Advertisements. Those lovely thirty seconds of pause in public television. Sometimes they’re annoying, especially when I’m invested in a show. Other times, ads are worth the watch, and they achieve cult status. In the African-American community, there’s a memorable spot from the 1980s for “Hey Love”, a three-record romantic ballad album collection featuring the “classic sounds of sexy soul”.
The ad features three bored men and women whose evening takes a turn when one of the men announces, “Hey, y’all! I got a new album in the mail!” Music fills the living room atmosphere followed by a deep-voiced narrator listing various soul acts which comprise the compilation: Peaches and Herb, The Moments, The Stylistics, The Delfonics, The Intruders, The Persuaders, The Dells, The Emotions, The Chi-Lites, Barbara Mason, Linda Jones, The Friends of Distinction, and Eddie Holman.
In the end, one man says to the owner, “This is a fantastic album, man! Let me borrow it!” His friend grabs back the discs and replies, “No, my brother. You’ve got to get your own.”
Society at large heralds self-determination as a virtue. We respect and admire people who can pull themselves up by their bootstraps, per se. There is, however, a sector of the population that in some respects, opposes resoluteness. Of this group, I’m a member for three decades and I love dearly. It’s the church.
The primary goal of Christ’s followers is what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:29, “For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
Our desire to be like Jesus and draw others to Him is noble and yet cause for trepidation. Understandably, we want God to have complete control and fear any effort signifies disobedience and lack of trust. As I look through the scriptures, however, I’ve discovered God values self-determination, too. In many cases, He’s paved the way to our success and waits for us to act. Here’s an example from each testament of how God wants us to break through to get our breakthrough:
The Old Testament contains the infamous account of the Exodus. In the book’s fourteenth chapter, Moses and the Israelites are escaping from years of Egyptian slavery to a land of their own. First, they must venture through the raging Red Sea as their taskmasters are in heavy pursuit. The Israelites complain to Moses leaving Egypt was a mistake. Moses says God will fight for them.
Yet, God responds to him, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the people to get moving!” Then, God tells Moses to take his staff and raise it over the sea. God miraculously divides the waters which allows them to pass.
Navigating over into the New Testament and John 5:1-9, a man with an illness for thirty-eight years sits beside a pool where an angel periodically stirs up the water. The first person to get in the pool afterward is cured of whatever ails them. Jesus notices the man and asks him, “Do you want to get well?” Exasperated, the man retorts, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Approaching four decades of inactivity, one would think he could’ve made incremental advances toward the pool and eventually become the first to get in. Jesus says to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk”, and the man stood for the first time in years.
Like our friend at the pool, standing on our feet is a signal we are indeed allowing God to have His way in our lives. When we do, He can even take our mistakes and adversity to work for our benefit.
So for the record, may our lives be a daily advertisement of a harmonious partnership with God working “hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:12-13).”
Get up from the floor, and get what’s yours.
Sources:
Commercial: “Hey Love” Record Collection
Scripture: Romans 8:29*
Scripture: Exodus 14:1-31*
Scripture: John 5:1-9 (New King James Version)*
Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13*
*Scripture references are from the New Living Translation except where noted. Their links go to bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices.
