Christ, Control and the Craziness of Life
When I think about the things that get out of control, or are beyond my control, the list can get a bit daunting. So, I’ll spare you that depressing minute or two. We will go straight to Christ, our divinely human example of how we are to approach this crazy life.
All authority belongs to Christ
Jesus was given all authority in heaven and over the earth (Matt 28:18, John 3:35, Matt 11:27). Since Christ was given all authority, how did He use it, what did He do with it? If you scan through the gospel accounts, we can list things pretty easily. He controlled the wind and waves, sicknesses, and demons; He increased fish hauls and defeated death. He controlled his mouth (when I know I would have been rather sarcastic or hurtful), He controlled his anger, His disappointment (Ah, Peter, Peter), He controlled His time.
The thing is, I am certain that Jesus was given authority over all, yet I don’t see him manipulating the disciples or controlling the crowds. He didn’t control people; He loved them. He doesn’t control people; He loves us. I see him leading and challenging current thought (individual and cultural), I see him listening to people and responding in love. I see him trying to reach the heart of the people that surround him. He walked away from those who had no interest in him, yet never shied from a challenge against his authority and knowledge. He played no mind games, he simply stated the gospel and truth, He responded to people’s needs and wants, He listened to their issues and pointed them to God.
Life Gets Crazy
When life gets crazy, our only option is to look to Christ as an example. He alone shows us how to deal with a crazy life. Yes, He lived a crazy life. Imagine it: crowds followed him wherever he went, people were always asking him for things, he rarely slept in the same place for more than a few days at a time, he had an impulsive and competitive group of friends. Yes, He does indeed identify with crazy life. Yet, he operated entirely out of love, and not emotion. Love is action, not only emotion – Love carries out loving acts because it overflows with the need to share. Jesus loved through everything he did and through everything he said.
Oh, the conviction is setting in. I honestly cannot say that love is the underlying motive for all that I do and say. I admit that sometimes I have said and done things to get people to do something for me or to get ahead, or to get more, or to look better than others. OK, I will stop the list now, though we know it could continue. Have you made your list of motives behind your words and actions? I suppose it all boils down to my motivations being about me.
Invitation to His Authority
When life gets crazy and things are out of control, I want what I want. Jesus wants me to turn to Him. He made a plan for all these things that are going crazy. He wants to show me how they will work for good. But he doesn’t demand that I do anything, He doesn’t throw down lighting bolts to ensure that I do exactly as he says. He doesn’t play games to make me do what he knows is best, it is my choice.
He invites me to follow Him. He stays with me even when I ignore him. He sees me when I am cowering over whatever will happen next in this crazy life. That invitation of his is the start of order in the chaos. All authority was given to Jesus Christ, who will be with us always (Matt 28:20) and he will teach us how to obey and will give us peace, and we will find hope in His authority over our crazy lives. Have you accepted the invitation?
