Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Winkie Pratney
God is the Pilot
I read a bumper sticker that said, “God is my copilot” but is that really the best thing? Why shouldn’t God be your and my pilot instead of copilot? Don’t you want God to take the wheel? If we are fighting God over control of our life, God will either say, “Okay, we’ll see how it works out for you on your own” and let you crash and burn and learn from experience (and the hard way), or pray that He says, “I am in control.” Who is running our life? It is God or is it us?
Kicking Against the Goads
When the Apostle Paul was trying to explain his conversion experience when He met Jesus Christ, he told his audience that God asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14). The goad was a board that had nails or metal sticking out of the back so that when the oxen started to buck their load, they’d kick against the goads and it would cause them pain. In other words, it was useless for them to resist the driver. That’s what Paul was doing in trying to persecute Jesus’ church. It was futile for Paul to attempt to destroy what Jesus said that even the gates of hell (or death) would not prevent (Matt 16:18).
Worshiping in Vain
Did you know that you and I can worship God in a vain or useless way? That’s what Jesus said of the religious leader’s worship of God. He said, “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9). Vain simply means empty or useless and to worship God in the wrong way is to worship God in vain. Jesus said we must worship God is spirit and in truth (John 4:24), and you can’t have one without the other.
Submitting to Him
If we are trying to live the Christian life without having God in control, we’re driving our own vehicle around the blind corners of time, and that’s a very dangerous thing to do. James writes, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7), so if you’re not submitted to God, you’re submitted to your own agenda, and the Devil loves that!
Conclusion
Winkie Pratney said, “God does not guide those who want to run their own life,” so make God your pilot, not your copilot; don’t kick against the goads that God has placed before us; don’t worship God in a useless way; but rather submit to God and allow Him to guide your life. It’s just not wise to run your own life. I know. I tried it. I failed.
