the ruminations of aaron eberline

Having an authority figure in life will bring a multitude of thoughts and emotions to different people. The variety of these figures are endless: police officers, parents, teachers, employers, or siblings. What makes us respect someone in authority over us? An ability to administer punishment is one reason we can tolerate authority because it means that our lack of submission results in a loss for us. I remember growing up I respected my father’s authority mostly because of an illogical fear I felt. I would constantly remember my interactions with him and I would always be on the defensive in any conversation. The fear of my father developed because I was afraid of making a wrong move that would result in his anger. Punishment and fear have permeated the essence of what we think about authority. Why has this permeation happened? Is there a better way to attain authority?

This idea of authority was brought to my mind last night. I was sitting thinking about the different areas of sin in my life. I was thinking about actions that I take that are against what I know to be true. I was thinking about why I do want to sin and why I don’t. It was an interesting meditation to actually think about why I choose to sin but even more amazing was the question of why I choose not to sin. Do I choose to not sin because I want to gain favor with God? Do I want to feel pride over my accomplishment? Do I want the praise of men as a reward? In Ephesians 2:8,9 Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” In light of this truth I cannot hope to gain any favor from God because of my not sinning. Does grace just cancel out my need to worry about my actions? May the grace of God never give me liberty to think that I can sin more. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue to sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1,2 We again are clearly exhorted to not sin by Paul and to not live in sin thinking that grace gives us a free ticket to sin. There is no way for me to overcome my sin because it is inherent in my nature. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for my sins when I placed my faith and trust in His provision on the cross. How is a christian supposed to live a sinless life after placing their trust in Jesus Christ? In John 14:16-31 Jesus Christ promises that God will send the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. This passage in John chapter 14 gives hope to the question of why do I want to not sin. In verses 20 and 21 Jesus tells me that those who keep His commands love Him and that the Holy Spirit in me will teach and remind me of Jesus’ commands. Out of this love I have for Jesus Christ I find my desire to not sin.

I will never be perfect and sinless but my love for God makes it easier to for me to walk away from what may look very tempting in a moment of weakness. The authority of God is absolute and it would make sense to live in fear of that divine authority but last night as I thought about sin before God I made choice: I chose God because I love Him. Where is the fear that I might expect to feel? The answer is beautifully given in 1 John 4:17-19 “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.” The perfect love of God expressed in Jesus Christ casts out all fear in my life.

The opening verse of the song Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg shares my emotions about my relationship with God. “I think that possibly maybe I’m falling for you. Yes there’s a chance that I’ve fallen quite hard over you.” I’ve fallen hard for God and I am thankful for that. My words are just noise to the true feelings that I have right now but I know I’ve fallen.