(THIS WEEK: Control.)
How can “control” be a portal to heaven? After all, it’s the most frequently-leveled accusation at someone who is “over” us or thinks they are. Is it possible that it is one of God’s clearest manifestations of love?
We use the term in a negative manner most of the times to describe parents, spouses, educators, politicians, police and a host of others who have governed us in one way or another.
But let something get “out of control,” and we’ll be dissing someone’s disorganization and calling our attorney to sue for every last cent.
How did such a positive trait like control get such a bad rap?
On one side, it’s the ever-increasing nature of rebellion in a world, well, out of control. Authority figures have always been given a hard time by those under them. Just ask God about Adam and Eve or Moses about the stubborn Israelites.
On the other side, we have oppressive totalitarian leaders. There are also trusted religious figures who place ungodly yokes on their flocks and even take advantage of them. We see parents who don’t let go of their “babies” at the tender age of 30, 40 or 50. Responsibility can turn into unhealthy control.
This gives even the compliant a good excuse to look at their authorities with suspicion for it’s in human nature to rebel and look for controlling characteristics to justify our insubordination.
Is it possible that our desire to control and not be controlled is at the root of us calling everyone else “controlling?”
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: Actively looking for godly control in our lives is actually one of the easiest ways to see how God cares for us. One glance up and we stars in perfect order and observe that planes that don’t fall out of the sky. From within those same aircrafts, we can look down on thousands of cars efficiently and safely moving during rush hour because traffic engineers know something about control.
There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be…disobedient to their parents…When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan… Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people…Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?…He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever…He will quiet you with His love…Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… He makes me lie down in green pastures…He leads me beside quiet waters…He guides me…your rod and staff, they comfort me.
2 Timothy 3:1 (NIV), Proverbs 29:2 (NASB), Proverbs 28:15 (NASB), Ezekiel 34:2 (NIV), Psalm 104:5 (NASB), Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV), Ephesians 5:25 (ESV), Psalm 23 (NIV)