Let Go and Let God - Part 1

This week, Michael writes that there's a story about a young amateur photographer who wanted to make a name for himself by photographing the Grand Canyon. He got up early and set up his tripod, his camera and equipment.  As he walked around looking for the best lighting and perspective for his landscape shot, he backed up and tumbled over the edge of the cliff.  On his way down, he was grasping for shrubbery, bushes and any outcropping he could grab and caught hold of one. As he was hanging on for dear life he yelled, "Can anyone hear me?" He heard an answer, "I'm here to help you."  "Who are you," he replied. "I'm God" came the answer. "What do you want me to do?" God said, "Just let go! I’ll carry you safely down." The man replied, "Is anyone else up there?"

The moral of the story is, "Are we willing to let go and let God?" According to Romans 8:28, in the Amplified Bible, "We are assured and know that God (being a partner in our labor) will cause all things to work together (fitting into his plan) for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (and his design.) The order of priority should be God, His glory, and then me. This priority is reversed for most people. In the midst of trials and tribulations, men and women often ask themselves, "What was God thinking?" In Old Testament times, philosophers know, as the Stoics thought, that men should restrain themselves from feelings, emotions, and passions. This was contrary to the teachings of Jesus. However, the Stoics got some things right. They believed in the mind of God; His reason and His all-inspired word. They believed that God was Sovereign and in control of everything. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “sovereign” as: 1. Supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign ruler of the universe. 2. Supreme; superior to all others; chief. God is the sovereign good of all who love and obey Him. The “sovereign” is the one who exercises supreme authority.

 The son of an evangelist wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. But when he saw the suffering of the people around him, he didn't understand the motives of a holy God. He denounced his faith and became an atheist. Each man and woman must decide, "What is truth?" To what and to whom are we willing to commit?  Jesus said, "He who shall lose his life for my sake shall save it. For what shall it profit a man to save his life but lose his soul." Life is full of traumatic experiences. As Oswald Chambers said, "God requires extreme service from you with no explaining on his part and no complaining on yours." We must settle in our minds whether God is Sovereign or not. Who is accountable to whom? Am I answerable to God or is he answerable to me?

Let’s continue Michael’s message on “Letting go” in the next post.

In Christ, Brian