The Ever Inquisitive Panzino

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

“Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” John 19:11a (NKJV)

I never know the next thing this dude is ever gonna say. Some days it’s just a simple “Good Morning Chris” other days it could be “Have you ever heard about the benefits of Ashwagandha with Black Pepper Extract?” Now the “Good Morning” stuff is easy to reply to but when those second kinda questions get asked…well let’s just say that, even though I have no clue what Ashwagandha with Black Pepper Extract is (let alone its benefit), I’ll go “Yes”, then I’ll quickly sneak off, Google it and then try to come back to the conversation. However, as much as I may sound like I know what Ashwagandha with whatever is, I don’t think my friend, John, knows either. Guess that’s why he’s asking.

 

The one thing I have come to appreciate about John is our conversations about all things concerning Jesus Christ. Now, before you continue reading, yes, I am sure he’s saved, so these conversations aren’t about taking his hand and heading down the Romans Road. On the contrary, John will ask questions that lead me to sneak off, get my Bible outta my locker and reread a verse or chapter in order to answer him with God’s Word and not Goggle’s words.

 

One recent morning John asked about Gods actual participation in the evil that goes on in the world around us. It’s not like he accused God of being as crazy as, let’s say, Charles Mansion eating fruit loops on your front porch. Once again, on the contrary, he’s asking if God has some sorta role in things that go wrong for people. Basically, John gets that God is omnipotent, but still asks the “How can a good God allow evil things to take place” question. I thought a good place to start was the Book of Job, chapters 1&2, and suggested that John read them.

 

“Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8)

 

Ya know, as much as we can look back into Genesis 3 and see the folly of man being allowed to happen, Job is quite different. He already chooses to worship YHVH and makes intercession for his family as their priest. But Satan wants this tested and it would appear that YHVH does as well, because let’s face this fact, as much as the Devil could careless that mankind goes to hell is as much as he doesn’t want to see mankind make it to heaven either. So, Satan thinking himself a bit higher than he ought to challenge El Shaddai to this spiritual duel.

 

My point to John here was God used this whole situation in Job’s life to point out His omnipotence no matter what falls. From Job losing everything, his friends trying to convince him that he is paying his dues for some sin he committed, to him questioning God, to El Shaddai coming from the whirlwind and asking, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) And then restoring everything above and beyond to Job once he realizes that what he said to wife is very true. “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10b)

 

Then I’ll tell John there’s another moment in Biblical history where God shows Himself to be omnipotent. “What is truth?” asked Pilate. “I find no fault in Him!” shouts an obviously fed-up Pilate. “Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” asked an exhausted Pilate. But the answer doesn’t come from a whirlwind, it doesn’t have to. “You haven’t a shred of authority over Me except what has been given you from heaven.” replies Jesus. Pilate washes his hands of the whole thing and Satan loses the ultimate challenge.

 

What John and I conclude is no matter what the circumstance, El Shaddai is El Shaddai. We can go on living thinking God isn’t for us, do our best to try and not pay attention to lesson in the disasters that life brings but one way or another the hand of El Shaddai is on all things. We just have to be surrendered enough to open the eyes of our hearts to see it. The example of Job’s story is just one of many in the Bible.

 

Ultimately it will be the example of Jesus Christ that matters the most. Satan might have thought it gutsy to say to God, “skin for skin” but wasn’t that the plan from the beginning? When you think about it, reconciliation has always been the mission since The Fall. It would take an all-powerful God to see that through and sometimes that means an inquisitive mind must have a surrendered heart. Amen?

 

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a husband, a father, has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net

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Think About This: “The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence of God is that our imagination gets lost thinking about it.” — Blaise Pascal

The Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 4-7 | You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear -1 Peter 3:15

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.