Friends,
Have you ever felt powerless in a situation, maybe in most of your life? Ever felt like you have no control over what is happening around you, that you are just bouncing from obligation to obligation?
I was thinking about how much (or little) I let the Bible control my life and my decisions. So then I got to thinking about how many things in our life are controlled by outside influences. I only drive 35 mph (right!?) thru Big Island because that is the speed limit. I (or Annie) is outside by 7:45 because that’s when the bus is coming. I am outside by 3:20 because that’s when the bus is coming. If it’s windy/rainy/etc. and our satellite tv goes out, we just wait…no control over that.
I paid $1.859 for gas the other day because that was the price. When a stoplight is red or I come to a stop sign, I stop. Haven’t done our taxes yet (but I will Annie!), but I won’t be calling the IRS to try to renegotiate a new tax rate. When I park, I try to fit my truck between the white lines.
I could go on, but think about all of these things that you have no control over. They guide your life, and if you want to be a law-abiding citizen, you follow them. What would happen if a speed limit sign said “Whatever” or gas stations charged “What you feel is right?” How about the IRS accepting whatever I pay them, or people parking wherever they want?
Perhaps we have so little control of our life and surroundings that we guard so preciously anything we can control? And sometimes this flows into our moral decisions. We want so badly to be happy, to feel like we have control over something in our lives, that we will sacrifice what we know (or think) to be wrong in order to just be happy or content in our lives, just to keep a little control over our world.
I believe in the Bible. I believe the Word of God is designed in part to be a guidebook upon my life, to direct my words, thoughts, and actions. But do I always let it do that? What if I feel it is taking control over my life? And yet, that is exactly what it should do! Let me ask those of you who profess to be Christians…how much of your life (words, thoughts, deeds) is guided by Holy Scripture? The book of Judges finishes this way, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (21:25 NIV) Could that describe you in some areas of your life? Or, put another way…how much of your life does the Bible control?
But let me go a step further…for those that might read this that do not believe in the Bible as the guiding Word of God…what does guide your life? How do you decide what rules to follow and apply to your life? What is your compass in life? Do you have one, or do you just do as you see fit?
Blessings
Pastor Bryon
