God Is In Control, So Why Do I Think I Have To Be?

It’s been almost two years since my wife and I brought home our Boxer/Ridgeback mix. He has been a delight for us in many ways. However, it did not take us long to discover that the shelter from whence he came did not disclose all that we should have known before getting this dog. In particular, Jack has separation anxiety that has resulted in chewed auto seatbelts, broken window screens and broken window frames and much more. His behavior is fine when he is in our presence. In fact, people who have seen him with us remark how well behaved he is, but when he is left alone he is an altogether different animal.

Early on during our adventure with this new dog, we took Jack to a trainer, looking for advice as to what we could do to manage his anxiety. The answers we received had to do with control and domination. Jack is trying to control and dominate his environment.When we are out of sight a large part of his environment (us) is out of his ability to control. Consequently, he gets anxious and does what he can to escape the situation. He wants to be with us so he seeks to break out of our house even though he has no idea where we are. In fact when successful in his escape attempts he has awaited our return on our front porch knowing nothing else to do. Anything that seems to be between him and escaping his situation is subject to destruction, hence torn shredded curtains, chewed leashes, and mangled dog crates.The problem, according to the trainer is for Jack has not learned that we are in control and that he does not have to be. The goal is for him to develop trust to the degree that even when we are out of his sight or not physically present he senses that we are in control. In other words, according to the trainer we need to train Jack to “keep it simple”, that is, he doesn't have to sweat things, because we have them covered. We are in control, so he doesn't have to be. He can simply relax and do what we tell him.

Now I could go on with a full description of leash and crate training and the recognition of doggy behavior that are signs of domination and the correction of those things, but this is not meant to be a blog about dog relationships but one about our relationship to God. There is a parallel thought here. As Jack tries in his way to control and dominate his environment, so we try to control and dominate our environment. Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that God is God. He is in control; we are not. The truth of this verse is so central to the Christian walk. As written elsewhere in these blogs, the fall of man came when Adam and Eve, as described in Genesis 3:6, accepted the offer to be their own God. Each of us have been doing the same ever since. Domination and manipulation is the rule of the day and it extends to circumstances, other human beings and even God Himself. We want, we seek, ultimate control and are frustrated and often fall into despair when we don’t get it. The solution is to recognize that God is God and to accept His authority over all things, including ourselves. Only then can we find deliverance from our self destructive attempt to be our own God. Salvation and restoration comes when we submit to God by receiving His Son.

Recently when discussing this with a brother in Christ, my friend had some objection to the emphasis I was making linking salvation to receiving Jesus. His very valid point was that all is needed for salvation is belief in Jesus Christ (faith alone). However, it is very important for us to define what belief is according to biblical terms. Accordingly is it enough to believe He is God? No, The demons believe there is one God and they tremble (James 2:19). Saving faith not only recognizes the existence of God but His authority as well. It includes receiving God into our lives. To some, however, there seems to be a resistance to this receiving for salvation on the grounds of a misconceived notion of Lordship salvation. Receiving is falsely seen as a work while believing is simply saving faith.

 So then what separates the belief of saving faith from the belief of demons? One is the acceptance of life changing truth while the other is mere acknowledgment of that truth. John 1:12 states it clearly when it says that when we receive Jesus we have the power or authority to become the sons of God even to them that believe in His name. Life changing belief and receiving are inseparable. One does not exist without the other. Receiving God's Son is indeed an action but one that comes directly out of our belief that He is God and has done what we cannot do in providing the means of salvation for us.

Consider this, if I believe in something but never act on it, have I really believed? If I believe a chair will hold me but never sit on it do I really believe in the safety of  that chair? If I say I believe in Jesus, but never receive Him into my life, do I believe any more than the one who won’t trust the chair but continues to stand until he drops? Receiving is believing that God is God and I am not. Receiving is believing that Jesus is not only God but that He is my God.

