My Way

My Way

Allow me to recall one of the songs that epitomize our self-love and infatuation with everything “me”.  It was written by Paul Anka in 1968 and popularized by Frank Sinatra. However though written a generation ago the taste and the feel ring true to the reality we seem to have created.   The idea of Sinatra’s song is that I did what I wanted to do and even though sometimes I messed up, tough! I’m not apologizing for any of it.  The last verse in the song sings

:“what is a man, what has he got?   If not himself, then he has naught.  To say the things he truly feels; And not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows - And did it my way!

 It only makes sense; I can trust the path I create because I created it.

I don’t want to expose my observations and thoughts onto a secular outlet because for one no one wants to address this “reality” we are so cozy in. Besides, most of us would claim that this wave of pride and self-satisfaction is unduly spotlighted or some would claim such phenomena don’t even exist. “It is what it is and how it should be” they say.

Drawing from the words of the brilliant mind of Albert Einstein “If you are out to seek truth, leave elegance at the door”. Let me speak very candidly when I say I have no elegance in my words, nor do I have any elegance in my thought process but as Mr.  Einstein suggested I do want to seek truth. I will share with you as direct and concise as I can.  

The Bible is the word of God. It details the story of God’s progress of redemption from the origins of life to the foretelling of His Second Coming where every man that ever lived will be judged according to his deeds.  It tells us of  how man severed a relationship with God by disobeying him and thus requiring punishment with the intent of restoring and making right the wrong committed. Read Romans 1:18-2:16

Since that first wrong committed, God has given us plenty of opportunities to restore that relationship with Him and we failed each time. God is Holy and He has commanded us to be like him, so how is it possible to uphold so high a standard?   The Bible shows us ways of how to live a Holy and blameless life and yet we still fail. In order for us to be able to have any kind of a fighting chance to “do good”, we need to find a way to find favor in a God whom we have betrayed. Bearing in mind that we cannot do anything to restore the wrong committed the only conclusion is that we need help

We need help. Let me say that again, we need help. Before I start feeling good after watching that Disney movie that reminds me  yet again to “follow my heart”  or to just cross my arms and cry if I want to because after all it is MY party, let me sit on it for a second  and look at this objectively.

Do we sincerely believe that if we follow our hearts or that if we all do things “My Way” we will be happier?  How about satisfied or accomplished? Do we think that we will be happier, satisfied or accomplished? Seriously, answer that for me. 

Now consider this with me; the current number of people on planet Earth according to www.geohive.com   is  6,737,873,802. Now I’m not entirely sure how empirically accurate that number is but let’s just say that for the sake of argument we can easily say that Earth is comprised of 6.7 billion people. Allow 6.7 billion people to follow their heart.  Independently of what their heart may be filled with, have each one remove any prior thought, and any notion of traditions or laws or customs. Let’s all follow our heart. Would our Planet be different? Would it be fair to live by the rule of  “to each his own”?

Before we laugh it off or are perplexed by the notion of   6.7 million living for what they want or for even what they want to want let’s examine ourselves. As believers we have been doing exactly that for quite some time now. We read our Bibles and we say “hmm I like that verse or that chapter”  or “that parable or that principle” and in doing so we become pickers and choosers of what we like to apply and what sounds right and feels right. I mean if we can chapter and verse it must be scriptural right? Let me even go a little bit further. If I chapter and verse it then it must make me more, and I say this very carefully, it makes me more spiritual right?

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on ladies and Gentlemen. Whose word is this?  What was the purpose of God’s word?  We ought to think about what the purpose of God’s word is. Knowing what God’s Word is and what it says is paramount for its proper understanding, application and instruction.  

There are some rules and guidelines that need to be applied when reading such precious, and at times confusing, text and I’m not the most indicated person to spell those guidelines for you. I do want to reiterate that the whole Bible in its FULL CONTEXT is capable of being its own commentary on itself. The Bible will harmonize with itself and it will never contradict itself.  Therefore not only is it true but it is also reliable.

            If we say we believe in the Word of God and we claim that we love the Lord and we agree with the Psalmist that the book of the law is sweeter than honey from the comb lets attempt to understand it. The Bible is indeed sweet and it is indeed precious in value. It is full of instruction and promises but it is also filled with warnings and commandments. Let’s be humble in our approach as we take in what we are reading and let’s eliminate doing things “our way”. We will find that we will have to reconsider many ideas we had before actually sitting down and truly reading what the “good book” says. However, in doing so, you will be blessed and encouraged and will grow in truth and will be armed for battle. Not a bad return for your investment now is it?

 

            …Please be on the lookout for  “brothers in arms”, “watch your mouth” and “got beef? Settle it right”.