Back in 1966, the TV show Lost in Space introduced the phrase "resistance would be futile." The following year, Dr. Who altered it to "resistance is futile." If you're a Sci-Fi fan, you might recognize the Borg from Star Trek. They first used the phrase "resistance is futile" in the 1990 episode of Star Trek - The Next Generation titled "The Best of Both Worlds." Since its introduction in Star Trek, "resistance is futile" has become a common phrase used in other TV shows, books, and even music albums. It has become a popular catchphrase in the Sci-Fi world and probably in your own vocabulary!
Did you know that the concept of "resistance is futile" was actually referred to in the Bible in the book of Romans written around the year AD 57-58? In Romans 14:11 ESV, it says, "For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'" This verse reminds us of the universal submission to God's sovereignty, the unavoidable surrender to His will, and the pleading for His mercy and grace.
This verse speaks of a reality that is as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. It speaks of a future where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the sovereignty of God. This is not a possibility, but an inevitability. It is a future that will come to pass, regardless of our actions or inactions, our beliefs or unbelief.
This is a future where submission to God is not optional, but unavoidable. It's a future where our acknowledgment of God's sovereignty is not a matter of choice, but a matter of fact. It's a future where our confession of God's Lordship is not a matter of preference, but a matter of truth. This submission is universal. It's not limited to a select few or a particular group. It encompasses every knee and every tongue. It includes everyone, regardless of their race, religion, or social status. It includes the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the believer and the unbeliever. It includes you and me.
In this submission, we see that it is personal. It's not something we do as a group, but something we do individually. It's about each of us bowing our knees and confessing with our tongues. It's about personally recognizing God's power and confessing that He is in charge. It's about you and me, each of us acknowledging and confessing that God is in control. These actions can't be done for someone else. Each person has to do it for themselves. We can't rely on someone else to do it for us. It's up to each of us to acknowledge and confess God's sovereignty and lordship.
It's important to remember that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that God is Lord. This isn't a threat, but a promise. It's a promise that one day, everything will be made right. Every tear will be wiped away, and we will finally see God face to face. When God calls us to surrender to His will, do we resist or rely on Him? The Bible tells us that there may be ways that seem right to us, but they can lead us astray (Proverbs 16:25). Are we learning the hard way that resisting God doesn't work out in the end?
Some people say that living a Christian life is hard, but really, it's harder not to.
Take care,
Mark