It Isn't Always as it Seems: Victory Series, Part 33
"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us
out into the open, into a spacious, free life." (Rom 8:6 Message)
Possessions are supposed to be things that are useful to us. But more often than
not, they end up possessing us!
It's like the lake we admired just after our visit to Milford Sound in New
Zealand. Everything was pristine and quiet, except for the occasional call of an
exotic bird. The sun was shining and Mount Cook and Mount Tasman made the lake
look even more vibrant.
Only one thing though seemed to be out of place. A sign seemed to be upside
down. But then I noticed that its reflection in the lake mirrored what the sign
was supposed to say: Mirror Lakes. What seemed to be a defective sign was not
faulty at all, but rather, a clear description of the lake properties: To
reflect everything in its surroundings!
Isn't the word "possession" one of these words that isn't always what it seems
to be? If you really think about it, any of our possessions can become
obsessions that we may end up loving a bit too much! There are, naturally, the
ones we all know about: alcohol, drugs, sex, greed... But what can stop us from
also loving TV too much? And cars, cards, sports, books, internet, even church?
In retrospect anything that takes our attention away from the Lover of our soul
is more than a possession. It easily becomes an obsession, and one that is hard
to shake off! If you don't believe me, ask your neighbour if you can borrow his
latest sports car. He may never speak to you again! Or take the latest novel
that your daughter or son purchased, before he/she even gets to read it. Do I hear
thunder in the distance?
More often than not, possessions have the tendency of possessing us, and if we
aren't careful, we will become addicted by them with no hope of deliverance in
sight!
Isn't it time we take a stand and put these obsessions in their right place?
Aren't they just tools to help us? We should never, ever let them posses us! If
they have taken that place in our lives, it is time to bring them to the altar
of the Most High and offer them to Him as a sacrifice.
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary
life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place
it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing
you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit
into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be
changed from the inside out." (Rom 12:1-2 The Message)
Such sacrifices aren't easily offered, but with persistence they will free us
from any bondages, especially if we are eager to let God reign in our hearts.
Surrender comes after a night of wrestling. Jacob sure knows about that, and it
changed his life!
When we open our hearts, it will most definitely appear that nothing is worth
possessing except the love of our Saviour Jesus the Christ. Only when our
desires match the ones from God will we experience utter freedom beyond anyone's
comprehension. And the freedom, beauty, rest and peace that follow are the
biggest surprises of all!
Imagine a world without possessions! Imagine all money gone! Who would have
addictions? Where would sin be found? Imagine how freedom would become a
reality. How can our hearts not be receptive to the One who has loved us all
along? Jesus did the ultimate sacrifice, giving up everything so that we could
posses what we deeply long for: acceptance and freedom.
What are you willing to sacrifice to make this possible?
Rob Chaffart
Dedicated to my son Donovan who wondered about this with me.