So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, (I Corinthians 3:21,22—NIV)

The proper order is Christ under God, man under Christ, and all the creation under man. Much of our Christian life consists of God taking things, relationships, and circumstances, removing them from their position between us and Christ, and putting them under our feet. Think about this. It can be a painful procedure if we are not willing and obedient.

Suppose Abraham had refused to give Isaac back to God? What if Abraham had screamed and protested, getting Sarah to scream and protest along with him, until God changed His mind? How do you think this would have played out?

Probably Isaac would have caught the flu and died. But what is infinitely worse, Abraham would never have become the father of all who believe.

Jesus Christ and all who belong to Christ are the Seed of Abraham. Think of it! What an inheritance!

God does not give everyone an opportunity to die such a dramatic death, only those appointed to the highest rank in the Kingdom. It is those who would be at the right hand of Christ who must drink the cup.

How about you right now? Is God knocking on your door? Is God asking you to give back to Him your dreams, your hopes, the entire scenario you have developed for yourself?

Probably He is if you are reading this essay. What are you going to do about it? Are you going to scream and wail to try to get God to change His mind? If you do your idol will turn to ashes and you will lose your crown.

It appears to me, and I certainly hope I am mistaken, that God could not approach many believers with an Isaac-type test. He would lose them at the outset. The moment they felt threatened the tiny trust in God they now have would be destroyed. God is not in the business of destroying the bruised reed or the smoking flax and so He has to treat people gently.

But when it comes to the cup the King drinks from, as someone said (was it Saint Anthony? I forget), that cup must be burned in the fire. Unless we are willing to suffer under the hand of God we do not have a prayer of ruling in the Kingdom of God. God's kings give everything to God. He can ask for anything and He will get it from them, although there may be some pain involved.

Everything must be brought down to death and raised again in Christ if it is to bring us joy in the end.

There were some elements in Jacob's struggle of the process of death and resurrection. Jacob was petrified with the fear that Esau would come and kill Leah and Rachel and the kids.

To be continued.