Who is in Control?

I started my day with some morning exercises. I then had lunch with Pastor Steve at “Doug’s Day Dinner.” This place would have to qualify for the show “Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins” on the food network. They have the biggest and best biscuits known to mankind, with homemade jelly. I should have had one for desert instead of an appetizer.

I returned home and received a visit from my friend from Lakewood, David Warren. David was up visiting family in Fort Collins and stopped by the check up on me. Since his visits are not all that often he is able to see my gradual progress to recovery. I hope to soon return to Lakewood and join one of the breakfast groups that I attended on a regular basis.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god….Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”” Isaiah 44:6,8

This afternoon I was visiting with my friend David Warren about how much has changed over the years. This was related to travel, lifestyles, the way business was conducted. However, what is of interest is how little human nature has changed over the years. The way it is manifested has changed but the heart of the issue remains the same.

For example, idolatry doesn’t appear to be the issue it was in the Old Testament. But on closer examination we see people putting many things in the place of God and we see many attempts for people to exert their own power and their own desires. Idolatry was an attempt to summon spiritual powers of so called “gods” to work in behalf of human causes. That is why we read, (sometimes scratching our head), that God would bring a King victory over an enemy and the King of Israel would  bring that nations god back to Jerusalem and bow down to it! They thought, “I captured this god, it now belongs to me!”

Isaiah declared, “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit.” (Isaiah 44:12) He goes on to describe the process that should make any thinking person sit up and take notice. The craftsman takes a piece of wood,  “half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” (Isaiah 44:16,17)

Today we see people reject relationship with Christ and turn to philosophies and belief systems that don’t make any more sense than “bowing before a block of wood” expecting blessing and direction in life.

That is why God’s ways and the message of Jesus is hard for people to accept. “Submit to God” is easy to say but I would really rather be in control and have God submit to me. Humble yourself, deny yourself, take up your cross. No thanks, I think I will worship this rock or piece of wood. That is what makes sense to me!? I find it of interest that the pagan gods of the Canaanites required people to sacrifice their sons for them, but the God of heaven was willing to sacrifice His son for us.

Jesus said to His disciples one day, “you can’t serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24) The reality is you can’t serve God and anything else. In your life God is in control or you are in control. You can’t have it both ways. Yet we find our lives in losing our lives. We find our purpose, in surrendering to God’s will.

What you will find today is what Isaiah declared about God thousands of years ago, There is no [except  God] Rock; I know not any.