Do it my way or take the highway

One of my biggest challenges is overcoming the drive to do things my way. We get offended by people with a do-it-my-way-or-take-the-highway mentality. But in essence, that is the way we are all wired. Each of us desires the autonomy to decide what we will or will not do. I want to be my own boss. I want to define right and wrong. I want to do life MY way.

                As  a teenager, the foundations of my world were turned to dust by a single verse: “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). My life is still reeling from the after-shock of these words.

Could it be that doing things my own way was the “iniquity” the prophet referred to? And if so, and this is the part that gutted me, was the price of doing things my way “laid on” Jesus.

You see, the prophecy about Jesus’ suffering begins in 52:13 and ends at 53:12. It describes in detail what the prophet so euphemistically refers to as “laid on”. Actually, Jesus was tortured so badly that he didn’t even look human (52:14). He was despised, rejected, scorned, stricken, smitten, pierced, crushed, punished, wounded, oppressed, afflicted and finally, slaughtered like an animal... all because of my hard-wired tendency to do life my way.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not implying that God wired us this way. Humankind changed when Eve thought, “I don’t want God to tell me what is right and wrong; it would be so much better if I could decide that for myself”. That rebellion cost us. And in every generation the rebellion continues, leading to un-told suffering and evil and pain.

But the wiring can be changed, praise God. If you believe that Jesus died for your punishment and rose again, then you will be changed, and you will have the power to turn away from self-government towards servant hood. I am not saying that it is easy, but it is possible. With the Holy Spirit’s help, you can grow in servant hood. It will feel less alien to pray “your will not mine be done”, following the example that Jesus set.

Never forget that Gods’ welcoming words when we get to heaven will be “Well done my good and faithful servant”. They will not be “Welcome, my co-regent and fellow god”.

Cheers for now - Ian