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God is described in Scripture as having all knowledge (Omniscient) (Psalm 136:1-6,16; Psalm 147:4-5; Isaiah 46:9-10; 1 John 3:20; etc.), having all power (Omnipotent) (Matthew 19:26; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 7:11-12; Revelation 19:6; Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 32:17,27; Job 37:23; Daniel 4:35; etc.), and having all authority (Sovereign) (Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 16:9; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 42:2; Psalm 103:19; Psalm 135:6; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 9:21; Lamentations 3:37; Proverbs 16:33; etc.). If you were paying attention to the texts I cited in each case here, you'll find that they often interconnect. Why? Because His Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Sovereignty are all interlinked.

Does God know? We have to ask that question. Does He know? Or is His knowledge partial like ours? If it is in any way incomplete, there is margin for error. Does He know ... everything? When we say that He is Omniscient, we are saying He knows everything. No exceptions.

Can He act? Does have the ability to perform what He wills? Or is His power limited like ours? It is true that there are things that God cannot do -- lie, sin, die, that sort of thing -- but there is nothing that He wills to do that He lacks the power to accomplish. That's Omnipotence. He has all power for all things.

So, He knows perfectly. That's good to know. And He has all power. That's a relief. Still, having all knowledge and all power doesn't necessarily mean He has the authority to act on that perfect knowledge with His perfect power. He has to be authorized. Is He authorized? Does He have permission to act? Here we come up against His Sovereignty. Scripture says He is the "only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords." (1 Timothy 6:15) Not only is He a Sovereign; He is the only Sovereign. He works all things after the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11). He is indeed the highest authority there is (Matthew 28:18). No doubt about it.

God, then, has perfect knowledge, absolute power, and the highest authority on which to exercise Omniscience and Omnipotence. Where does that leave us? It means that your troubles today are in His hands. It means that, as a Good God, He wills to accomplish good and will accomplish good. It means that all that you are going through, enduring, or could suffer is limited by His Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Sovereignty so that nothing other than what He wills for you can happen to you and that all that happens to you He wills and manages. Not too much; not too little. And always for good.

I recently spoke to a loved one in pain who asked, "What if God wants me to go through this for the next 40 years?" Reasonable question. You need to first establish the above. Does God know? Can He act? Does He have the authority to do so? If you answer "Yes" to these, you are left with only two questions. First, if God knows that enduring this "for the next 40 years" or the next 40 seconds is not in your best interests, will He allow it to continue? The second question is equally important. If He knows that what you are enduring is in your best interest, will you cooperate with Him?

It all boils down to which God you believe in -- one who submits to your ideas of good and bad or the one who is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Sovereign. I'm sure you know that only one of those is the real God.

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

I See Dead People (Updated Version)