Although Christ has “all power in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18 NKJV), and “there is no power but of God” (Romans 13:1), we have the choice of surrendering to this divine authority or rejecting it. We neither change God’s immutable laws, nor should we even try such a foolish thing. Korah perished when he rebelled against the will of God (Numbers 16). Moses missed the Land of Promise because he disobeyed God (Numbers 20). Lying to the Lord resulted in the death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11). No wonder Gamaliel stated, ‘We do not want to be found fighting against God’ (Acts 5:39).
God has made some great and glorious promises to His people. Yet, we must realize that His promises are always conditional. He made this conditional promise to Israel, His people of that day. “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). To be victorious, we must humbly pray as we seek God and turn from wickedness. Only then has God promised to hear us, forgive us and heal our land. Since “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17), we know that He has the right to expect us to lovingly serve the cause of righteousness.
God’s promise to children today is the greatest gift a loving Father could give. Jesus told John to write “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). The glorious promise of an eternal home with the Father, with Christ, [with the Holy Spirit, with the angelic host] and all the redeemed is so great that the human mind cannot fully comprehend it. Yielding to God’s will in exchange for the heavenly home is certainly worth it all.
The Maker of us all, the Ruler of the universe, has absolute authority. We are very fortunate that He chose to extend salvation, blessing and peace toward us instead of what our sinful lives deserve. Peter wrote, speaking of God, “…not willing that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9). He truly wants all to be saved. Yet, He cannot save us unless we are willing to conform to His will. Our every thought and deed should be to do the Father’s will in all things. Then and only then can Heaven be our home.
