Control

Many of us would like to think we are in control of our lives to some extent. Many times we rely on the concept from Physics, "cause and effect." Our decisions and actions usually produce predictable ramifications, to some extent. We learn to make decisions that usually cause good or bad results to occur based on the expectation that repeated actions produce an expected result. Better, we learn which decisions produce the outcomes we desire. Although this sounds manageable, sometimes bad things happen in a good context, we may call these life-skills. However, events sometimes occur that are totally unexpected and perhaps difficult to grasp, or even shatter our understanding of how to manage life. When these events occur, we desperately seek for explanations guided by a power higher than ourselves. As a race, we are often greatly disappointed when the results of our words or actions do not produce the results we want and expect. However, sometimes really good things happen with no logical explanation. We did not plan or define the way to become a child of God, nor did we deserve it. The gift offered by Jesus is not payment for anything we did; we cannot control it or manipulate it. This is a free gift because of His love, which defies explanation. All people are invited to become children of God, to be born from above. Sadly, some will not give up trying to control their own eternity based on their own understanding; some will not want to receive this wonderful gift for something they cannot personally achieve. "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13 (ESV)