Left to our own devices…
You may be familiar with the above phrase thanks to the Pet Shop Boys, who wrote a song back in 1988 with the same title. Neil Tennant writes about the conflict between ambition and the desire for lazy independence, with a hint of his struggle for identity and memories of feeling isolated as a young teen. Nearly 40 years later, I wonder how much has changed for any of us?
In the Bible, the above is spoken about in terms of living in the flesh and living in the spirit.
The age-old struggle between being human and giving in to human desires, or being led by the Spirit of God, who knows that not all our decisions are in our own best interest, or the best interest of others and our Home —this world that we are encouraged by God to take responsibility for.
Every day we are faced with decisions, each one with its own personal or social consequences, and every day those consequences affect everything around us.
Generation after generation has its share of brilliance and shame, and yet the stubbornness of the human head and heart often fails to learn from either.
The Bible is the story of one nation who, despite being called by God to be His own, experienced all the above. This Book with its countless examples of leadership and direction — both brilliant and shockingly woeful — is where we learn about the relationship between the God who knows best, and His people who think they know best!
We are not God, and yet how many times do we see these traits in our own lives and the lives of others.
God does not suggest utopian living. He has already laid out a plan, a purpose, and a means of achieving life in all its possibilities in a way that so many of us cannot begin to imagine is possible. But with God, ‘all things are possible’, especially if He has already promised — and He has.
Why are we missing great leadership at present? Could it be that we have lost our respect, belief, and trust in the Creator God of the Cosmos, and in His Spirit who hovers around us as He has since the very beginning of time? If so, how do we change this culture?
The Bible says it takes a ‘spiritual transformation’ — a miraculous work of God’s Grace — to remove hearts of stone that have no true feeling and replace them with hearts that are responsive and do!
God wants to work with us. He always has, He always will. But until humankind works it out for itself, we will always struggle like Neil Tennant and everyone else!
Change in our perspective begins with each one of us, not those who purport to govern us, but with each human being God gifts with wisdom and love. It’s time for us to build some momentum in bringing back respect, moral values, and a shared common interest in our neighbours and the places we live, and all this begins by saying sorry to the God we have forgotten about.
Left to our own devices, we will continue our own demise. Turning back to God will change EVERYTHING!
Revd Veronica. x