Order or Chaos

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

ORDER OR CHAOS

Prov 28:2

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

NIV

If we were to see this in only the worldly sense we might be inclined to think of Israel during the time of the kings. So often they were rebellious in nature and had some evil kings whose reign was not very long as they were disposed of. We might also see this in our more current history throughout the world. When the ruler is not good, the people rebel, there are riots in the streets and the king, dictator is taken out. Yet in our county we have some disputes, but in general under a fair constitution we have a rather peaceful transfer of power due to elections of different leaders. But this proverb may have nothing to do with the world’s political scene. Let us view this from a personal perspective. When a person is rebellious against God, they will have many rulers. These rulers include Satan and self. Bob Dylan wrote some gospel songs, one of which had the chorus lines:

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

The rebellious person who does not serve the Lord, is indeed serving the devil and as such may very well be ruled by many demons, or rulers. We know from scripture Jesus encountering a man possessed by many demons. But not only are the rebellious controlled or ruled by many demons, or the devil’s league of demons, they also are ruled by their many passions. These passions may take various forms over the course of a person’s life. The lust of the flesh may be one of the strongest many are ruled by. The passion for fame and fortune rule certain people. Some passions may rule people during childhood while others during the teen years and still others as adults. These passions change with age and with boredom. So it is with those who rebel against God. But for those of us who have understanding and knowledge, having accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have but one ruler, one master to answer to. There is an order in our life for Jesus maintains that order. He has sent the Spirit to dwell within us to give us both the guarantee of our salvation, bearing witness to our spirit, and to lead us into all truth. We serve but one Lord, one governor of our lives. Sure we may have that occasional moment of rebellion, the old nature trying to resurrect, as we are to reckon that old self dead to sin and to the law. Yet there is still a war that wages within. But the real us, our spirit is in fact secure in Christ, we have order, peace, security because of a God of order who reigns supreme in our heart. Our body might want its way from time to time and that is a struggle even the Apostle Paul dealt with. But that does not mean we have surrendered to it, or refused the reign of God in our lives. We have not returned to our old ways of rebellion against God, and hence serving many masters. So we live with an order in our lives because we understand the truth and have the knowledge of the saving grace of God. Then we could say to know God is order, to rebel against him is chaos.