On Whom or What Can You Completely Rely?
Written By Jimmie Burroughs – e-Mail to a friend
Each of us have those we rely on each day, at least to some extent, but can we rely on anyone or anything with one hundred percent confidence that we will never be disappointed or betrayed? I am afraid that the answer to that question is no, and the reason is because none of us are perfect. Only God is perfect, therefore, only God can be trusted completely. I will discuss that later.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “I trust my husband or my wife completely.” I am glad for you. I also trusted my wife for 44 years and we both remained faithful until her death, but still, can we really 100% trust anyone with all certainty? Do you think a wife should be able to trust her husband who is a man of God and pastors one of the largest churches in America? You would think so, right. The true answer is not in every case; several cases of which come to mind prove otherwise. Can we trust a man who holds the highest office in the land, the president of the United States? Let us ask former President Bill Clinton. Mr. President did you ever have sex with Miss Lewinsky? President Clinton: “No, I never had sex with that woman…”
Can you rely on your best friend completely? Do you remember the Shina Twain scandal when her best friend stole her husband from her? What about Miss Kitty, the famous barmaid from the long running TV show Gun Smoke, do you know how the actress died? She died with AIDs, a gift from her unfaithful husband. John F. Kennedy was allegedly enjoying an affair with another woman on a yacht at the time of the birth of his first child. Can you always rely on yourself to act in your own interest? Once again no.
Time and space would not allow us to mention all the other recent examples of infidelity and unfaithfulness of people from whom we would expect otherwise.
Neither can we rely on things. Wealth can vanish suddenly. Health can disappear in seconds. Homes and material possessions can be destroyed by fire or storms. What or who can we rely on with a hundred percent assurance that we will not be disappointed or betrayed, just one that is God but do we rely on God completely? I am afraid not if we have a choice.
A few days ago, a friend told me about a man he saw in a nursing home who could no longer feed, bathe or dress himself. Everything had to be done for him. My friend said he told his wife that he could not live that way if it ever came to it. He told her that if it did happen to put a pillow to his face. I am sure he was using hyperbole because no one would want to jeopardize their wife being charged with the murder of her husband. However, he continued to think about it and decided that he was wrong. If God brought him to that place in his life, he would have to rely on God. I thought that he made an interesting point but dismissed it from my conscious mind. Apparently, my subconscious mind continued to dwell on it and two days later the thought re-entered my couscous mind but in a different format. It was now in the first person rather than the third person. I envisioned myself in a nursing home, not a precognition but more as an epiphany. I could no longer feed, clothe, or dress myself. Everything was gone, my dignity, pride, privacy and everything else. I still had my beautiful home and cars and my $650 Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, but what good were they to me now. I could no longer live in my home or drive, and a $7 pair of dollar store, house shoes would do and maybe they would not be needed, perhaps just bed clothes.
Here’s the thought that came to mind: I now rely on God completely because all distractions are removed. Question: In my imagination, was I relying on God by choice or default? Obviously, the latter, I’m sorry to say.
Here is the bottom line: What if . . . what if I could rely on God now when I have everything just as if I had nothing; would that, please God? Not only would it please God, it is God’s requirement for being a disciple to start with. When Jesus called out the twelve original disciples, it was with the understanding that they deny all and follow Him. Later He said, in Matthew 16:24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” In other words, Jesus said, you must be willing to rely on me completely just as if there were nothing else.
Is that just some kind of a New Testament theological concept? No, in fact, it is also an Old Testament one. In Habakkuk 3:17-19, we find these verses: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. . .” Habakkuk declared he would rely on God although everything else failed.
You may say, “That sounds good but how is it possible to rely on God completely as if there was nothing when, in fact, there still is everything?” Answer this question: How much of what you own is all yours? I will answer for you; absolutely nothing is yours. It is all on loan from God. How often have you seen a hearse headed for the cemetery pulling a U-Haul behind it? Is your house going to heaven with you, your car, and your clothes? How about your marriage, is it going to heaven with you? Jesus said that there are no marriages in heaven. What about your bills, your worries, troubles and tears, will they go with you? God says that He will wipe away all tears. I am wondering why we do not allow Him to do that now.
Do you still think it is impossible to rely on God as if there was nothing at all? If so, you must also think it is impossible to do what God commands you to do. It would be impossible to do what God commands if it were not for the fact that he also enables us to do His will.
There are two requirements for relying on God completely: We must train and discipline our mind to deal with all distractions that would otherwise hinder us from relying on God. Secondly, we must trust God for the faith to rely on Him completely. Here is a quote to keep in mind: “All that goes to heaven comes from heaven and nothing more.” What does it mean? It means that your salvation, your faith, your love, your peace and joy, along with a few other things, all come from heaven and are the only things that will follow you to heaven.For additional information on training the brain read “The human brain is incredibly powerful.”
Conclusion
Yes, we can completely rely on God as if there were nothing else if that is our desire. Suppose that you do. What kind of impact will it have on your life? It will change your life from walking in the flesh to walking in the Spirit. Paul tells us in Galatians chapter five not to walk in the flesh and then describes walking in the flesh. However, Paul only list the darkest side of walking in the flesh which describes unbelievers:“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
There is a gray area, concerning walking in the flesh, that applies to believers although it includes lesser offenses; it is walking in the flesh. It includes relying on self instead of God, focusing on material things rather than spiritual, worrying instead of trusting God.
Paul also describes walking in the Spirit, which is living in God’s love, joy, and peace. Who, believing that, would not want not want to completely rely on God and live in His love, joy, and peace?
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who has been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. There are hundreds of articles to help you on this website (Website Contents) in your personal growth.
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