The dinosaur “star” of the film Jurassic World is a hybrid creation called Indominus Rex. It was designed to be “bigger, louder, with more teeth.” She was bred to be an attraction at an amusement park. But there is something about that name.
“Indominus” is Latin for “untamable”. You name something untamable all the while fully expecting to be able to control it. Okay.
At one point in the film, the “asset” (as they call it) gets loose and they have to decide whether to kill it, or merely contain it. Well, they have a team called the “Asset Containment Unit”, and once the manager points out that they have $26 billion invested in this asset…let’s not kill it.
I was instantly reminded of the things God tells us to crucify, like our flesh and some of our fleshly habits. Habits that have become a creation of our own making, habits that we think we can control. Until we can’t. God says crucify it…we say, “hold on, let’s take a look at this from an investment standpoint”.
For years I collected music, and had quite an extensive (and expensive) library of records (literally records, as in albums and cassette tapes). When it became clear I needed to change my taste in music, God’s direction was clear: Crucify it.
But I had so much money invested in my collection! I thought about selling them, giving them away (God loves a cheerful giver, right?), until finally I agreed and just destroyed them.
But other things I chose not to kill right away. In the film, they initially try to use non-lethal methods to contain that which by definition is untamable. How many things have we given new life to after God has directed us to crucify it?
We rationalize and justify…we make excuses and come up with reasons why it’s not so bad. Until the carnage of our lives leaves no further room for discussion. The only question that remains is, will we be still be able to stop it before it destroys us?
Jealousy, anger, pride, vengeance, lust, selfishness…all things we need to eliminate from our life and our lifestyle. But we have invested so much time and energy in some of these destructive things…how can we just kill it now?
How can we hold our tongue or tame our opinions when for so long we have trained them to be like Indominus Rex? A creation of our own making? A hybrid of attitudes and attributes designed to make us bigger, louder, and with more teeth?
God teaches us to deny our flesh, to bring our thoughts under the obedience of Christ and his word. It can be done. We have seen success in some areas and we can be successful in every area…if we follow the same process.
Be honest about the things you think you can control, but are truly indominus. Starve them, while feeding the godly attributes you want to display. The bible says if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
A creature is one who owes his existence, and success, to another. That is us! New creatures in Christ! We now have God’s DNA, and possess everything we need to live a life of godliness. So crucify the old man and let the new man live in you!
Everyday God... 