One of the things that confuses a non-believer a LOT is the answer to the title of this post. I've been accused many times by non-believers of having some kind of huge ego, just because they don't understand the answer to that question. I have also seen church-goers who think they are Christains - but are not saved - make the same mistake.

So "Who is in Charge Here Anyway??????"

In the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of John, we find an answer to this question. At this time, John the Baptist had baptized Jesus, but was still active in his own ministry. Jesus was beginning his ministry at the same time. This caused a problem for John's disciples, and they asked him a question:

Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. (John 3:26b)

John answered and said "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30, KJV)

There is a great struggle that goes on inside every believer; between our natural, fallen nature - and the Holy Spirit we received from God when we believed the gospel message. Our natural self Cannot do the will of God by it's own power, no matter how hard we try, for our sinful nature prevents us from seeing clearly what his will is, much less actually doing it! Our spirtual self can only do those things when we turn to God and say "Lord, I cannot do any good thing by myself. Please do it through me."

It is this knowlege of that struggle inside us that non-believers have such a difficult time understanding. They simply cannot concieve of the idea that we are motivated by something other than our old, fallen nature - and because of that, tend to attribute to ego what is in fact a response to God working in our lives.

In fact, the inspiration for this article came from a conversation I had recently. The person I was talking with, in order to try convince me that euthenasia was a good thing for the human race, posed a question: "If you were terminally ill and had a choice between dying in a week in relative comfort or dying after a year spent in pain because of some medication you could take, which would you choose?" That person was astounded when I answered "I'd choose staying alive for the year." This person just couldn't understand why I said what I did, even after I explained that I look on each day as a Gift from God, not just the days where I felt good. Also, the thought that each day spent alive meant an opportunity to be a part of God's will on this earth, didn't make any sense to the other person either - even though I have learned this in the darkest times of my life here on earth. It is certainly very difficult to explain the Christian walk to someone whose ears have not been opened by God Our Father to hear it.

So "Who is in Charge Here, Anyway?" has only one good answer for the beliver: God Is! Paul wrote:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, KJV)

We know that our sinful old natures must decrease, so that the nature that God originally desired for man can increase in us. I know that process will not be finished in this life - but also know that it will be finished and some day I will be raised with a new body and a perfected nature. Thank You Lord Jesus for what you have done for me!

Until next time,

Duane

P.S. Happy New Year to all of my readers! May God bless you in 2016! P.P.S. And in 2021 also!