“The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice” (Psalms 97:1)

While it’s understandable that saints feel unwelcome on Earth, the Lord is still ultimately in control of what happens here. The Apostle Paul rightly called Satan the god of this world, but Satan can only do what God allows.

If God didn’t restrain Satan and his slaves, you can be sure, there would be much more evil in the world. God blesses every living thing with common grace. “The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalms 145:9). “He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:16). “‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’” (Ezekiel 18:23).

In Hell, evil spirits are owned by Satan, but when God allows them to roam the Earth, they can only do what God allows. Most of the rulers of Earth are also owned by Satan, but  rulers who belong to Satan ultimately do God’s will. To paraphrase Christ, “Leaders can do nothing against saints unless God give them permission” (John 19:11).

That’s why The Apostle Paul told saints, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake … For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-17).

The Lord controls the wicked just as He controls every natural disaster. The same God who knows when a sparrow dies, knows when you suffer persecution. Of course, when God’s law conflicts with man’s law, you must say with the Apostle Peter, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:23).

“For this life's long night of sadness He will give us peace and gladness. Soul, remember, in thy pains, God o'er all for ever reigns”.