Toward Sanctification: Out of Control

It really amazes me that I never knew about this. It was not brought up in driver's ed, I have never seen an article about it (although I am sure there must be articles about it -- I will check after writing this), and no one talked about in my hearing until I heard it on the radio last week.

Never use your cruise control on wet pavement.

Now that I know that, it makes obvious sense! If you hit a wet oil spot, or if you hydroplane, you have set the car to go at a particular speed. Since the wheels can't find solid pavement, it automatically speeds up, trying to reach the speed you told it you had wanted to go, right when you are fighting for control!

Trust that right foot only during such times -- it's safer.

And I automatically thought about this with regard to sanctification. Sanctification is control. Control given over to G-d and your own control of yourself and your spiritual- and life-environment.

I recently read part of an article written by a teacher in a church that stresses sanctification. Admittedly, I did not read the whole article, and intend to do so in the near future, but I quickly disagreed with the part I did read. Basically, it appeared to say that sanctification was completely up to G-d. I so disagree. He clearly says several times in Scripture, "Sanctify yourselves." Set yourself apart. Firm yourself to do what I tell you. Confirm permanently within yourself that you are Mine. Assure yourself in your own mind by My Word that your thoughts and actions are for Me: be fully persuaded, and He will assuredly do His part. Get it all into His control.

Sanctification, then, is not an emotional experience; it is living within the reality of what is by His direction.

Some of us have control issues. I do. I have a tendency to want to control my little world, giving rise to the nickname my children lovingly blessed me with: Velcro Queen. If something may move out of its place, it gets Velcroed.

But there are many kinds of control, some of which are very harmful.

Through my foray toward sanctification, I have had to learn to give up some kinds of control, in order to be in His control. Such control makes us think before we act -- makes us check our attitudes.

I got to go out for lunch with my son and his family today. We laughed as what I was saying reminded him and his wife of what their pastor had said today. They told me that the pastor preached that there are four decisions we can make at crucial moments:

A bad decision
A good decision
A better decision
The best decision

It's a control issue -- one that needs to be learned and adhered to.

My bad decisions come from my impulses.
My good decisions come from thinking.
My better decisions come from thinking a little longer.
My best decisions come from knowing what G-d wants from me, learned by studying His Word.

How much better the outcome when the decision is made because He is in control!

Check this snopes site.

One police site added not to use the cruise control on icy roads, which I think we all would know not to do. So why did I not consider wet roads as well?

I thought about the near-accident I'd mentioned here in an earlier post, which occurred because of bad tires. I had not been using my cruise control then, but I now know what it's like to have to control a severely fish-tailing vehicle!