September 20, 2020 Text: Isaiah 55:6-9
Dear Friends in Christ,
Back in 1981 when President Reagan was shot, Vice-President Bush was not in Washington D.C. Until he could return to the White House, Alexander Haig the Secretary of State called a press conference at the White House and famously said, “I am in control here.” The press criticized him for the “power grab” and what they perceived to be his lack of knowledge about the succession of the President, which has the Speaker of the House next in line after the Vice-President. He clarified his meaning later but the story was already written.
If you have ever been in a group, on a board, served on a committee, been on a team or played in a band you want someone in charge. Like my mom, a long-time teacher said, “you have to have a chief.” If everybody is in charge, then no one is in charge and we know that brings chaos.
People are looking for guidance in our confused and directionless society. The problem is and always has been – we look to the wrong chief. It is not a politician or a branch of government or a sports star or media personality. The only way to have true meaning in this life is to “seek the Lord.”
The world is asking so let’s let God’s Word guide us in answering . . .
“WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE?”
When we look outside of God for the answers we just jumble our life. When we hear news that agrees with our hypothesis we want to tell others. If we hear news that scares us, we retreat into our shell. Every year people in the U.S. leave family and jobs behind to start life with a new identity. But this too is hopeless without Christ.
Some souls are so burdened with guilt and shame over past sins or so intertwined in the struggles of living that suicide is the only answer. Just week or so ago someone took their own life on the property of one of our sister churches. They lived nearby and ended it on church grounds.
When the question is asked, “Who’s In Charge Here?” Most of us answer, “I am.” You know the clichés, “master of my domain,” “captain of my soul.” We trust in everything but the living Lord. It may be the loudest voice or a buffet religion or science and technology. Author Fred Brown wrote a short story about an electronic super-computer that was asked the question, “Is there a God?” The computer replied, “There is now.” If we took computers and phones away tomorrow, cemeteries would be filled by the end of the week. “Who’s In Charge Here?”
Our text proclaims that answers to life and its problems are to be found by seeking God. To the modern mind that remedy is not simple. Where is God found?
God is not dead. God has not departed from human history. God reveals Himself in Holy Scripture. Our text says, “He is near.” God has entered human life and experience in the person of Jesus Christ, whose name is “God with us.” (Is. 7:14) Jesus promised, “I am with you always.” (Mt. 28:20)
He is not found in our thoughts. “My thoughts are not your thoughts.” God’s plans and reason are beyond our understanding. Herman C. Theiss wrote this in Life With God, “The creator of our reason cannot be the product of our reason. If we worship a god our mind has pieced together we are only worshipping ourselves.” Our reason and thoughts are corrupted by sin.
God is near. God can be found. Where is He? Who’s In Charge Here? God’s Word reminds us that it is “a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Ps. 119:105) In Psalm 50 God says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Have you gone to the man in charge during these troubling days?
In repentance – turn from these other “gods” you may be trusting in and return to the living God. In faith – lean on the confidence of Christ and His Word. In prayer – let Him untangle you from your fear and anxiety and know that the Lord Jesus Christ is in charge.
It brings me great joy to know that my ways are not His ways. Yes, I like to be the chief sometimes, but not without the Lord’s help. I pray you will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has the world right where it needs to be so that His ways and His plans can further the work of salvation for all mankind. In turning to the Man in charge you are receiving grace and mercy and compassion. God will “abundantly pardon.” We cannot comprehend God’s ways and thoughts to save fallen mankind.
This past week, in preparing for Adult Bible Class, I did a lot of research on the pandemic of 1918-1920. The God of history enlightened me to see that not much has changed in the hearts and minds of human beings. We still question. We still do silly things. We don’t tell the whole truth. Despite all this, God brought many blessings 100 years ago and He will in our current times. In order to see it, we must know Who’s In Charge Here? “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Relax, friend, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has this . . . because we know . . . Who IS In Charge.
Amen.