Who Is In Control?

There are some people who emphasize, some would say obsess, the whole issue of control. They only seem content if they are "controlling" every matter in their lives that they can think of. This often extends to the other people that impinge on their lives. Maybe you have worked for or with one, you know the type who try to micromanage every one else. You might know them by the term "control freaks."

On the surface, this approach to life has some appeal. There is a sense of power and security in being the one in control of one's life. The problem is that it does not work! Two events in late August 2005 show this.

The first one is the now infamous comment: "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop." by Pat Robertson on The 700 Club referring to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. A few praised it, some called it a bad "misstep or misstatement", but the vast majority of the media both secular and Christian denounced it. Personally, I think he was way out of line, but that is not the issue here. The issue here is that we cannot even control ourselves; so how can we think to control anyone else?

Actually, I feel sorry for Rev. Robertson; which of us has never spoken first then thought! James reminds us of this with these words, "So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." {James 3:5-8}

The second one was, Hurricane Katrina. Natural events like Katrina show us just how little control people have. People think that because we have such great technology and can tap incredible power sources like the atom that we can really control our environment. Then something like Katrina comes up and show us just how powerless we really are.

Ask the people through much of the South, who were without electricity, clean water, food, or even a roof, how potent they felt. In fact, part of the trauma of natural disasters is that people realize just how impotent they are in the face of nature's power. After all, no one was able to wake up early Monday and still this storm!

In the face of our impotence and lack of control over nature or even ourselves, do not give in to despair. Because, there is one who is never impotent: Almighty God. Remember, He created the universe, holds it so it continues to exist, He is the one who walked on the water, and He is the one who did still a storm!

While we are not in control, we can take comfort, strength, and peace from the One who is in control, the Almighty God who loves you and me. Also as God the Spirit has more time and freedom to work in our lives even that elusive thing called self-control matures and grows!

Thank God that He is in control no matter how it might look to us and rest in Him as the difficult times roll in.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker September 2005



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker