Doctrines in Action -Beyond the Kitchen-

Katie Lloyd Photography

A friend of mine, who professes to be a Christian, trying to bring some comfort to my family last week, called me and was surprised to hear me saying that we were finding comfort in God's Sovereignty; in knowing that God had the days of our baby Faith counted, and that it was God himself who had decided to bring her to Him before she could see the light. My friend insisted that God would not do such a thing.

If you have followed my blog for a little while, you have probably noticed that I like to insist, to persuade my readers to study the Word of God, to dig deeper into the Scriptures, to pursue  sound doctrine; not necessarily in order to be able to point out those who teach wrongly, but to be able to grow in Christ and stand firm in the day of trouble. And now, more than ever, I affirm this truth: What we believe today, when the waters are calm, will either sustain us or bring us to despair the day in which our faith will be put to test.

Because, yes, our faith WILL be put to test sooner or later.

We believe that God is reigning supremely over all; He is sovereign and good to His people. He is Omnipotent and at the same time mindful of His children. We believe that God is Faithful, and never breaks a promise, so if He has said that all things work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose; then the home-coming of Faith was something good.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Romans 8:26-30

No, we have not asked "Why, LORD?" lifting our fists against Heaven; and we have not done this, first of all because the Lord has restrained us from sinning against Him; and secondly because we know Him. We know His character, and we rest assured in the sound doctrine of God's Sovereignty.

"I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it."
Psalm 39:9

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases."

Psalm 115:1-3

My friend has obviously a difficult time when trials to come, she has a hard time trying to solve the puzzles, and to give answers to all the "why's" that assault her mind and heart. In her theology God is All-Powerful, but only until the Devil shows up, and messes up all things. Then God appears again and transforms all things, all the mess, into something good.

While the "problem of evil" is there, and we have no explanation to it (because the Bible doesn't tells us about it) we do have an answer to it: God is Sovereign and All-Powerful and has conquered the evil one.

Dead doesn't have a sting anymore, however, it still hurts; but we keep on pressing with our eyes fixed on Jesus towards the resurrection of our bodies and the day when we will be with all the saints in Heaven where tears will be shed no more.

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." Philippians 3:12-16

I don't know where you are standing today, where you are grounded, but remember that the trial of your faith will come; you better start preparing yourself for it even now.

Doctrine, the body of beliefs that you have now, will not only accompany you in the kitchen but also to the funeral of those you dearly love.

Under His sun and by His grace,