The Four Five Spiritual Laws Part 3
© 09.15.25 By David Eric Williams
Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation” (Luke 11:2-4, NLT).
In the last column we began a look at the “five spiritual laws” which concern the sovereignty of God, the representation of Jesus Christ, the ethos of the kingdom, covenant sanctions and continuity. We started by acknowledging the sovereignty of God. My intention was to move to the second point with this article but in light of happenings over the last couple of weeks I decided to take another look at God’s sovereign control of creation.
There are two events among many that stand out in my mind. First is the murder in Charlotte North Carolina of the young Ukrainian woman, Iryna Zarutska. The second is the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah. I don’t know anything about the spiritual state or politics of Miss Zarutska but I do know she was brutally murdered by a career criminal. On the other hand, I am aware Charlie Kirk was a boldly professed Christian who was conservative in his political views and was killed by a satanically motivated assassin. As different as the circumstances may be, both of these murders provide a startling commentary on the state of American society; it is shot through with the satanic. Those who hate God and his wisdom love death (Proverbs 8:36, cf. John 15:23-24), and the only alternative to worship of God is worship of Satan, who was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44, cf. James 3:15, 1 John 3:10).
Tragedies like these may prove an embarrassment to the Christian who insists God is sovereign – insists that all things are under his control. Because, if God is sovereign and controls all things, why the horrible occurrences?
As uncomfortable as it may be, God brings even tragic events to pass. And mind you, it is not that he simply allows things to happen but that he is in absolute control of everything. I referenced Isaiah in the last article, where Yahweh claims, I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7). And again, If the horn is sounded in the town will the people not be full of fear? Will evil [rah] come on a town if the Lord has not done it? (Amos 3:6, Bible in Basic English. The Hebrew word, rah means “bad, evil”). Indeed, the most dire crime in the history of the universe was God’s will; In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him (Acts 2:23). This is part of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. In other words, the fact God willed the death of Jesus is part of the gospel message.
Don’t get me wrong, acknowledging God’s sovereignty does not downplay the effect of sin in the world (another topic for another time). It does not negate human responsibility (another topic for another time). Nor does it minimize human pain and suffering. We should not confidently claim we know why this or that event took place either. The pain and suffering of the non-Christian happens under the sovereign hand of God but we may never know God’s purpose in that situation. On the other hand, when Christians suffer we say with confidence, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:28-29 NLT). Everything. Not some things, or things we can understand, but everything. We don’t have to know how God causes everything to work together for the good of his children but we must believe it. And ultimately the good God accomplishes in us is greater Christ likeness. We are confident Charlie Kirk is with the Lord now and we can be equally sure God will somehow use Charlie’s murder to mold and shape his Christian family, friends and loved ones to be more like Jesus. Does this mean we should be nonchalant about tragedy? Of course not! It means we have faith and hope, acknowledging God’s sovereignty even in the face of calamity.
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