pastors about his high school coach. He had shared the gospel with this coach, but he wanted nothing to do with God.

But then this coach became very ill. And when he was near death, his care provider pleaded with him to watch our film, Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon. When he was only moments away from eternity, this man who never wanted to hear the gospel watched how God had changed Steve McQueen’s life. That former high school coach accepted Christ, and now he’s in Heaven.

This reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God. The Bible tells us about the unexpected conversion of King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful man on earth at that time. Because of Daniel’s faithfulness and influence, he turned to the God that Daniel believed in.

Daniel was a fearless follower of God who spoke truth to Nebuchadnezzar, then to his grandson Belshazzar, and later to Darius, who conquered the kingdom of Babylon.

Daniel believed in a sovereign God. In Daniel 4:25 he said, “The Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses” (NLT). Daniel understood that dictators and kings, who thought they were in control, would come and go. But ultimately, he knew the Lord was in control.

Let’s not forget that Daniel was taken from his homeland of Israel and became a captive in Babylon. He had his entire life turned upside down. They even changed his name. But they could not change his core beliefs or his convictions.

Daniel believed in a sovereign God, and we need to believe that too. So when things in life aren’t making sense, go back to what you do understand: God is in control of your life.