What do you really control?

I. Your health?

II. We can eat right and exercise but we only improve the probability that we enjoy a healthy life and avoid terrible diseases.

III. I’ve known two healthy people who died in the middle of their workouts so exercise is not a guarantee.

IV. I’ve known healthy people diagnosed with terrible diseases.

V. We can affect our health, good and bad, but we do not control it.

VI. Your relationships?

VII. People get jobs or retire and move far away.

VIII. Couples divorce, parents and kids alienate each other, people die.

IX. We can control our attitude and behaviors and try to create a positive and encouraging environment and even maintain ties with those who have moved away. But we cannot control others.

X. The present pandemic unveiled a truth known to many: we can build sophisticated economies, healthcare systems, and technology but we cannot control this world. “Life is inherently uncertain.”

XI. Ecclesiastes 7:14: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.”

XII. Though God gave man stewardship of creation, no man has tamed it

XIII. James 4:13-17: Reminder to plan mindful of the uncertainty and brevity of life, saying “if the Lord wills…”

XIV. Matthew 6:25-34: trust in the providence of God, not in your power to control the outcomes for your life by your decisions.

XV. In truth, we control very little in our lives though we may live in an illusion that much is under our control.

XVI. We know who is in control

XVII. Isaiah 42:5-9 – Created the world and man and all that is to be

XVIII. Colossians 1:15-17 – Created and controls all of creation

XIX. Hebrews 1:1-3 – Upholds everything by His power

XX. Isaiah 45:5-13 – Unchallengeable control

XXI. Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

XXII. How should we respond to uncertain events?

XXIII. Labor in our prayers

XXIV. Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

XXV. Proverbs 12:25/Philippians 4:4-7: treat anxiety with prayer

XXVI. Luke 18:1-8: Parable of the Persistent Widow – will we give up?

XXVII. Romans 8:26-28: Does the virus limit the good for His children?

XXVIII. Let the trial purify our hope, and faith

XXIX. Romans 5:1-5 – we have peace with God, access by faith, and hope of the glory of God such that we can see fruits in suffering.

A. We get endurance through trials, not through ease.

B. We gain wisdom and character through trials.

C. A hope that is true arises from character because we sever our illusions of lasting fulfillment in this world and realize the only true joys are spiritual and heavenly.

D. Titus 2: we live godly lives fervently pursuing good works while “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

XXX. 1 Peter 1:6-19 – trials purity our faith to make it more genuine

XXXI. Let trials sweeten the taste of heaven

XXXII. Romans 8:18-25

A. Suffering dispels our illusions that this world has any lasting pleasures or treasures that would eternally satisfy us.

B. Why would we hope for a heavenly home if this world was filled with comfort?

C. Would a promise of “no more sorrows or tears” mean anything if this world was not filled with them?

D. Suffering allows us to see the fragility of earth contrasted with the everlasting glory of heaven.

XXXIII. Hebrews 13:5-6, 12-16 – God will not forsake us; let us follow Him

XXXIV. These trials we are enduring will pass. Other diseases have swept the world, the Black Death, Spanish Flu, and Polio causing panic and fear. Our economy has been through prosperity and depression. Life is uncertain. God’s care is sure. Let us lean on him who controls it all and live as people with hope.