“ . . . declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” ( Isaiah 46:10 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not `yet' done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; )

The word “sovereignty” (like the word “Trinity”) does not occur in the Bible. We use it to refer to this truth: God is in ultimate control of the world from the largest international intrigue to the smallest bird-fall in the forest.

Here is how the Bible puts it: “I am God, and there is no other. . . . ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” ( Isaiah 46:9 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; `I am' God, and there is none like me; –10). And: “[God] does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” ( Daniel 4:35 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? ). And: “He is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me” ( Job 23:13 13 But he is in one `mind', and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. –14). And: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” ( Psalms 115:3 3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he pleased. ).

One reason this doctrine is so precious to believers is that we know that God’s great desire is to show mercy and kindness to those who trust him ( Ephesians 2:7 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: ; Psalms 37:3 3 Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on `his' faithfulness. –7; Proverbs 29:25 25 The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe. ). God’s sovereignty means that this design for us cannot be frustrated. It cannot fail.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, befalls those “who love God” and “are called according to his purpose” but what is for our deepest and highest and longest good ( Romans 8:28 28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, `even' to them that are called according to `his' purpose. ; Psalms 84:11 11 For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. ).

This is why I like to say that the mercy and the sovereignty of God are the twin pillars of my life. They are the hope of my future, the energy of my service, the center of my theology, the bond of my marriage, the best medicine in all my sicknesses, the remedy of all my discouragements.

And when I come to die (whether sooner or later), these two truths will stand by my bed, and with infinitely strong and infinitely tender hands lift me up to God.