IF you call yourself a Christian you know that you don't have your life under, in or around control even in the best part of your imagination. How do I know that? Because I used to tell myself the same thing. Lied to myself and everyone around me. Even to God! (hear the big inhale of those around me?) I can manage. It's not the worst thing that could happen. It doesn't really matter. No, I don't need that need met. Admit it, you have done the same thing. Maybe even worse than I, but I doubt it. The Bible says it this way: "believing themselves to be wise they proved themselves to be fools." So, my life wasn't in control then and sometimes even now. It's not that I want it out of control but life happens. Right? None of us have our lives under control and we shouldn't. We should be dead to our lives and having Christ living through us. Thus, God is in control of our lives. The problem is we don't want God to be in control of some of the areas of our lives. Have a secret sin? An addiction that you think no one knows about? Maybe you're tired of people saying things about you so you isolate, don't get together with other Christians, and generally disappear. Wait, that's what some people did in the 60's.
Imagine your life is a garden. Go with this with me. You are totally in charge of your garden. Only problem is you've never had a green thumb. So, you read what someone else wrote that you later found out lived in Alaska which is so different from your rural Kansas. You've chosen your soil, fertilizer, seeds and planting spaces. You've rototilled the ground and mixed in all of that which will give you a good garden. So, you plant the seeds that your author from Alaska has recommended not knowing how they will grow in Kansas. What happens from there seems to be out of your hands to some point. Like, watering. Many people water their gardens while others depend upon the rain. Some grow drought resistant vegetables and others plant seeds that will tolerate the rain. You finally have the garden set and you sit back and tell yourself what a good job you've done. Fatal move! One morning you go to your garden and find in several boxes of plants mounds from your friendly mole. No one told him to stay away. Now you have to either eat or kill one of God's creation. Then the bugs come followed by leaf diseases. It seems all of creation is trying to prevent you from having a garden where you are in control. The frost comes early and you lose some of what remains of your garden. The moles have moved onto areas where there are more worms. The frost has sent the worms and bugs deep inside of your cabbage and other vegetable. Good thing you have your garden (life) in control.
The first thing we need to acknowledge is that our lives are not in control. Nor will they ever be if we are behind the gas pedal. Control is not possible for a human being. Nor is it possible for those around you. We are imperfect and seem to shy away from the answer. "What is that?" you may be asking. The answer is simple. To simple some would say. All Christians need to do is to step aside and let Christ live through them. Now there is someone who knows how to till a garden and see it produce. He looks for volunteers because he can't force any of us to follow him and let him live through us. All the volunteers I have come up in the form of weeds in my garden (metaphorically speaking). The question of what we allow to be planted in our lives is tricky. It shouldn't be but we live in the world where Satan takes every spot of clear soil and plants weeds. Don't think so? Look at your life. Do people see Jesus or do they see weeds? Are you and I living in His garden or the devils garden? It's all before you and I. Weeds or fruit? Remember that this takes only one choice. It's always your choice.
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