Independence From Whom?

BY RIC NERESTANT

In this day and age, the desire to be independent is firmly rooted in the human psyche. Throughout history we have seen countless revolutions and bloodshed as a result of that desire. Children seeking independence from their parents, husbands from their wives, even the concept of the "independent woman" . People are seeking to be financially independent so they don't have to rely on anyone, many people are seeking independence from all things. So the question is where does that desire come from and is seeking independence such a bad thing?

Well to answer that question we must first go to the dictionary and look up the term independence. According to dictionary.com, Independence is the freedom from the control, influence, support, aid or the like of others.  Where did this idea originate? The idea of freedom (the way we have come to understand it) is very ancient, in fact so ancient that it is even before humanity was created. The first ever revolutionary is found in the Books of the Bible, let's go to the book of Isaiah, chapter 14 starting in verse 12, we find the Bible speaking of the fall of Lucifer:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

We find out that Lucifer's desire was to be independent, to be like the Most High, to be in a position where no one could tell him what to do, to be sovereign over his own life and for this reason he revolted against the authority of God. He tempted humanity with that same desire, telling us "in the day you disobey God, you will yourself become gods, knowing good and evil for yourselves". Since that initial infection, this thing has become a cancer to the human race, we are in a perpetual state of rebellion and in these last days are seeking to throw off all restraints, even God's.

So we have rampant divorce, because everyone wants to follow their own ways. The land is fill with violence because people hate laws and restraints. Even in many churches people have rejected the Law of God because they " will not let this man to reign over them ".  (Luke 19:14)

Friends let's bring it closer to home, the spirit of independence has affected even us Christians who professed to worship the true God. For we refuse to submit our lives to God in everything that we do, we still want to hold on to self-determination, we look at the word submission as a word of bondage, so while we profess with our mouth that we love God, in our lives and hearts we choose the path of Lucifer, the path of self-determination, the path of independence.

Even by looking at nature, we can see that the idea of independence is a myth, for all things are dependent upon other things and the whole creation is dependent upon God. Jesus said that unless we be converted and become like little children , we shall not enter into the kingdom of God. Why would God allow those who seek to rule their own lives in, when HE casted Satan out for the same?

Beloved let us cast away rebellion, let us cease our warfare against God, let us submit ourselves to Christ  and seek His power to live holy lives. For Satan said that he will ascend to heaven but Christ said He will humble Himself and become a servant, a bond slave of God to redeem humanity

(Philippians 2).

Let us no longer seek independence from God but let us instead seek independence from sin by the power of God, through prayer.