Joined Together

By: Randal Myers

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Two men boarded a train and congratulated themselves that they were the only ones on that coach. They could get the choice seats and not have to be bothered by the usual crowed conditions. Pretty soon the conductor came by and said, ìYou gentlemen will have to move to another car. You can't ride in here.î They looked at each other knowingly. ìNo wayî they replied. ìWe were the first ones on here, we have the best seats and we're not moving into any crowded car just so you won't have to walk through this oneî. The conductor replied, ìSuit yourselves but this car ain't goin' nowhere ëcause it ain't hooked to nothin'.î

Could it be possible that some of us are like these two guys? We ain't goin' nowhere ëcause we ain't hooked to nothin'. I've often heard people say something like, ìIts time I take control of my lifeî. And certainly that is an appropriate sentiment depending on its application, but spiritually speaking that may be one of our very greatest problems. You see, we don't need to take control of our own lives, we need to allow God to take control of our lives.

Jesus is referring to this very point when the Bible records in Matthew 16:24-25.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

"Do all things God's way."

Our children are now at an age that they believe that they know more about many things than their parents. And even though Paige and I know that they are mistaken in their perceptions about many things, it is almost impossible to convince them of that fact. I'm sure it's only going to get worse.

But in reality don't most all of us do the very same thing with God? We many times know that the Bible speaks to certain circumstances or teaches a particular principle of behavior and we still insist on handling our lives our way. After all it's my life, right? Wrong! God made us and created the perfect Owner's Manual but we in our mistaken wisdom often refuse its instruction.

Maybe this year could be different. Maybe this year we could try the ultimate life experiment. Do all things God's way. Seek his wisdom and counsel in everyday circumstances and test the results. Let's not determine to ìtake control of my lifeî but to check behind the wheel. If God's not driving, we might be on the wrong train!

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