When I received the Lord Jesus Christ into my life through belief in Him the door to the truth of Psalm 46:10,  “Be still and know that I am God.” was opened. I came in belief, but I now I grow as I learn to continually yield control. When I learn to be still, ceasing from my own efforts to control my circumstances and allow God to be God in my life, I receive all that comes in knowing, and having a relationship with, Him, This includes having peace and joy that I can never obtain on my own. The burden of trying to maintain control over an uncontrollable world is lifted when I trust in my loving Father Who is in control. Salvation came when I believed in the living Lord Jesus Christ by receiving Him. But growth continues as I yield to His reign in my life by ceasing my attempts to control my circumstances by my own might, recognizing He is in control even when I don’t perceive His presence. 

The Greatest Gifts

Christmas has just passed for this year, and one of my greatest joys of the season is to be present on Christmas morning as my grandchildren tear into their long awaited gifts, full of excitement. Wrapping paper is flying, having been torn to shreds to expose the precious prized possessions it had once hidden. Then, as each gift has been revealed and a brief time of obligated display of appreciation given, it’s on to the revelation of the next gift until the once voluminous supply under the tree has been exhausted. It’s certainly a time of excitement as the event moves on to the next stage which is our grandchildren playing with and otherwise making use of their new things. As the excitement diminishes favorite treasures emerge and other items are set aside. After all there is just so much time with so many new things to experience that, there is naturally an unplanned prioritizing that takes place.

As I reflect after many such Christmases dating back to when my own family was young I have noticed that it is some of these items which are first set aside that later emerge as the most cherished life time treasures. As the children have experience with their new possessions they soon learn to appreciate some more than others.  It is fascinating to me that things that at first are not attractive at first blush become increasingly appealing as time passes and things that are initially very appealing fade in value.

As I continue my reflection on Christmases past, I consider the gifts that God has given to his children when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord. As babes in Christ we desire the best God has to offer and much as a child during the Christmas season, we make our list of things we most desire from our heavenly Father. And very much like a child at Christmas, we are initially attracted to certain things on which we place high value, and in effect we set other gifts aside.  Usually it is only through a life time of experience do we see the relevance of what proves to be the most essential gifts of God’s grace so freely offered to us. Unlike the child at Christmas who knows a particular gift is there, but has merely set it aside for future consideration, we are often completely unaware of the existence of some of the most precious gifts God has bestowed upon us.

However, it is these gifts so often overlooked by us that are the most essential to our daily walk. Paul’s letters to the believers in Corinth are an interesting study in this. These Christians desired the very visible spectacular gifts that come with great emotion. But Paul warned that God’s gifts are not given merely to build up the individual. Rather, Paul tells the Corinthians, desire the gifts that foster edification in others. In illustration of this, he redirects his readers from the most popular spiritual gifts to a detailed discussion about the gift of love. In his letter to the believers in Galatia, Paul doesn't even mention the popular gifts at all, but encourages believers to evidence the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. This fruit of the Spirit is nothing less than the gifts the Spirit brings to enable us to live our lives effectively. It is a very unfortunate matter that we so often ignore that God has given us these gifts of His grace in our pursuit of other things. Too often do we petition God to give us what we think will make us more successful in our daily walk, when He has already given us these things which we have set aside.

Accordingly, we suffer defeat in our daily walk when we overlook these gifts. Anger, resentment and bitterness overtake us when we fail to trust God for and to walk in His love. Dejection, anguish and depression follow when we fail to walk in God’s joy. Fears overwhelm when we don’t claim His peace. 

And so it continues even into the confines within the walls of our churches, where we see tension and unrest between believers. Why is this so when God has given us the keys for victory rather than defeat? James wrote the equivalent of that very question in James 4:1 which says “From where come wars and fightings among you? come they not from here, even of your lusts that war in your members?” But note here the reason for our failings given. James says it is our lust which is our inner selfish desires which run in contrast to the gifts of grace God gives to us. We will not desire, nor make use of the gifts God gives us for victory as long as our lives center around ourselves rather than our loving Savior. Once again we see the basic truth given in Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. It is God’s voice that calls to us, “Be still”. It is by surrendering our hearts, our longings and desires to the One who sent His Son to take our sins at Calvary that we can know the stillness He speaks of. And in this stillness we can perceive the gifts of grace He has given to us so that we can experience His presence and His victory.