The poetic chaos of life

I recently had the chance to sit in "The Big House" with some friends of mine and watch my favorite Michigan Wolverines play and beat Illinois.  While I was sitting in the stands, it struck me just how poetic football was.  Before each play both teams stand in position ready and waiting for the ball to move.  They are focussed.  They are intent.  They each have a unique goal in mind.  They have a purpose, a mission and they are ready.  Then, at the flick of the wrist of the center, seeming chaos ensues as each player recognizes that there is someone whose sole goal it is to oppose the purpose that they have.  Each defensive lineman whose goal is to get the quarterback or prevent the run or containment, each one is opposed by the offensive line whose goal is to protect, or push.  Each play is like a miniature drama unfolding with either glory or tragedy awaiting the players.

It really is a beautiful thing to watch.  The dramas unfold and there is a  final determination of who is victorious.  And yet, all of it would be so much different without the coaching staff.  From the booth there are people watching, in the background there are stats keepers, there are offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators and the assistant coaches.  But all of them ultimately are led by one man- the head coach.  Without the coach, the chaos would be just chaos.  Imagine if at the movement of the ball 2 of the 4 defensive linemen decided they wanted to be cornerbacks and just ran after the wide receivers.  Or the running back decided he wanted to catch a pass instead of run the ball.  Or even better one of the offensive linemen turns around and tries to take the hand-off and then throw a long bomb to the wide-receiver who decided he wanted to sit this play out.

Chaos.  All held at bay by one man.

When I think about my life sometimes it seems like a football game.  And, when I go my own way and do my own thing, it seems a lot like the chaos I just described.  But, when I am willing to give my life into the hands of someone bigger and smarter than I, someone who can see the whole game better and knows exactly what I need to do.   If I give my life to God, then there is some purpose and mission that I understand.  In an incredible way, becoming a Christian simplifies life as I no longer have to worry about the world around me and the responsibilities of everyone else, I simply have to focus on my purpose - my mission, the goal that God has given me here on earth to bring glory to His name by using the gifts and abilities He has given me.  And in a wonderful plan that He has put together, while there may be temporary pain and sorrow, the end result of me serving Him in this way is inexplicable joy for eternity.  What a blessing!  Praise be to our great God.

Insight from our Singing - part 17

We are nearly coming to the conclusion of this series, which I have enjoyed immensely.  It has been a unique devotional experience to read through a hymnbook and examine the lyrics of both familiar songs and songs that are new to me. 
I came across one of these songs that were new to me just the other day.

No list of sins that I have not done, no list of virtues I pursue,
No list of those I am not like can earn myself a place with you.
O God! Be merciful to me I am a sinner through and through
My only hope of righteousness is not in my but only you.

The song is called "Not in Me".  As I read the words, it struck me how often we as Christians think about ourselves.  Somewhere in our theology we know that we are sinners, but fail to realize how often we try and achieve righteousness on our own.  Think of how this first verse of this song characterizes ways that people tend to think about themselves and their righteousness.

1. We make lists of sins we have not done. 

2. We make lists of all of the good things we try and do.

3. We make a list of those we are not like.

I have never murdered or committed adultery.  I have instead tried to tithe and go to church and be a good person.  And I am not nearly as bad as _______________.  And as we tell ourselves these things we subtly are trying to build a case for our own rightness before God.  And in doing so we forget that we cannot do this by works.  Our salvation was by grace alone, why would our sanctification be any different.  We (on our own) are still drawn to our old patterns of behavior.  Only when we look at ourselves as being united with Christ and find our identity in him can we have any hope of righteousness. 

It is humbling to realize that not a single thing that we do (before or after we have been saved) can earn us favor with God.  Only the work already done for us by Christ has the power to change our position.   It is a good reminder that my righteousness is not in me.  Praise be to Christ for giving me His righteousness! 

Psalm 90

To describe our world as chaotic is an understatement.  Elections are upcoming in which most people I have spoken to believe neither choice is a positive one.  We watch them fight and blame each other for the next month until the day that we elect a president that most people will not want.  In the midst of this at least once a week we hear of another shooting in which race is made an issue.  There are riots and unrest and this is becoming more and more local.  There are natural disasters that destroy homes and lives.  We are addicted to a media cycle of bad news and though we do not want to admit it, we nonetheless wait with baited breath for the next bomb to drop. 

This kind of chaos needs an injection of truth.  Psalm 90 is the vaccine.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were born
Or you gave birth to the earth and the world
Even from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Think of the truth of this psalm.  We too often place our trust and hope in the condition of our country, in the world around us and we are made uncomfortable when this world does not provide the comfort we are looking for.  Perhaps God is calling us back to the true Source of comfort - found only in Himself.

While the mountains shake and tremble (for some figuratively, and some very literally) the psalmist reminds us that before there were mountains at all, God was and was God before the world existed.  God is God, has been God, and will continue to be God. 

And that provides comfort.  And peace.  And hope.  And joy.  And all that our world seemingly seems to be lacking.  We find these things because we focus our attention not on the world that is falling apart around us, but we focus on the God who is holding all things together.  We focus not on the chaos, but on the Creator.  We focus not on sinners, but on their Savior.  And in doing so, in correcting our focus, we find what we have been looking for - the peace that passes understanding.

I pray that you will turn to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and find peace today!