In Charge

Somebody must be in charge. Things work that way. Businesses—large and small—nations, churches, families, schools, and individual lives must have someone in charge. Without a person given the authority to direct, lead and decide, chaos or unwanted persons or elements take control.

In society, when no one is in charge, there is anarchy. There is disarray in a household when no one is in control. Children seek order in the wrong places, leading to gang involvement or hanging with the wrong crowd. We have to work at order; things tend to go from order to disorder if left alone. Somebody must be in charge.

God is a God of order. It is clear evidence that He exists. The order of the universe could not have simply “Big Banged” itself into existence. The Universe and its contents are so orderly that scientists discover essential information about the behavior of planets, creatures, vegetation, bacteria, and other created stuff because it is predictable based on the order with which God made it. It’s one reason that the theory, “No one, plus nothing, equals everything,” doesn’t make sense.

When God came in the flesh as one of us, there was confusion about Him and God. There still is. But one day, that will all change. It reminds me of a recent story of two office temps, both assigned to work at the same bank.

Craig Brian Larson, the editor of PreachingToday.com, tells the story about something that happened when he and his wife were dating. She was a temp at a bank where the behavior was very unprofessional. The manager, older than the staff, was not supervising, but hanging out, gossiping, having coffee, and generally not doing her job. In addition, the office was too friendly, except toward anyone new. Thus, the new temp felt like an outsider.

A little while later, another temp arrived on the scene. Again, the supervisor and other workers greeted her with a standoffish attitude. They rolled their eyes when she tried to approach ongoing conversations. Furthermore, it was as though she was intruding. Later, the author’s wife left and took another job.

After a few months, Larson’s wife returned. Surprisingly, she found the office operating in a disciplined manner. Everything had changed! There was a sense of control. The staff was focused on their work, and the atmosphere was very businesslike. To her shock, the temp they had treated as an intruder was someone sent to replace the previous supervisor! She had operated undercover for a while to observe the team’s work ethic. Then she proceeded to whip them into shape once thoroughly in charge.

As Larson points out,

In some ways, this situation resembles the coming of Christ to earth. In his first coming, Jesus Christ revealed his true identity and glory to his true followers, but to those who did not believe, his glory was largely hidden by his humanity. Following his resurrection, Christ ascended to the right hand of God, where he rules all things. One day he is coming again to the earth to establish his glorious kingdom over everything. At that time, there will be no mistaking who is in charge.   

God is a God of order, but man is out of order where God is concerned. Until humankind submits to His authority, actual order will not be established. People’s lives, individually and as a race, will be chaotic.

God lays out an order of authority between people in His Word to avoid chaos and maintain godly stability. In His wisdom, His guidelines provide for loving relationships rather than autocratic, oppressive human interactions. When we willingly submit to the authority of a parent, the government, a spouse, or an employer, we acknowledge that God is in charge.

“…knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.” —Ephesians 6:8