Contending with God

When we sin, we are contending with God for supremacy of our lives. When we sin, we are fighting God for control over our lives; a control which is not rightfully ours to claim.

We (I) find ourselves embroidered in this battle every day of our existence. It is the nature of humans to want what they want, when they, how they want, and simply because they want. It is the nature of our culture to feed upon their wants and fuel that belief that it is okay to pursue what you want regardless of who or what gets in the way. Our culture tells you that "You are worth it," "Do what feels right," "Follow your heart," and similar like statements that fuel the mentality that if it feels right, do it. They seek to eradicate objective truth in order to justify their behaviors and attitudes. If they can eradicate objective truth, then the only standard left to justify right from wrong is each persons individual feelings, wants, and desires.

The truth is that feelings lie. They cannot be trusted solely and used exclusively to dictate our actions, beliefs, and as a guide for life. There is an objective truth and that objective truth is determined by the only source capable of doing so: God. He, being God, Creator, and Savior has the power, authority, and right to determine truth. As Christians, we have been bought by the blood of Christ and are His property, His possession, His creation that He has the right to command and instruct. His word is truth and binding upon us. When we seek to determine our own truth and living according to our own standards, we contend with God, we struggle with God for the right and power to determine truth for us and to behave in a way that we feel best. This is sin at the core: It is a battle with God for the right to live our lives as we see fit. It is a battle that we face daily. I have found myself fighting that battle this very morning. Yet, we fight it we must and we will until the day that our Lord and Savior removes the presence of sin from our lives forever.

So, in the words of Joshua, "Jos 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Who will have supremacy in your life today? God or You? Be careful which you choose.