#1 Human Delusion Revealed In 2020 (and why it’s a good thing)

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. — James 4:13:15

We are out of control.

A global pandemic…

Draconian lockdowns and lack of social interaction…

Permanent business closures…

Widespread financial ruin…

Massive protests and riots…

A media-fueled, divisive election…

And now to finish the year with a (literal) bang, a horrific car bombing on Christmas day.

The old “normal” of our lives has vanished overnight. And it doesn’t seem like there’s much we can do to get it back.

This apparent lack of control triggers an all-too-common, life-crippling emotion:

Fear.

For your health.

For your livelihood.

For your future.

How can you look to your days ahead with hope when your present day looks so hopeless?

It’s no wonder that depression, drug use, domestic violence, and even suicide have skyrocketed since the pandemic swept across the world.

The authority we once had over our lives has been stripped away. And we don’t know when, or if, it will be rightfully restored to us.

But this has been humanity’s delusion since Satan’s seductive lie to Adam and Eve…

That we can be our own Gods. That we have full control over the circumstances and outcomes of our temporary time on Earth.

When in reality, the REAL truth is this:

We have always been out of control.

We never had it. And we never will.

Yes, God has given us sovereignty over many of the choices we make.

And He will hold us accountable for how we wield the gracious free will he’s bestowed upon us.

However, we only possess our free will because he allows it.

Our cushy, 21st century western culture existence has concealed this crucial fact from us for decades.

When we’re comfortable, when our prospects for a better tomorrow only seem to go up, this is when we feel we have complete control over our lives.

Our bank account shows enough zeros. Our health is in good standing. Our marriage is strong. Our job is secure.

We have this whole “control” thing figured out. Life ain’t too shabby after all.

It’s during these peak seasons when our desperate, daily need for God doesn’t seem so necessary.

So we do what humans have been doing since He first created us…

We push our Heavenly Father away. Or at least neglect Him. Relegate Him to a small corner of our lives.

But then, when you at least expect it, crisis hits your home…

As has happened to billions of us in this topsy-turvy 2020.

We realize during these difficult moments how little control we actually have.

And we’re forced to turn back toward the one true God for all our needs.

For unstoppable courage.

For all-healing comfort.

For an everlasting hope that everything will be OK.

Because it’s He who has full control over our lives. He created us. Hand-crafted our existence out of nothing.

And out of love.

To be with us. For all of eternity. In His holy image.

He didn’t need us. But He made us anyway. We wouldn’t be here if God didn’t make it so.

Which is why we’re called to trust our Heavenly Father, regardless of how bleak or hopeless our temporary situation may seem.

The ol’ cliche still rings true: Father (God) does know best.

And sometimes…He will let bad things happen.

To strengthen our faith.

To bolster our spiritual resolve.

To rest all our hopes and dreams upon our Heavenly Father because of who He is.

He’s holy...

Righteous…

Just...

Merciful…

Gracious…

Loving…

And we need Him.

Because we live in a broken, sin-filled world.

And nothing in this mortal life can save us.

Except for Jesus. Through His perfect sacrifice on the cross.

Which leads to the ONE THING we can ultimately control in our lives:

Our eternal destiny.

He’s left this choice to us…

Whether we want to be with Him forever—or not.

In our grasp for worldly control, we need an eternal perspective.

We are only here for a blink of God’s eye.

Yes, the hardships we bear on this floating rock can be difficult, demanding, and downright devastating.

And even though you may not feel this way in the moment, your personal trials and tribulations ARE important to God.

Never forget: Jesus humbled Himself to experience all of humanity’s pain.

The poverty. The ridicule. The oppression. The abandonment. The capital punishment.

Yet, He never lost hope.

Because He trusted His Father…

Knowing all of our human suffering is short-lived.

It will vanish for all of eternity as soon as we breathe our last breath.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. —Revelation 21:4

So trust in Him. Hang on tightly to His promises.

Live in the true faith that operates in spiritual belief, not physical sight.

And you will experience your gracious gift of ever-lasting healing and salvation.

It’s now time to let go in 2021. Give full control of your life to Christ.

Because He has it anyway.

So you might as well enjoy this great adventure with your Lord and Savior.

Happy New Year!