Knowing God's Freedom

I was thinking this morning about various conversations I have had with others about God. Often times this sort of statement has been made, I think there is a "god" but I don't think or believe that he is involved with us in any intimate way. This line of thinking got me to thinking. If this is what some think then they do know that there is a "god". As the Bible says in the book of Romans 1:19,

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
(Romans 1:19 ESV)

If this is true, and it is, then why do many people deny that God is real and active in the world. I believe that the answer is freedom, and not freedom int he sense that freedom is generally thought about, but more specifically freedom to be in control. We see it everywhere we look and live. Little children saying, "no let me do it myself" even when they need help. We see it in advertisements telling us that we are in charge of everything in our lives from the kind of car we drive to what we should expect from those around us. It is everywhere.

Now comes the problem, if there is a God, and there is, and He is who He says he is, and He is, then He is really in control. For many this becomes the problem, because if they believe in God, really believe in what He says about who He is and what He has done for us, then they come to the sudden realization that they are not really in control. The problem is that some believe that there is a greater being of some sort, a "god" but this "god' is not in control of things, they are. The truth is that God is real, and He is loving, and just, and righteous, and wrathful, and merciful, and good, and great, and gracious, and glorious, and He is completely sovereign over all of His creation.

It all boils down to a sort of wait a minute, you want me to surrender control of my life to God? The answer to the question is yes. Look at what God says in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. That is really a big statement, and it contradicts what most people think about God's control. Many think God just has a bunch of rules He wants us to follow and that is that. The real truth is that this idea isn't truth at all.
In john 14:6 Jesus says this,

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6 ESV)

Jesus is God come to earth and taking on human form, and he says he is the truth. In John 8:31-36 jesus tells us this,

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

(John 8:31-36 ESV)

So the problem is our desire to be free is really a desire to be in control of things we really have no power to be in control over. The problem is our sinful rebellion in refusing to surrender to a good, great, glorious, and gracious and all powerful sovereign God. God came to us as the man Jesus Christ to bring us freedom, not the freedom to do as we please, but freedom from sin and death. He gave up his own life to buy our freedom, because He is God and He is involved and intimate with his creation and He loves us, all of us.

I am in a process every day of learning how to surrender to God in the same way Jesus did. It is not always easy but I have been set free of the burden of trying to control things that in reality I cannot even begin to control. Surrender to God is a process that takes time, but it is a process that solves a problem. It is my prayer that if you are still trying to be in control of your life that you would seriously consider trusting your life to Jesus, just spend some time thinking about it. One good place to start is by clicking on the "The Story" link on this blog page and read it. After that go to the Bible. Read the Gospel of John, read it through in one sitting and then think about what God has said to you in those words He wrote through John.

Yours in Christ's Amazing love, Bob Best