“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
One of the most important understandings of Christian theology is reality of the second coming of Christ and the final judgment. Both these realities speak of God’s providence and sovereignty.
- God’s providence means that God has a plan and purpose for our world
- God’s sovereignty means that God is in control
Here is why this is so important.
The world you and I live in screams “There is no God.” “God is dead.” “If there is a God, and God is good, how could such atrocities take place?”
God’s answer to these questions is God’s providence and sovereignty.
You see, I don’t know how what’s happening in Afghanistan, Haiti, Louisiana is good. I don’t know how the threats against women and Christians by the Taliban will work for the good. In the same way, I don’t know how the deaths of six million Jews under Hitler was good. I don’t know.
But I thank God for God’s providence and sovereignty. You see, what God’s providence and sovereignty promises me is that there will come a day when all will have to bow their knees at the name of Jesus and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
That includes the Nazis. That includes the Taliban.
Christ followers will bow our knees in worship and joy. Christ-followers will delightfully declare with our tongues that Jesus is Lord.
The Taliban and the Nazis too will bow their knees in abject horror at the reality that their actions and deeds are coming under judgment. And to the terror of the Taliban and Nazis, they will confess with their tongues, “Oh no! Jesus really is Lord!”
God’s providence and sovereignty absolutely matters.
Without it, the Taliban and the Nazis go free without judgment against them. And that would be the most horrific injustice.
So, Christian. Know this: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Praxis: Faith in Action 