The base of that box is composed of our own human reasoning. The walls are made up of our own personal fears and inhibitions. The top is sealed with our own personal biases and preferences.
Think for a moment about some of the statements you hear coming from the mouths of other believers, from your own mouth and, yes, mine as well. I admit it. I’m guilty too. Here are just a few examples:
“Well, God just doesn’t work that way any more.”
“Well, that’s Old Testament.”
“Well, I think…”
“Well, my church does it this way.”
“Well, I prefer this…”
Are you getting the idea? Humans are not capable of limiting God as some have said, but statements such as the above do limit our ability to respond to Him and follow HIS ways. How? If we dismiss what God has clearly said in His Word, whatever our reasoning, then we have, in essence, closed Him up in a box, at least in our own lives. When we choose to ignore His ways, we have sealed off His entrance to our hearts and lives.
Who are we to question God anyway? How dare we override His decrees in favor of personal preference? Who are we to have the audacity to dismiss parts of His Word based on our own human reasoning?
God had some questions for a man named Job (Job 38-41), questions which I believe He is addressing to us, the body of Christ, today. He begins with an accusation. “Who do you think you are, babbling on without knowing what you're talking about?” Most of us have been guilty of the same at some point in our Christian lives. Something to think about.
I believe the purpose was to help Job to see truth and help Job to open the box he had so very carefully constructed and sealed, just as we do. Throughout the next three chapters, God continues this interrogation of Job, asking some very pointed questions we would do well to ponder, just as if God is asking us personally (because He is, right there in His Word). I would encourage you to read God’s speech to Job in its entirety, but here are some highlights (from The Message):
Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much! How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone, While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise? And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!' told Dawn, 'Get to work!'
So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches?
Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things, explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?
Do you know the first thing about death?
Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?
Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.
Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives…?
Can you find your way to where lightning is launched, or to the place from which the wind blows? Can you get the attention of the clouds, and commission a shower of rain?
God then confronted Job directly, demanding, Now what do you have to say for yourself?
The point is, Job, you and me are all clueless. Yes, I used the word ‘clueless.’ Compared to what God knows and what God can do, has done, is doing and will do, we most certainly are.
None of us have all the answers. None of us are completely right 100% of the time in our doctrine, lives and words. How dare we ever think we have a corner on the truth or dare to assume we know it all.
It’s time to open the box, like Job did. He took in the things God had to say and responded in complete humility:
I'm speechless, in awe - words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen.
Are we ready to shut up and listen, ready to take God at His Word, ready to truly heed what He has to say and allow Him to do His work both in and through us?
God wasn't done with Job yet, just as He’s not done with us yet. He further probed Job and made him see his own human frailty and ignorance of the power, will and way of the Almighty. Job then admits his guilt:
I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?' I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head.
Just as Job realized, it is also time for us to stop muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue and second-guessing God’s purposes. It was time for Job to open the box, time to cast aside his personal reasoning, fears and biases and begin to take God at His Word. Period.
Isn't it time we did the same?
It’s time to open the box.
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