Books authored by Dr. James Dyet. Purchase on JamesDyet.com

Saturday, April 9, 2011

If the Government Shuts Down

The Government didn’t shut down, but it might have, and shutting it down is still a possibility. The crisis has generated sharp debate and strong sentiment. Some think a government shutdown would be tragic; others think it would be a good thing.

Has anyone speculated what would happen if God shut down His governmental control of the universe? If He withdrew His providential care of our world for even a second, chaos would ensue faster than the blink of an eye. Life would end abruptly for all human beings, animals, birds, fish, and plants. Molecules would explode. Space, time, and energy would cease.

Acts 17:25 states that God “gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Verse 28 tells us that “in him we live and move and have our being.” Colossians 1:17 points out that all things hold together in Christ, the Son of God.”

If our representatives turn out the lights in the Capitol, it won’t be the end of the world, but if God were to turn out the lights of our universe, the resulting disaster would defy description. Fortunately, our God maintains constant vigil and control. Psalm 121 assures us, “He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (verses 3, 4).