The Power Tussle

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” – I Timothy 6:6

Hello,

This is another blessed week.

Today, I was thinking about the conversation between Eve and the serpent, and this is how I summarized the dialogue in Genesis 3:1-6.

The serpent in his sinister hiss, asked oblivious Eve, “Don’t you want to take control of your existence?” and Eve said,

“We are already in control, but not fully.”

The serpent continued, “God doesn’t want you taking full control and knowing everything.”

Eve thought about it and realized that the serpent made sense. So, she decided that they would take full control of their lives, knowing everything, and they did.

In my training to write, I discipline myself to focus on systems I have built and apps I use to be more productive. In my mind, I am doing all this to achieve the goal God called me to, but is it possible that by depending on my systems, I have left Him and continued with doing His will? Is it possible that we have focused on the ‘getting’ and not on godliness, which is being like God. As I track my work through these systems, I realize that without them, God’s purpose would still be achieved through me. I would do His will, shine His light, and be transformed by God’s grace.

We judge politicians, government workers, companies, and people who achieve success through corrupt means, and we forget that the drive to take full control for selfish reasons, has been ongoing since Eve. The enemy doesn’t want us at rest. He wants us striving, thinking we are Gods. He wants us to believe that we are in control and that if we don’t put in the effort, we would be doomed, and our families would perish.

What does God want for us? He has always wanted our peace. It shows all over scripture that God goes to all lengths, to the very end to achieve this for us. He does everything in His power, even gave up His life to give us peace. All He asks is that we come to Him, trust Him, and allow Him to take control.

As we start up another week, this is my word of encouragement, go to Him. Focus on His guidance and let Him lead the way. His thoughts for us are only good, and the future He has prepared for us, we cannot even begin to imagine. Yes, it may make sense to follow our own way and take control of our own destinies, but remember Eve.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

I Timothy 6:12 NKJV

If Eve had continued in faith, believing that God’s plans were for good and not for evil, we would have been telling a different story. Thank God for His grace and mercy, that even in our fallen state, He sacrificed Himself to make us whole again, to bring us peace. This is the same God Eve doubted, He is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever. Trust Him.

Till next time, be transformed!!