Is anyone running this place?

As always, it's a crazy time as we near the date we elect a new president. There is always a lot of passion on both sides as we near election day. It is a time of uncertainty with terrorists trying to destroy us, radical countries trying to build atomic bombs, chaos in different places, difficult times at home, high prices and uncertainty about the economy....it's a time when you may be wondering "is anyone running this place?"
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This morning, in my reading, I'm in Revelation. I love this book (do I say that about every book of the bible I read?) because it puts a finish to time and history. As Genesis opens the story with creation Revelation closes the story with the end of all things. Some look to this book for a guide to what will happen in the last days. There is some of that, but that's not the theme of the book. In fact, although John records end time events, he doesn't record them in a sequential order in a way you can track events as the end comes. It's not set up that way.
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The key theme of the book is this one idea- there is a throne in heaven and God is sitting on it. In other words, there is a God in charge of everything. That's the message of the book. That's the great hope of the Christian. More than 30 times in Revelation the throne is mentioned and often, as John writes, there is an interlude in which we get a glimpse of the throne as if to ask, "is He still in charge?" and yes, the picture shows that God is still seated on the throne fully in charge. Here's one of the praises that I love from this book, it's such a reassuring song,

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Rev 5:13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

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In fact, because God is in charge, there is another subtle part of Revelation shown in this phrase, "it was given". What the author is communicating is not that the enemy is in rebellion and on the attach against heaven itself, but in fact the message is this- God is orchestrating all that we see in the book with the goal that mankind would once more have a chance to turn to him and be saved. The gradual "turning up of the heat" is intended to move mankind to trust in God before all of this is finished. None of the book hints at a universe out of control, but what we see is a sovereign God fully in charge of everything, and he is.

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One of the verses in Psalms that I love is a small verse, subtle, but powerful. The author writes,

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Psalm 29:10 The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

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Is anyone running this place? Clearly, yes. The God of creation is seated on the throne and directing the courses of men with the end result that he will be glorified. I'm glad that there is a God in heaven, and that he's the sovereign of the universe. When all around you it seems that things are falling apart remember.....God is still seated on the throne, Lord of heaven and earth. Then get a cup of coffee and relax. You don't have to worry, God's got it all under control.

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Oh, in case you were wondering, God's also in charge of the elections, "...For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." Romans 13:1