"Have it your way."
If we're honest, that's what we all want...isn't it? We want it our way...we want what we want when we want it and how we want it.
But (again, still being transparent with ourselves here) do we really know what we want? And if we think we do, are we sure it's what we really need? Are we sure it's what's best?
We live in a me-centered, self-satisfying, find-what-feels-good world. We want what's comfortable and convenient. What tastes good. What feels good. What affirms me. What satisfies me. What works for me.
But what if I'm not the center of my own universe? What if I lived as if that were true? Would I love people better? Would I admit that there is a truth outside of what suits me in my life right now? Would I see that there's something bigger than me and my maximum of 90-or-so years on this Earth?
Would I realize it's not about me?
What if there was a bigger picture? An infinite plan? What if there was a Being that created the tiniest self-replicating cells in the smallest organism as well as Mount Everest, the oceans, Jupiter and Neptune? What if this Being were all-knowing and all-powerful and perfect?
What if He were also personal? Relational? Loving?
Ok, a perfect, wise, loving Creator. Maybe we can cope with that. In fact, that sounds pretty good.
But are we willing to admit we don't deserve the love of One so flawless?
"Sure, I make mistakes. But I'm a good person."
{There is no one righteous, not even one... -Romans 3:10}
What if we aren't good enough to be in the presence of a King? What if our imperfectness is filthy in His sight? What if we are like mud-smudged, rag-wearing peasants in the presence of royalty?
"That's offensive. I'm not dirty or poor. I haven't done anything abominable."
What if you weren't just dirty? What if you were dead?
"Dead? Really? I have breath in my lungs. I can run and laugh and eat and work. I'm healthy. I'm fine."
{As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins...gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath... -Ephesians 2:1-3}
What if that's true? Would we humble ourselves? Would we admit we needed help? Needed saving?
{But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved... -Ephesians 2:4-5}
So maybe we can admit that there's a God. That He created the world. Maybe we can even admit that we're not perfect. That something inside is missing. Not whole. Not satisfied. Dead. But can we believe that He really loved us enough to offer us life? That He died in our place so that we could live?
{I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full... John 10:10}
Ok, if that sounds at least somewhat acceptable so far, what about this:
{Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' John 14:6}
"Hold up. That's the ONLY way? Just one way? One road? One plan?"
{Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it... Matthew 7:14}
"Nope. Nuh uh. I don't like that. That's way to exclusive. I thought this was a God of love. Shouldn't he be more accepting? Couldn't he have come up with a better way? I've got some ideas of my own, God...Here's how I think it should be done..."
{Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom... Proverbs 1:7}
Maybe none of this is too hard for you to digest because you believe it. But even if you believe that Jesus died for you, had the power to come back to life and is even now seated at the right hand of the Father...even if you go to church and "do what you're supposed to do"...even if you truly have a relationship with Him (with all the indescribable joy and future hope that goes along with it)...
Are you still trying to have it your way?
Here's the story that a member of our Italian church read during the service last Sunday that convicted me...It's a story of an army commander named Naaman who had leprosy and came to the prophet Elisha to be cured:
{Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, 'Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.' But Naaman went away angry and said, 'I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.' -2 Kings 5:10-11}
Do you feel like that?
"No, God. That's ridiculous. You're wrong. I know a better way. It should happen like this...My plan is better."
{'My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thought that your thoughts.' -Isaiah 55:8-9}
By the way, Naaman eventually did what Elisha said and he was cured of his leprosy.
He, like so many other biblical figures, tried to have it his way (remember what happened when Abraham and Sarah were promised a child but didn't want to wait for God to provide?).
But it just doesn't work that way.
"I want this...I prefer it that way...It's just not meeting my needs...I would be so much happier if...I wish..."
"I deserve a pay raise...I should have a job I'm not overqualified for by now...Life should look like this...Church should be done this way...Worship should be done that way...He should serve me...I should get what I want when I want it and how I say I want it."
Pause.
Deep breath.
Repeat after me:
"It's not about me."
If your life is not about you, who is it about?
If you were not the center of your universe, how would your life be different?
