From the very beginning, God has granted mankind the privilege of choice, to follow His word as the only path to an eternal relationship of absolute trust. God's sovereign authority ensures that His perfect plan to create mankind in His image and likeness moves forward, even amidst human choices that contravene His word. He works all things out for the best, beyond the limited thinking of men, demonstrating His control over all circumstances, no matter what He allows. God expects us to make right choices in a world steeped in wrong ones, calling the weakest to confound the mighty. His authority remains paramount, ensuring that everything aligns with His purpose, even as men make costly decisions out of line with His truth. He raises up whom He wishes and lowers whom He wishes, never contradicting His law, which remains consistent yesterday, today, and forever. Even when men act from their own minds, influenced by the spirit of this world and pride, God uses those circumstances to advance His plan. During these divisive times, as we prepare for the return of Jesus Christ, God's sovereign authority stands firm. He will not allow His word to be contradicted, yet He utilizes human actions to keep His perfect plan progressing. We are called to humbly recognize our privileged responsibility under His authority, preparing to serve without ever contravening His laws or way of life. God's clear instructions warn of the painful consequences of removing ourselves from His divine authority, emphasizing the need to stay focused on living the truth of His word. Our citizenship lies in the kingdom of God, not in the societies built on choices apart from His word. God has placed us within this world to learn through fiery trials, ensuring we do not get consumed by what seems righteous but originates from human minds rather than His truth. His sovereignty demands that we make choices aligned with His word, steering clear of worldly divisions that began with disobedience in the garden. As we prepare to be Christ's perfected helpmate, we must live by every word of God, acknowledging Him as King, and follow the King of kings in all our decisions.

God's authority is paramount, as seen in the persistent disobedience of Israel when they strayed from His commands. In the wilderness and even in the promised land, the people often did what was right in their own eyes, ignoring the peace and rest that comes from obeying His voice. This disobedience led to depravity, suffering, and warfare, as they lost sight of God as their true King. His sovereignty is evident in raising judges to guide Israel back to righteousness, though they repeatedly fell away without remembering and memorializing the truth of His word. The ultimate expression of His authority is embodied in the King of Peace, who refreshed Abram with bread and wine, blessing him as the possessor of heaven and earth. This King of Peace, who assures courage and provides unity, continues to offer peace through a shared meal, symbolizing a profound connection with the Father, the Son, and one another.

God's authority stands as the foundation of true worship, distinct from human tradition. He determines how He is to be worshiped, and good intentions alone are never sufficient. As Jesus Christ declared in Luke 6:46, "But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?" This highlights the disconnect between calling Him Lord and failing to obey His commands. Scripture reveals that worship foreign to God's instructions, even if sincere, is unauthorized and strange to Him, as seen in Leviticus 10:1 with Nadab and Abihu, who offered profane fire not commanded by the Lord and faced severe consequences. God's clear instructions in Deuteronomy 12:31-32 emphasize His authority: "You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way... Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it. You shall not add to it nor take away from it." He establishes one law and one way of worship for all, as stated in Exodus 12:49, "One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you." Obedience to His commandments is the expression of love for Him, as affirmed in 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." Throughout history, human traditions have replaced God's authority, blending foreign customs into worship and redefining obedience, which Scripture calls strange and abominable. Deuteronomy 12:30 warns against adopting the ways of other nations in worshiping Him, yet such blending has occurred, creating systems unrecognizable to God. His call in Revelation 18:4, "Come out of her, My people," urges a return to His designed system of worship, walking the path of Jesus Christ, Abraham, Moses, and the apostles. True faith submits to God's authority, not to human tradition. Everything must be scrutinized by His word, living a life fully obedient and worshiping according to His terms. This is not a one-time choice but a daily commitment to His will, resisting the pull of nostalgia or cultural trappings that draw away from Him. God calls for a life dedicated to truth, under the authority of His pure, whole word.