Bumper stickers are interesting. Some are good, others make you wonder why they are even allowed in public places, and a few don't make any sense. They can also be misleading. I've seen a bumper sticker before that says "God is my co-pilot". At first glance, that seems pretty cool. We may even say "Wow. God is your co-pilot? Good for you!" But think for a second about what a co-pilot does. They're not the primary drivers. They get to be in control sometimes, but not all the time. That's not their job. They're second in command. So the sticker means that the person has decided to let God be second-in-command in their lives. It's really not that great to have God as our co-pilot.
But whether we realize it or not, we all like to be in control. There's something about the feeling of control that makes us feel good about ourselves. Even those of us who are laid back still like to have some degree of control. Have you ever met a control freak? They insist on having charge of things, because they feel more comfortable that way. If something unexpected happens, it seems to drive some folks crazy. I've seen this in my own life, and it was over something silly too. When a heat wave hit my area, I realized all of a sudden that I would be too hot no matter where I went, and this really bugged me. You're thinking, "Haven't you heard of air conditioning?" Yes I have. But the problem for me was that I could not make the temperature more comfortable, and it made me realize that I was powerless to change this circumstance. It was beyond my control, and that bothered me.
The problem with us being in control is that we actually aren't. We're just trying to be. When it comes right down to it, we aren't ever in charge. Nothing is in our control, and this includes whether your computer will work, whether birds will start oinking, and whether or not the temperature will drop to 20 below in the next 30 seconds. These may seem like extreme examples, but the principle is the same. We can't guarantee what life will bring, and as a result we can never be in control. So we live in an illusion of control that must be broken.
In James 4:13-14 it says "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (NKJV) Now this verse may seem a bit scary. It doesn't seem nice for James to compare us to vapor. But bear with me, because the truth is we must surrender control to God. We have to let him be the pilot. How? By simply giving up control and asking Him to take charge, and then letting Him actually do it, by obeying His voice and His Word.
The advantages of letting God be in control are numerous. Here are a few.
1. Less unnecessary responsibility. When we realize we're not in charge and surrender the driver's seat to God, we also give up the unneeded pressure of making everything work out. When we give up control of our lives to God, and really learn to trust Him, He takes the responsibility (that we should never have tried to usurp in the first place) of making life work. Have you ever felt the pressure of leading a group, organizing an event, or planning a party? You know that if something goes wrong, it might be your fault, and you'll be blamed regardless. It's the same with our lives. We feel pressured to make them work "as they should be", and then blame ourselves when they don't work out as we hope. We claim responsibility for everything that goes wrong, including things that could never have been our fault (for example, blaming yourself for Joe's stomachache because you took him to an all-you-can-eat buffet and he ate sixteen plates). That's erased when we give the responsibility to Jesus.
2. A guarantee that it will work out. In Romans 8:28 the Bible says: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (NKJV) When Jesus is in control, we can breathe easy knowing that no matter what's happening, He will work it out in the end. By the way, I want to clarify something. Just because we need to let God control our lives doesn't mean we can't ask Him why He's doing what He's doing. There's nothing wrong with that. We just need to make sure we don't take the steering wheel and try to take control again when things don't go our way.
3. Someone much smarter in charge. None of us is as smart as God. Period. End of story. Genesis 1:1 says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (NKJV) I don't understand how the world works, let alone how to build one just like it. If that's not proof enough, look at Job 36:22-23.
“Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? (NKJV)
But whether we realize it or not, we all like to be in control. There's something about the feeling of control that makes us feel good about ourselves. Even those of us who are laid back still like to have some degree of control. Have you ever met a control freak? They insist on having charge of things, because they feel more comfortable that way. If something unexpected happens, it seems to drive some folks crazy. I've seen this in my own life, and it was over something silly too. When a heat wave hit my area, I realized all of a sudden that I would be too hot no matter where I went, and this really bugged me. You're thinking, "Haven't you heard of air conditioning?" Yes I have. But the problem for me was that I could not make the temperature more comfortable, and it made me realize that I was powerless to change this circumstance. It was beyond my control, and that bothered me.
The problem with us being in control is that we actually aren't. We're just trying to be. When it comes right down to it, we aren't ever in charge. Nothing is in our control, and this includes whether your computer will work, whether birds will start oinking, and whether or not the temperature will drop to 20 below in the next 30 seconds. These may seem like extreme examples, but the principle is the same. We can't guarantee what life will bring, and as a result we can never be in control. So we live in an illusion of control that must be broken.
In James 4:13-14 it says "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (NKJV) Now this verse may seem a bit scary. It doesn't seem nice for James to compare us to vapor. But bear with me, because the truth is we must surrender control to God. We have to let him be the pilot. How? By simply giving up control and asking Him to take charge, and then letting Him actually do it, by obeying His voice and His Word.
The advantages of letting God be in control are numerous. Here are a few.
1. Less unnecessary responsibility. When we realize we're not in charge and surrender the driver's seat to God, we also give up the unneeded pressure of making everything work out. When we give up control of our lives to God, and really learn to trust Him, He takes the responsibility (that we should never have tried to usurp in the first place) of making life work. Have you ever felt the pressure of leading a group, organizing an event, or planning a party? You know that if something goes wrong, it might be your fault, and you'll be blamed regardless. It's the same with our lives. We feel pressured to make them work "as they should be", and then blame ourselves when they don't work out as we hope. We claim responsibility for everything that goes wrong, including things that could never have been our fault (for example, blaming yourself for Joe's stomachache because you took him to an all-you-can-eat buffet and he ate sixteen plates). That's erased when we give the responsibility to Jesus.
2. A guarantee that it will work out. In Romans 8:28 the Bible says: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (NKJV) When Jesus is in control, we can breathe easy knowing that no matter what's happening, He will work it out in the end. By the way, I want to clarify something. Just because we need to let God control our lives doesn't mean we can't ask Him why He's doing what He's doing. There's nothing wrong with that. We just need to make sure we don't take the steering wheel and try to take control again when things don't go our way.
3. Someone much smarter in charge. None of us is as smart as God. Period. End of story. Genesis 1:1 says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (NKJV) I don't understand how the world works, let alone how to build one just like it. If that's not proof enough, look at Job 36:22-23.
“Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? (NKJV)
God is smarter, and it seems reasonable that the smartest Person in the universe should be allowed to be in control of your life, don't you think?
4. Better guidance. Ever steered someone else wrong? How about yourself? It doesn't feel so good afterwards, does it? But Jesus never steers us wrong. Check out Isaiah 48:17:
"This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go." (NIV 1984)
"This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go." (NIV 1984)
5. Saved from making all the tough decisions on our own. When we ask God what He wants us to do in a given situation, He'll generally have a response ready for us. It's easier for us to make the right choices when God points them out.
The advantages to letting the God Who died for us be in charge far outweigh the disadvantages of trying to be in charge ourselves. We can't control what happens, whether we try or not, but when we trust God with our lives and allow Him to be in control, our lives are improved and so is our relationship with Him. Try surrendering control to God in every aspect of your life. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. Just ask Him to take the driver's seat, and then determine that you'll follow what He tells you. The result will be far beyond what you expect.
(NKJV means New King James Version)
(NIV 1984 means New International Version 1984)
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