Thoughts About The "Little Things"

Today a thought about God's sovereignty.

In "Apollo 13," scene 8, there is a moment in which the main capsule's power is shut down and the men are moved to the LEM. Their lives were now controlled, to a degree, by the good folks in Houston. These three are powerless, literally, to do anything about their immediate circumstances.

This reminds me of a point I read the other day with my son, from the shorter catechism, about the tension many feel when thinking about God's control over ALL creation. This includes the "over-all" picture, and encompasses the "small things" as well as the "big" things of life.

"In other words, the 'big' things really depend on the 'little' things. If the little things are not under control, the big things cannot be either."

The objections to this doctrine, including the argument that this means men are but pawns on the chessboard, or are reduced to helpless robots, were answered simply:

We know from the Bible that we are responsible. We know from the same Bible that God does control us, so that He also determines what we do. So we accept this teaching because it is the teaching of the Bible, and not because we can explain it.

Application: Today I want to practice "powering down," as the astronauts did in the movie...let go of any sense that I am in control of my life, and place my day in God's hands, into His control. I desire to acknowledge His sovereignty in all of life, including the small things, and let Him work as He sees fit in our lives.

~~~~~

For your reference, here's the point from the catechism:

Q.11. What are God's works of providence?
A. God's works of providence are, his most holy,(a) wise,(b) and powerful (c) preserving (d) and governing (e) all his creatures, and all their actions.(f)

(a) Ps. 145:17
(b) Ps. 104:24
(c) Heb. 1:3
(d) Neh. 9:6
(e) Eph. 1:19-22
(f) Ps. 36:6; Prov. 16:33; Matt. 10:30