"He's got it all in control!"

There is a series of actions and reactions in Acts 9 that illustrates the nature of life as we know it and that behind it all is the guiding hand of God. Recently we discussed how God intervened in the life of a young Jewish rabbi by the name of Saul who was doing his best to eradicate the primitive church. God, however, had decided that this same young enthusiast should play a crucial role in the westward expansion of the Christian faith. And how did God accomplish that? By striking him blind as he was on the way to Damascus bent on jailing all of those “heretics” he could find (v. 3).  It is God who ultimately controls the course of history.
       Immediately Saul began to preach in the synagogues (v. 2). It was astonishing that this fierce opponent of the gospel was now proclaiming it. As he continued to declare that Jesus was in fact the promised Messiah, his presentation grew even more powerful and the Jewish listeners were absolutely astonished by it (v. 22). 
       The reaction? Those in charge decided that such a heresy could not be permitted so they developed a plan to take his life (v. 23). His followers could not let that happened, so, that night they lowered him to freedom in a basket through a hole in the wall (v. 25). Saul returned to Jerusalem where he fearlessly proclaimed that Jesus was who he said he was and that his return to life from the grave proved it (v. 28).
       God began the sequence and people reacted in predictable ways, but it was God who at every point was in control. I can’t help but mention again that this pivotal truth about history has never (in my opinion) been communicated more effectively than when Johnny Watson sings, “He’s got it all in control.” I hope you have access to the disc so you can listen to his remarkable Spirit-inspired voice singing:

       He's got it all in control
       He's got it all in control
       He's put that reassurance
       Way down in my soul
       He's got it all in control

       I've put my life in His hands
       I've put my life in His hands
       So every road I walk down
       I'm sure is in His plan
       'Cause I've put my life in His hands

       He holds the stars in the sky
       He holds the land back from the sea
       If He can do all of that
       Surely he can take care
       Of you and me 
                 (partial rendition of Archie Jordan’s song)


Saul was struck blind on the way to Damascus to stop this new deviation of the ancient faith;
       God’s got it all in control.
The people heard it and were astonished;
       God’s got it all in control.
The local religionists laid plans for Saul’s demise;
       God’s got it all in control.
The believers helped him escape;
       God’s got it all in control.

       And that is the story from Eden until this very moment. It’s illustrated in every paragraph of scripture and every episode of life. Reflect on it until you can’t help but break out in a joyful, “Yes! God’s got it all in control!”