A while a back I had to replace the microwave over the stove in our house here on the campus of The KEY Ministries Center. After the installation, as I was skimming through the Owner’s Manual, I saw something in the warranty section that surprised me. Under the heading “What it not is Covered,” I found this disclaimer: “Damage to product caused by accident, fire, floods or ACTS OF GOD.”

“What?” I thought, “With so many folks upset when someone suggests that Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti might be a judgment or act of God?”

“Acts of God?”

Why not, “Acts of Satan (or the Devil”) or maybe, more appropriately, “Acts of Mother Nature?”

Who’s to blame here? Who’s really in charge of all this creation anyway?

I sure hope God does not get upset with our microwave. It will be history if He does, and GE will not replace it if this is the case. But how can I prove that?

Please, tell me what you consider to be an act of God. I know insurance companies use this same disclaimer all the time. Maybe we should have them make themselves clearer about what they believe to be an act of God.

In spite of what many believe, there are no so such things as random acts or coincidences. What kind of life would that be believing we are simply victims of fate or circumstances? We must believe there is some intelligence beyond our understanding that rules and has authority over all this earth and universe. We have planets (including our own earth) spinning around and orbiting in this vast universe according to rules of discovered laws of physics discovered by man. Who really established these laws? So if you are a “tree hugger,” don’t blame God for anything—blame Mother Nature.

The question is: who has authority over all these things such as the earth and weather? Some entity must be responsible—obviously.

When Satan tempted Jesus during His fast of forty days in the wilderness, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Jesus did not deny his authority, but simply rebuked him because He knew the authority was his when it passed from Adam in the garden when disobeyed God’s Word and fell into death.

But there has been another transfer of authority over the earth. It was executed when Jesus gave His life on the cross. It was confirmed when He said to His disciples, “Behold, I give you authority .. over all the power of the enemy.” He also declared, “I hold the keys of death and the grave.” This, of course was after His death on the cross.

So who is really in control here? Well, if you don’t believe God’s Word, then who?

Actually, the authority over the earth was passed to Jesus, and then He passed it on to His disciples, the present day believers. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” of who?

Us, the overcomers on the earth.

Throughout history, God has rendered judgment on nations and cities because of their unbelief and sin. He always gave them space to repent and waited to see what they would do, but eventually the day came for a wake-up call. Nineveh repented when Jonah came and warned them, but, eventually, they fell back into their old ways and were destroyed. Jesus cried out over cities during His ministry and warned them of judgment. (see Matthew 11:21)

Nations and cities are accountable to God for their behavior. Just see what happened to Canaan.

Why should it be any different for Haiti or for New Orleans? What are we thinking? Has God changed? He says not in His Word to us.

Was the hurricane in New Orleans and the earthquake in Haiti an ACT OF GOD? Does God mean what He says when He declares that: “he earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein?” (Psalm 24:1) Who is really sovereign here?

You decide.

Steve