Is God the Godfather?

A common belief in Christianity is that God allows the devil to "attack" us.   Let me say it in a way that will make you think twice.  Some believe that God allows evil to overtake us.  Did I just say this right?  Yep.  Some believe that God is somewhat like the Italian mobster character, "The Godfather".  Do you believe this or not?  I know you are thinking I am nuts.  So, if you don't believe what I am saying, then stop saying that God gives the devil permission to kill, steal, and destroy.  


In a sense those who say God is Sovereign and that He allows all things, good or bad are saying that God is the leader of the mafia.  I know, I'm still trying to understand why Christians believe this perverse thinking.  Actually, I had believed this also. 


In this doctrinal belief, it is common for people to say in a not so clear way, that God allows babies to die; good and bad people to be struck with illness and disease; for people to die in car accidents.  Wait....I thought God is Love and He is good so why is he acting like the Godfather?  Why is He sending His hit man the devil out to get us?  I am still searching for answers, but it just doesn't make sense that a Good God can be the hit man.  I don't believe it!!  Not one little bit.  


I challenge all of you who call on the name of the Lord, to come before Him and ask questions.  Ask Him to show you truths.  Here are some truths He has revealed to me:  


Jesus clearly says in John 10:10

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

So why are we saying that God allowed these awful tragedies or sickness to come upon us or our loved ones.  We are quick to blame God with most of our biblical basis coming out of the Old Testament especially in the Book of Job.  We bring Job into the picture and say that God allowed these things to happen.  It says in Job 1:12...

¹² And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” 
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Before Jesus came to die for our sins, the devil had great liberty to wreak havoc and accuse those before the throne room of God.  It says that Satan, the devil is the accuser of the brethren...Revelation 12:10 says:

 ¹⁰And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Psalm 74:10-12

 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
         Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
 ¹¹ Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
         Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
 ¹² For God is my King from of old,
         Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Today, he still does try to accuse the brethren day and night.  Satan is still looking to see whom He can devour.  Those who believe and trust in Christ are covered by the blood and shouldn't even be touched by Satan.  So then why do some of our Christian brothers and sisters still suffer tragedies and sickness. And I am not talking about persecution here....There is a difference between suffering for the cross and getting a sickness or being killed in a car accident.  The sickness and accident cannot be of God.  Why would God want to take a person who is doing good for the kingdom, strike them down and kill them off?  Or how can a person who has suffered an illness be any good in the kingdom of God?  They are sitting at home sick and useless.  

Please understand my questioning.  I am not attacking a sick brother or sister saying they are useless.  But, I am saying that those who say they have a sickness because God allowed it are plain wrong.  Or saying that God has allowed this to happen to teach a lesson or there is a purpose to this tragedy.  I don't believe it!

When we open the door to sin in our lives be it anger, strife, adulteries, gossips, any sin etc... and even fear (yes fear is the opposite of faith).  We are allowing Satan, not God, to cause havoc in our lives.  When we are not dwelling in the presence of the Lord or putting Him first in our lives, then we are allowing Satan to come in and take over.  It says in Ephesians 6:10-13...

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

It clearly says that we wrestle with the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Satan is looking for who has opened the door because he rules in darkness.  When we live in darkness and allow sins to take over our lives whether we are aware of them or not, Satan will come in and try to kill, steal and destroy.  Jesus says in His prayer to the Father in John 17:14-16...

⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

Jesus asks the Father to keep us from the evil one or in other translations it says  "keep us from evil". 

When we dwell in the secret place of the most High we are sheltered from the wiles of Satan.  Yes, we still live in a fallen world and not free from his attacks but when we are close to the Lord, we then sin less which gives satan no power over our lives.  I know it can be difficult to keep from sinning at times.  There are many times we can loose our temper or maybe even bad mouth a neighbor but we need to be sensitive to hear Holy Spirit's conviction in our hearts so we are quick to repent and not give Satan a foothold.  It says in Luke 12:58

When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Since Satan is the accuser of the brethren, he is quick to run with judgement and condemnation, first speaking his lies in our thoughts and then to the throne room.  Before Satan steps foot before God, we need to settle whatever he is bringing against us.  Settle it in your heart and do not take thought of his lies.  Know what Jesus has done for us and know we are clean before God.  Realize the power of forgiveness and His blood.  Jesus is our mediator.  He is standing in between the Father and us as a peacemaker or similiar to a lawyer, defending us!  

1 Timothy 2:5

  For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus

I am so thankful today for the Blood of Christ and what He did on the cross those 2000 years ago.  We have Him standing for us and not against us.  Praise the Lord. 

If you have never come forth and asked the Lord to reveal His goodness to you, I encourage you to be a person who asks many question and seek out the answers because He does want to reveal His goodness to you today!

Free in Christ