The Control Panel of the Universe
Have you ever seen inside the cockpit of a large airliner? It has meters and gauges crowded all around the pilots. There are switches. It may have redundant systems in place for extra safety. The pilots are covered in controls and illuminated switches. The plane is huge and many people's lives are depending on the craft being able to operate safely. Smaller single engine planes may have fewer controls but a large jet carrying hundreds of passengers has a multitude of operations on the control panel.
What must the control panel of the universe look like? To maintain millions of planets must take a considerable amount of controls. Just to keep the earth and its billions of inhabitants safe must require a control center much bigger than that of a jet.
Most people think the control panel of the universe has one red button that God has to push every so often.
Years ago I was listening to one of the many different call-in radio shows named “Bible Answer Man”. A caller phoned in and wanted to present some Bible verses that he thought should be convincing to anyone. They were about tongues or something else of a spiritual nature. The radio host was not of this particular persuasion.
It seemed, by the caller's speech, that this was not an educated man. Just a few minutes of talk is really not enough to judge a person's character but words are important. It really sounded like there was a hillbilly on the phone. The radio show host, by severe contrast, was a highly intelligent man. He had a remarkable grasp of the Scriptures. It seemed his arsenal of examples was vast. His handle on the Greek word tenses was intimidating. He destroyed the hillbilly caller publicly by his superior command of logic and debate.
In my opinion, the hick caller was more on track with the entirety of what the Bible says than the radio host. It is just that the caller did not even have a good command of English, much less the Greek language. The Bible Answer Man took him apart and “slaughtered” the caller and his argument on live radio.
I felt sorry for the caller. He was ashamed and frustrated that he was not able to match wits with a man of superior intellect. His parting shot at the radio show host was, “Yur hell-bound!”
Apparently, God had to push the single red button the control panel of the universe. God says to a nearby angel.” Umm, this one?” The angel nods. God pushes the only button there is on the control panel of the universe. The person who disagrees with us drops down alive into the pit.
Many are not aware that God has many ways of dealing with His sinning children or with those who are in errant beliefs.
It is true that everyone is on one side of the line or the other. All people ever born either have the Son or do not have the Son of God (I John 5:12). Jesus is the way to the Father and His life (John 14:6). Jesus is the Door (John 10:7,9). Everyone who has ever lived or will live is either inside or outside.
However, people are at various distances in their journey inside or outside the door. Let us consider those who are outside for a moment. Very thankfully, God invites all to come to Him through the door. There is a migrant crisis at the southern border of the US (in 2023). We need immigrants (we have killed our own children). It is just that we need legal immigrants, those who have come through the proper channels. Many are looking for a better life for their families. If someone comes into a country illegally, they likely will remain unlawful in all their dealings in that country.
Spiritually speaking, many are camped outside the barrier wall between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. God invites everyone to come in through the door, which is Christ. Many try to enter through other means. They will be refused and severely dealt with. Many just are not sure. They like the music. They like some speakers. They like the encouragement and inspiring talks. They really like being near Christendom but they do not want to forsake all others and hold to Christ alone. They do not, for various reasons, go through the door, which is Christ.
I believe it is these, the campers just outside the door, that the Scriptures talk about much. They hear the Word. They like it but will not come in (Mark 4:15-17). They hang around just outside the gate.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Tim 4:1)
Many who like some of the Word that is proclaimed will fall away when persecution comes or a commitment is called for (Luke 8:13). The encampment of the undecided will disperse at some point. Many who call themselves Christian will walk away from the door and decide they never really wanted to go in after all. They have left “the faith” by not even pretending anymore.
Many are at various places on their Christian journey after they have genuinely entered the door of salvation. Some are newborns. Some are little children, Some have gone on to some level of maturity. God is able to comfort and build up the young ones. He is also able to deal with His older children who are sinning.
This is a list of some ways that God can deal with His true born again children. I do not want to expand on these here. This is just to show that God has many ways He can deal with Christians, not just the single red button of damnation. While it is “heaven or hell” for everyone, it is not heaven or hell for the saved.
His Word
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. (Job 36:10)
This is God's favorite and preferred method of dealing with His children who may be in sin or in error. We see something in the Scriptures that shows we are of the wrong opinion. We instantly forsake our opinion and adapt what the Word of God says. Done! Clean and easy.
Discipline
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: (Heb 12:5)
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Heb 12:7)
When we will not hear the Word of God which should correct us the Lord may use some form of discipline. This is only because we are sons or children. But do not mistakenly assume all evil is from God. We have to discern enough to not embrace the attacks of the devil.
Sickness
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1Cor 11:30)
Many in the church in Corinth were not recognizing that all the believers were part of the same Body, Christ. Paul says that this is the reason many were sick and had even died prematurely. Again, we must recognize between the devil hating us and God loving us. Not every problem is from the Lord. If it is part of God's discipline, we will know what the issue is all about.
Severe
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3:19)
Jesus says it is towards those He loves that a rebuke is aimed. This is when nothing else seems to work and the Lord has to spell it out for us.
More severe
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Rev 2)
This is the most severe dealing of God with believers on this earth.
Ultimate
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:21)
This is the most severe dealing of God with His children in the next life, the suffering of loss of rewards (1 Cor 3:15) and the loss of a place in the future 1,000 year Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
What if I experience none of this? Does that mean that I am right with God? It might mean you do not belong to Him at all because every child of His receives correction.
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Heb 12:8)
Only His children and all His children are disciplined. All others suffer punishment, not correction.
Would it not be best to take the correction of the Word? If I see that I hold to an improper understanding of something, I jettison my opinion and begin to embrace what God says. Done. No suffering required.
God does not curse His children or cast them away. However, His correction can seem like it is too much. He is really serious when He says he wants us to (willingly) become like Christ in our walk (Gal 4:19). We cannot do that unless He first would welcome us inside the Door of Christ.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)
Jan. 5, 2024