Authority
The story is told about a Drug Enforcement Agency officer showing up unannounced on a cattle ranch in south Texas. The DEA officer found the owner of the ranch and explained that he was there to inspect the ranch and to see if there were any illegal drugs. The old rancher shrugged and said, “Well, look around all you want, just don’t go over that fence into the pasture over there." Hearing this, the DEA officer puffed out his chest, reached into his back pocket, and pulled out a badge. He said, “This badge represents the authority of the federal government. This badge says I can go wherever I want, no questions asked, no answers given." The DEA officer glared at the rancher and challengingly asked, “Do you hear me?” The rancher replied simply, “fine,” and returned to his chores. A few minutes later the rancher heard screaming coming from the other side of the fence. Meandering over, the rancher saw the DEA agent running for his life, being chased by a gigantic bull with menacing horns. The old rancher climbed on the fence and shouted: “Show him your badge, show him your badge!”
This humorous story speaks to the importance of establishing authority. As we end 2024 and begin 2025, it is important to know who is in charge - who has the authority. We live in a world that is at war over this issue. This conflict repeats itself in many areas and over many issues. For example, the “Gender War” that has dominated conversation in recent years is a matter of authority. People claim the right to “identify” regarding their sexuality. Males claim to be females and females claim to be males. This conflict does not stem from the fact that basic biology is confusing or in doubt. Every individual is born with specific chromosomes. Females are born with two “X” chromosomes. Males are born with an “X” and a “Y” chromosome. While basic biology leaves no room for debate, that does not stop people from claiming that they have the authority to identify as whatever they choose. Conflict continues regarding abortion. People claim their right to choose, their right to live as they please and override the moral and ethical issue of killing an unborn person. Politics, religion, ethics, philosophy, economics - the list can go on and on regarding who has the authority to say what is right or wrong.
Fortunately, answers to all of these issues can be found. However, they are not found in political parties, worldly conventions, or human alliances. It is not a matter of who is older, wiser, richer, or more powerful. The answer is found when we turn to God. Yes, I know that statement is not well received in today’s culture, but the Bible does speak to all of the questions, disputes, and issues we struggle with. In Scripture, an important passage is Colossians 1:15-17: "The Son [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” God tells us, in these verses, that He is the master and maker of all things. Through Jesus, this universe, this creation, has come into existence. Jesus, second by second, holds everything together. As maker and creator, God has designed things to work in a certain way. As the “created,” I do not have the right to tell the “Creator” that He is wrong or misguided. By the way, this is exactly what the world is doing when they reject God’s truth and authority.
Let me close by pointing out a huge issue and something we need to understand. While God is the master and creator of everything, He has given humanity the gift of free will. Free will is a tricky thing. We can choose to exercise our free will in good God-honoring ways, or we can choose to reject God. Even though we have free will, we are not God. If we choose to shake our fists at God, the result will be condemnation and divine judgment on ourselves. Join me over the next few weeks as we consider God’s authority and how we can use our free will to obey this authority. Keep looking up!