Is God Your Alpha and Omega?

I have two scenarios I would like to share with you:

Scenario One:

“Johnny, stop antagonizing your brother!”

In scenario one, what is your very first thought?

What is your frame of reference; your perspective?

Is Johnny, in your mind, automatically guilty of doing what he is accused of doing?

Was he, in your mind when you read that simple statement, antagonizing the brother?

Was he asking for it?

Or maybe in your scenario Johnny was minding his own business, and the brother, wanting Johnny's attention, smacked him or pinched him or whacked his glasses off his nose. Johnny hollered out against the injustice, but caught both the corrective attention and the flack.

Clearly we have a ruckus going on that has garnered parental correction.

Two kids, one stimulus (the 'whatever' that sparked the disagreement), two opposing reactions.

Again: perspective.

Recognize that disagreements innately have differing perspectives.

The point is not to “die on a molehill," trying to sell my perspective to you in a disagreement, nor you to me.  

If I attempt such foolery, I will not succeed because the fact is two people cannot wear the exact same pair of glasses at the same time. In addition, even the slightest differences in the glasses (backgrounds, beliefs, wills, desires, opinions) yield different perspectives. So whatever transpired to spark the disagreement innately has two different pairs of glasses that prevent ever fully seeing eye to eye.

Regardless of who started the disagreement, chances are unless Johnny works to see why his brother did 'whatever,' he will see his brother as “the cause.” Likewise, the brother, unless he works to see why Johnny did 'whatever' he did, will see Johnny as “the cause.”

Enter the parent, who hopefully, will coach BOTH brothers to inspect where they, as individuals, strayed from the preservation of unity within the family, while not permitting nor accepting the infamous words of “Yeah, but he made me do (fill in the blank)!”

None of us are going to progress towards Christ-likeness (the goal) until we stop the bickering and the accusations, and listen to our Father, who will no doubt put HIS finger upon the SIN issues in BOTH offenders who are train-wrecking Body unity.

No one needs to know the exact details of the rift between Johnny and his brother to understand both wills were exalted to an unhealthy level where injustice finally cried out. 

And if you are a parent, you know the fact is you will NEVER know exactly the path that lead to your parental intervention, even if you ask a thousand questions because Johnny and his brother are both fallible and fixed in their perspectives.

BUT GOD.

Those two words change everything..... if we let them.

Scenario Two:

Two dogs are sitting at a glass front door. One begins to crazy bark. One silently sits. You get up to see what's going on. A passerby is walking down the sidewalk.

Clearly we have a ruckus going on that has garnered parental correction.

Two dogs, one stimulus, two different reactions.

(Oh, let me mention the crazy barker is eight months old, and the silent observer is twelve years old with both hearing and sight still fully intact.)

Maturity.

What's going on at the front door is a revelation concerning maturity. The older dog has learned a few things in his years. He's learned self-control. He's had his mind and his body trained to not respond to every stimulus that passes by. He's learned, by and large, to live and let live. If it isn't coming at him as a direct threat, he's content to enjoy the world around him for what it is. He's learned to rest in his master's leadership and correction. He's an enjoyable soul to be around. He exhibits safety, smarts, and composure.

Now, everyone loves a puppy. But we all know puppies must be trained, corrected, and encouraged towards change, towards maturity. We want them to be housebroken as soon as possible. We want them to learn to chew on what's theirs and only what is theirs. And while we correct behavior, what we really are after is internal composure.

External composure indicates internal composure, otherwise known as self-control.

Likewise, external mayhem indicates internal mayhem.

Ever see an untrained adult dog? They remain like that puppy at the door long after puppy hood departs.... still reacting to every stimulus that passes by. They are unruly on walks and generally put off an air of being unsafe. You just never know what you're going to receive from them: a lick or a bite.

We ALL have a responsibility within the Body of Christ to grow in self control; to NOT be the permanent “adult” puppy who runs around self-centeredly, crashing into the world around them, with destructive tendencies, possessing the ability to lay a hurtin' on anyone who appears to be a threat.

Understanding that no one else is responsible for our individual behavior and sin choices is the first step towards sanctification in Christ. 

Simply put, own your life.

No one, BUT YOU,  is responsible for your walk, your choices, your behavior, your sin, your moods, your internal composure. 

Finger-pointing and projecting did not work in the Garden nor at any other point in history since; it does not work now.

We, individually, are responsible for our own choices, our own actions, which are anchored in either a pure heart bent towards God or an evil heart opposing God. Period.

That said, actions do bear consequences - inescapable consequences - that for the maturing Christian registers and usually halts unwise action. But for the eternal puppies, the ones who simply refuse correction towards change and growth, well, life deals to them degrees of pain, and unfortunately Body pain – because no sin is confined to a bubble.

Ever see an old dog being harassed by a puppy? I have. Actually this second scenario is real, from inside my home currently. When our puppy bounces around, over, and under our twelve year old dog, the twelve year old, if not in the mood to play, will find me - puppy actively nipping at his heels all the way to me - and will give me the hard eye with a nonverbal stare of “Do something!” He knows me to be alpha. He knows I will intervene. He is at rest in my leadership.

Disagreements are a part of the human condition.

Simply put: they are going to happen.

BUT GOD.

Differing perspectives are a part of the human condition.

Simply put: they are a given.

BUT GOD.

Differing degrees of maturity are a part of the human condition.

Simply put: they are going to exist. 

BUT GOD.

When the two individuals, who disagree, having differing perspectives, BOTH take the disagreement into the presence of The Alpha, Omega comes. (The End.... of disagreement, disunity, disharmony, immaturity.)

Understand, in His presence, there is NO alternative.

He is the embodiment of unity.

He is the embodiment of reconciliation.

We all must ask ourselves:

1) "How important is my perspective?" Worth disunity?  Will your behavior garner His correction?

2) "Am I conducting myself in such a manner as to display maturity, regard, and  safety; or immaturity, disregard, and harm?"  Will your behavior garner His correction?

Ultimately, we are not after behavior modification, but a heart shift; and that ONLY comes from abiding in His presence. Again, He doesn't just promote unity.... He IS unity; he doesn't just promote reconciliation...He IS reconciliation.   He IS to be our very personal, very intimate Alpha who is also our very personal, very intimate Omega!

I hope these two scenarios provoke deep reflection concerning your own walk. Let there be a walk of deep introspection as you weigh what I have shared here. Ask the Lord for understanding that extends beyond your own to that of HIS!

Certainly no one is suggesting sin nor immaturity be glossed over or excused, but we are not to stoop to rants or retaliations.  Neither are we to go in the opposite direction of disengaging because we disagree or get offended or don't get our way.  These behaviors are childish and are not the marks of a maturing Christian.

No, our responsibility is to keep our eyes on JESUS, as our Alpha and our Omega, being willing to have our character turned inside out before Him so He can remove spot and blemish, as OUR part in sanctifying and preserving the unity of the Body.

Keep your eyes on your walk, and if disagreements arise – which they will – be quick to go into the Throne Room of Grace so your Alpha can also show Himself to be your Omega!  

Godspeed!