A couple of weeks ago I put an amazing article of technology on Jake’s jeep. To his great dismay, wailing and gnashing of teeth – I connected a little thing called HUM. This amazing contraption gives me his exact location, speed and alerts me to reckless driving (strong braking and so forth). Isn’t that brilliant?
I am so (heavy emphasis on SO) glad my parents had nothing remotely like this when I was 16!
As a parent, I want to control the circumstances around my son’s driving. I desire to protect him…even when I’m not around. I feel like it’s an extra level of safety and a defense from the things I can’t possibly control.
And there’s the word: CONTROL
Let’s just be real honest here; we are control freaks. We live under this veiled assumption that we have dominion over our lives. We like to believe we control the circumstances surrounding us by the way we interact with it. By pure influence, tactical reasoning, situational response and stealth we can control our footing or position in this ever changing world.
We say we believe God’s sovereignty and lean towards faith. But just in case God falls asleep or forbid it that His will is different from ours, we place a tracking devise to make sure He’s headed where we want to go!
“Lord bless me and my family” (as long as you give me the salary, retirement account, the house and boat I want).
“Lord, show me your ways” (as long as I don’t have to compromise my comfort).
“Lord, win our community for Christ and His Kingdom” (as long as I don’t have to engage in awkward hallway conversations about you).
“Lord bless our church” (as long as that preacher gives me my kind of sermon, my kids think it’s hip, and the music doesn’t lull me to sleep).
A really hard and often uncomfortable truth for me is this: I control absolutely nothing except the choices I make. My very heartbeat is subject to the quantity of days given by God before it’s first beat. My only control: the choice for whom it beats! This world and all it’s charms or His pleasure.
Jesus asks us this question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46
So I sit here looking at this HUM app on my phone. I’m checking to make sure my son is safely where he’s suppose to be. Just information really. Not that I can do anything about it. But it makes me feel better. I’m in control.
All the time the Spirit is whispering: “he’s not yours, he’s mine. I love him more than you ever will and I will send my angels to protect him. His righteousness is my work. His obedience is my work. Don’t call me Lord and not trust one of your greatest worldly possessions to me. I am shaping His heart for those things that are eternal.”
My choice is in the Lordship of Christ. He really is Lord! Over it all…every little bit of it! It’s actually true. And it’s worthy of your deepest surrender and choice too! As only a faithful father can, He is shaping you for the eternal.
I am a control freak and my patience is about as much as you can stuff in a thimble. I have prayed many prayers for help with this because the patience part sometimes goes to the point of losing my temper control, so there again is the control issue. I can say that I am not where I need to be but I am not where I used to be. Thank God, I am still a work in process.
Thank you, Jeff, it’s good to know that I am not in this boat alone. See you Sunday!