It was an interesting scene and an even more interesting monologue. I entered the den where I saw my nearly six year old son – all 45 pounds of him – straddling the giant leg of my father-in-law…all 6 feet, 7 inches of him.
Gradndanny is your quintessential southern boy: trucker baseball cap, overalls, thick curly beard and he’s a larger than life kind of fellow. He was perched on our brown, leather recliner with my son on his knee as they viewed some cartoon together on the TV. I stopped to glance at them and Landon locked eyes with me. He got a sly half-grin on his face and declared with cocky glee,
“I’ve got Grandanny under control.”
All the adults burst out laughing. Landon didn’t think there was any reason to be doing so. He was convinced of his own sovereignty.
Now a week later I see that I have a little bit of my boy inside of me. I confess that there have been seasons in my life where I found myself perched upon something bigger than me and declared in a moment of ignorant self-confidence, “I’ve got this thing under control.” What an awesome sensation to have something mighty underneath you for a moment and, because of your position of temporary advantage, assume that you will always remain in that desirable place. Some think, “I’ve got this habit licked, I’ll never think that old way again.” Or “Yep, this ministry is fitting me like a well worn glove, I can do it with my eyes closed.” Maybe someone says, “I don’t need to work any harder at my marriage, she’ll pout up with my junk – where’s she gonna go anyway?”
Then one day we clearly see that the advantage has shifted and the thing we once thought we had a firm grasp on has slipped out of our hands. Our full control is fleeting at best and, strictly speaking, nonexistent. There is a supreme Ruler and we are not Him.
One of the pitfalls of Presumption is that you never recognize him in your life until he is introduced to you by his follow-up-friend named Regret.
Regret comes to visit you in the long, cold shadow of your failure and points an indicating finger in the direction of Presumption as he moves on elsewhere to delude another. These two are rarely (if ever) simultaneous occupants of the same heart. Presumption, while he is ruling the roost, forbids Regret from walking through the door. Then, when you are no longer under the illusion of being in control, Presumption walks out the door and invites Regret to take his place. Neither one are helpful companions. If you can evict Presumption before he unpacks for a stay, then Regret will have a hard time finding your address.
Fortunately, the one whom Landon thought he was controlling had Landon’s best interest at heart. There was no danger for my son as he sat confidently upon his Grandanny. You and I should be more careful. Scripture repeatedly commands us to guard our hearts, be vigilant against the prowling devil, make no provision for our corrupt flesh to get the best of us…you know the warnings. Pride is the predecessor of pain and we should be humble enough to know that we are susceptible to blindness. Keep your knees bent and your attitude pliable. Readily confess your need for imparted wisdom. By all means, keep God’s Word before your eyes and fill your heart with truth from on high. If you find yourself reigning for a season, then rejoice in the goodness of God which has elevated you but don’t get self-intoxicated with the thin air of your mountaintop experience. Stay spiritually grounded and remember that there is only One who is in ultimate control. Only One…not Landon, not me and not you.
The One I’m speaking of is enthroned atop the universe and will never experience regret for declaring that everything is under His rule. Everything always has been and everything always will be in the sovereign power of Jesus Christ the Lord. You have no idea what comfort that brings to my heart…well, if you are redeemed then you know exactly what I mean. One day all of creation will know this inevitable reality that Jesus rules. That’s my King. The cosmos are His throne.