A few weeks ago my friend and I were studying for exams. Neither one of us has been known to be exceptionally good at focusing. And our ability to stay on task is decreased when we are studying together. I'll admit, I usually ended up talking most of the time when we were supposed to be studying or writing papers.
On this particular day, I was focused and my friend, whom we'll call Tori, was distracted. The culprit- facebook. She was using documents on her computer to study for a test, which meant that the internet was about two clicks away. Tori admitted that while studying for exams in the past few days, facebook had become a "study break" for her.... More so, it had become a way to avoid studying altogether. She was fed up with her not studying.
This exam in particular was an important one for her to pass. In desperation she said to me, "Why don't you just change the password on my facebook so that I can't get into it." She quickly followed up with, "But when I'm done studying for this exam you can change the password back!"
I agreed to help her out! It takes a strong person to admit they have a problem; it takes an even stronger person to make a change. She told me her facebook password, then I logged into her account and quickly changed the password. She logged out of facebook on her computer and diligently began to study.
The next day already Tori had taken this exam. She texted me, asking for access to her facebook account again. I was busy all day and didn't have time to change the password back right away. I told her I would change it when I had time. I then proceeded to tell her that five people "liked" her status.
Of course, having the run of her facebook, I wrote a status for her. Tori freaked out on me! She texted me back saying, "I will never ever let this happen again!" She thought I was abusing my powers. However, I told her that I would not have posted a status that she did not approve of. I assured her that she was my friend and I wouldn't do anything to hurt or embarrass her. She had trouble trusting me though!
Later that day she regained access to her facebook and all was well again.
I think this is a reflection of our Christian life. Tori hastily made a decision to give me her facebook password. I then had control of her facebook and all that that entailed. Is this not often the way it is when we become followers of Christ? We quickly make a decision to follow Christ, not realizing the implications of our decision. When we say yes to God we are signing off on our life and giving the control over to God.
2 Corinthians 5: 17-18 "Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also."
We have a new purpose when we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
"All people have been set in the world to display the glory of the true and living God, the great King of the universe, by establishing his will on Earth. In Reformed theology, this role for human beings is often called the "cultural mandate," referring to our blessing and our responsibility to develop culture under the Lordship of Christ (Gen 1:28-30). This finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who commanded the redeemed image of God (his faithful people) to fulfill the cultural mandate through the "gospel mandate" by proclaiming Christ's name throughout the world (Mt 28: 18-20)."
-excerpt taken from NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible
God also calls us to trust Him as we carry out this task set before us. Just as I love my friend and would never intentionally hurt or embarrass her, God loves us more than we will ever know and His aim is not to hurt or embarrass us. As we relinquish control of our lives and let God fulfill His plan though us we must trust him. He knows us best and instructs us to delight ourselves in Him (Psalm 37:4). God will not disappoint us.
Psalm 40: 4-5 "Happy are those who trust the Lord, who do not turn to idols or join those who worship false gods. You have done many things for us, O Lord our God; there is no one like you! You have many wonderful plans for us. I could never speak of them all- their number is so great!"
