Authority

Authority

I don’t think God is particularly excited about being in charge. He assumes authority because it is clear to him he is perfectly qualified to do so, while no one else comes close. For him to abdicate responsibility would be catastrophic for the rest of us.

There’s a scene in the movie, “The Sum of All Fears,” that speaks to authority. The U.S. President is at a football game, watching, and waving at cameras. His advisor, played by Morgan Freeman, receives a phone call that tells him there’s a powerful bomb nearby. He is stunned for a moment as he considers all the lives in the stadium, but then he calls out, “Bob, Joe, let’s go!” Three or four men serving as bodyguards turn and run from their nearby stations directly to the President. They grab him by the arms and practically carry him as they raced to the exit.

None of them knew what was happening; none of them asked. They had been trained to follow orders immediately and without question, understanding the critical nature of instant response. They knew the word of Freeman was a signal to be followed. As it turned out, their quick response did save the President’s life—the impact of the bomb was great enough to roll the President’s car as it drove on the highway, but the President escaped without serious injury.

This is how we are to respond to the voice of God. We do not have to understand his purpose before we obey. If we are sure it is His voice, we should never hesitate. Little doubt, our obedience will mean the saving of lives, as well.