The Baptist Digest

The Illusion of Control

September 2006

I recently saw the movie Instinct with Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr. for the second time. A particular line, as they sometimes will, spoke to my soul. In this particular scene, Anthony Hopkins demanded an answer to the question, “What have I taken from you?” Cuba Gooding’s answer was . . . “the illusion of control.” The question as well as the answer has haunted me since.

The very idea of not being in control is anathema to most of us. In fact, many of us hate being harried and hassled by life’s demands and pressures, but love being in demand. Somehow we have grown to believe that being in demand, the appearance of busyness, and keeping our own calendar equates to being in control.

But soon we find ourselves striving with a relentless lifestyle of doing with almost no regard to the importance of being who we were created to be. In other words, we experience only the illusion of control. We find ourselves running on grit and adrenaline, and our spiritual tanks are not being refilled.

So then, what constitutes real control?  I think that it has to do with our daily perception of God and what he thinks of us. Surely, he is not impressed with our grand calendars, full schedules and personal agendas. I think that it also has to do with our complete surrender to God. The idea of surrender is often mistaken with the word commitment.

The word surrender is hard to find in newer Bible translations, as it is often replaced with the word committed or commitment. The words surrender and commitment do not mean the same thing. When someone surrenders, they have given up all rights to decisions regarding themselves. Contrasting that is the term commitment which indicates a decision has been made on the part of the committed.

In other words, we can be committed but not surrendered. However, we can’t be surrendered and not committed. Surrendering our calendars, schedules, and agendas can be frightening. So can the idea of surrendering time to be alone with God, yet it is the very balm needed for a harried and bruised soul.

I pray that we all surrender anew to the Lordship of Jesus and give our agendas to him.

I hope to see you all at the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists 16-17 October 2006. Drop by and allow me to enjoy a few minutes with you at the Leader Development Display.

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I thought you might like this column I read at baptistdigest.com. "The Illusion of Control" I recently saw the movie Instinct with Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr. for the second time. A particular line, as they sometimes will, spoke to my soul. In this particular scene, Anthony Hopkins demanded an answer to the question, “What have I taken from you?” Cuba Gooding’s answer was . . . “the illusion of control.” The question as well as the answer has haunted me since. The very idea of not being in control is anathema to most of us. In fact, many of us hate being harried and hassled by life’s demands and pressures, but love being in demand. Somehow we have grown to believe that being in demand, the appearance of busyness, and keeping our own calendar equates to being in control. You can read the rest here: http://www.baptistdigest.com/archive/column/the_illusion_of_control/