Dr. Marc Drake, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Sun Lakes
It seems that many people readily acknowledge God as Creator but live as though life is about the survival of the fittest rather than living in daily dependence on their Maker and following His instructions. In other words, they live like evolutionists. But those who know God are called to trust in Him with their whole heart rather than in themselves (Proverbs 3:5-7). Furthermore, He has given us a clear instruction manual (the Bible) on how to live as His creatures. He says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).
There’s a delightful old story that illustrates this truth. A mechanical genius by the name of Charles Steinmetz was a friend of Henry Ford. It was said that Steinmetz could build a motor in his mind, and if it broke down, he could fix it in his mind. So when he actually designed and built the motor, it ran with precision. One day, the assembly line in the Ford plant broke down and none of Ford’s men could get it back up, so they called in Steinmetz. He tinkered for a few minutes, threw the switch and it started running again. A few days later, Henry Ford received a bill from Steinmetz for $10,000. Ford wrote back saying, “Charlie, don’t you think your bill is a little high for just a little tinkering?!” So Steinmetz sent him a revised bill: “Tinkering – $10. Knowing where to tinker – $9,990.”
On a much more profound level, God is our Creator, and He knows where the adjustments need to be made for our lives to run in right order. After all, creatures are by definition less than their Creator. He is infinite, we are finite. He is unlimited, we are limited. So, as a follower of Jesus, I must be careful to never live like an evolutionist – one who does not acknowledge his Creator. We have an example of that in Scripture when it says, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).
Christians, however, understand that they are not their own but belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Therefore, we are to seek Him earnestly and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Psalm 63:1; Mark 12:30, 31). It is truly a privilege to express daily dependence on our Maker Who loves us and delights to direct our ways.