We Can Count On God's Power

The headlines shout it out loud and clear: "Power Shortage."

Winter has been brutal. We're experiencing a shortage of natural gas, propane; have maxed-out electric grids; government regulations limiting our access to coal; and wind and solar add little to our energy needs. Without power, everything shuts down. No electricity. No heat. We're left shivering in the cold. Seems as if all the sources of power that we depend on are not dependable.

I know of only one source of power that we can depend on -- the power of God. God promises us a never-ending supply of power -- we can count on it.

God is All-Powerful! Omnipotent! Mighty! Strong! God alone is the source of all power.

God has creative power. God gives life to the lifeless. God created hundreds of galaxies; we've only recently "discovered" 715 new planets. God gives us access to nuclear, gas, oil, coal, wind and solar, and hydroelectric power. How we use/abuse the power sources God gives us is up to us. Only God has the power to create life itself.

Every baby that is born in the world is a testimony to His creative power. Every seed that is planted in the soil and grows as it was designed reveals God's creative power. We cannot create life -- we can replicate life. We can rearrange life. Only God can create life.

God has redemptive power. We have sold our souls to Satan; we are his slaves. Only God has the power, and the desire, to buy us back/redeem us and break the power that Satan has over us. Only God can renew/repair a life damaged by sin. God's power lies in His love and mercy: God loves us so much that he sacrificed Himself on the cross to redeem us from the power of sin and death. God alone is powerful enough to turn sin into righteousness, to bring law and order out of chaos and confusion, to change darkness into light, to bring life out of death, to turn disobedience into loyalty, and to change rebellion into divine love. God only has the power to create and to redeem.

It was on the news: "Due to a massive winter storm, thousands have lost power." Tragic. Deadly. What is more tragic and deadly is the fact that millions of people have lost touch with, have become disconnected from the true source of power -- the Lord God Almighty. And because people are powerless, many have sought to generate their own power.

Money has great power. Businesses use money to buy out the competition or to run them out of business. Communities are lured and changed by the promise of much money, from casinos and from legalizing a dangerous drug. Individuals are influenced by money; millions play the Lottery in hopes of solving all their problems. Plus, they say that every one of us can be bought, so, what's your price tag?

Position is power. People in every walk of life are using their position, office or title to gain control over the people around them. Government officials are using their position to harass and destroy any one who will not side with them. "Experts" in education are using their titles to make sure that every student fits into their predestined mold. Even dissidents in the church are resorting to force and threats to get what they could not get through majority rule. People are using brute force to control those around them, bullying, verbal abuse, physical threats and violence. ALL these human-generated sources of power are limited, destructive, and ungodly. Compared to God's power, all human power is like a single grain of sand on a mile-long beach!

Finally, when we stand before the Omnipotent God on that day of judgment, we will have no money, no position or title, no expert opinions, no good words or deeds to show. We will be powerless. All we can say is this: "Lord God Almighty, have mercy on me, a sinner!"

God is Power. Omnipotent. Mighty. Strong. God is the source of all other power. God, because He is generous and gracious and loves us much, offers us all the power we need to live as He designed us to live. We can count on God's power.

Dr. Don Kuehle is a retired United Methodist minister who lives in Jackson. Opinions expressed are those of the author.