Who is in control?

After God judges the world with the flood, He begins again with Noah and his family. But once again, people fail. Instead of obeying their Creator, trusting that He wants only the best for them, they try to reach heaven through their own efforts by building the Tower of Babel. Their pride even leads them to want to make a name for themselves and control the population of the earth independently of God (Genesis 11).

Isn’t that also typical of our time? People want to retain control and not surrender it to God. How does that look in our lives?

Instead of exalting Himself, the Son of God humbles Himself in this world (Phil. 2:8) until He finally descends to the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:9). He is the servant among his disciples (Luke 22:27), seeking not his own glory but the glory of his Father (John 7:18; 8:50). He allows himself to be guided by the Spirit of God, who takes charge of his life (Luke 4:1). Every day, the Word of God is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path (Ps 119:105). He trusts in the wisdom of the Father, who opens the eyes of the childish to see Him, while at the same time hiding this truth from the wise and prudent (Mt 11:25). Aware that his Father has times and seasons in his hand (Acts 1:7) and controls everything at all times, he says to Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above” (John 19:11).

Do we exalt or humble ourselves in this world? Have we consciously relinquished control in our lives so that God can take the lead, or is there something holding us back? Are we willing to let go in trust in God?