DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

          Although the idea of riding in an autonomous vehicle might be unnerving to quite a few, autonomy is not always a bad thing.  A robot comes in pretty handy when a potential bomb site needs to be “eye-balled” up close.  The word autonomy means “self-governing".  Here again no one can argue with the need for self-control (a very fine fruit of the Spirit/Gal.5:23 and 2Pet.1:6).  Likewise regarding self-discipline (1Cor.9:25).  However, there comes a point where autonomy becomes a real negative.  While SIN often robs us of joy, the thirst for autonomy might well be the mother of all sins.  As one has written, “Man’s rebellion against God and his refusal to allow God to be God is the fundamental problem of the universe."

Such can be seen in the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (cf. Gen.3:1-5 and 3:22-24).  Man's craving hunger for autonomy was not only man’s original sin, it continues to be man’s ongoing sin.  The sooner we can grasp the full landscape of life’s battlefield, the better off we will be.

          If you want to ruin your life, there’s no surer way than to work from the premise that YOU know what’s best.  The sacred writings are filled with exhortations that remind us that OUR FATHER KNOWS BEST!  The Old Testament wisdom literature contains words like:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding (Prov.3:5).  cf. Prov.14:12 and Ps.37:3-4.   This admonition is also found in the prophetic oracles.  Jeremiah writes, I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself; Nor is it in man who walks to direct his (own) steps (Jer.10:23).   Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not a mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows ME, that I AM THE LORD… (Jer.9:23-24).  Another prophet, Isaiah, once boldy con-fronted the arrogant queen of ancient Babylon, saying:  Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; for you have said in your heart,

‘I am and there is no one besides me' (Isa.47:10).  We can mark this down - - no one says, “I am!” to THE GREAT I AM and gets away with it!! 

          In and of ourselves we are not all that!  The only thing that makes us so special and exceptional is that we are a people for God’s own posses-sion (1Pet.2:9).  We are not our own, but we have been bought with a price (1Cor.6:20).  We only do ourselves great harm when we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (Rom.12:3a).  God is the Potter and we are the clay (Isa.64:8).  The psalmist David reminds us, The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God' (Ps.14:1 & 53:1).  It would do us all well to spend all of our days dwelling on the words of the 100^th Psalm - -

Know that THE LORD HIMSELF IS GOD; It is HE who made us, and not we ourselves.  We are HIS people and the sheep of HIS pasture.

                                                          Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