The Ravaged Path of Independence

Still reading ‘The Shack.’  I told you I was a slow reader!  I had about 10 days of non-reading due to lots of company and preparing lots of meals for various people and groups.  But now with all that behind me, I can resume my summer read.

I just completed the chapter when Mack and Sarayu are in the garden. I love this chapter…so much truth!  I especially love how Sarayu calls us ‘humans blind to our own place in creation, and that we choose the ‘ravaged path of independence’ from God.’  Because of this independence and insisting that we be in control, doing things our way, we cannot see the world as God sees it.

We make our own judgement as to what is good and what is evil, basically based upon what we like and what we don’t like.  We spend huge amounts of time and energy trying to acquire that which we have determined to be good and spend a huge amount of energy and worry fearing what we’ve determined to be evil.   When we do this, it allows us to play God in our independence.

We must give up our right to determine what is good and what is evil on our own terms. To do this, we must know God enough to trust Him and learn to rest in His inherent goodness. Declaring independence from God will always result in evil because apart from God, we can only draw upon ourselves,which will lead to death.  We have separated ourselves from the very One who gives us light and life.

What do we get by giving up our independence?  When we become willing to live out of a relationship with God, we begin to experience the wonder and adventure of living in Him.

Question to ponder this week:  Are you living the ravaged path of independence or have you given it up to live in a relationship with God, always trusting in His inherent goodness?