PRESUMPTION
In John Bunyan’s Christian classic, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” he describes the story of a Christian man journeying to the Celestial City.
While on his way he comes in contact with another man whose name is “Presumption.”
He is fast asleep in chains.
He’s literally bound and locked up in spiritual slumber and can’t be freed without outside help.
Yet when Christian offers a hand, telling him he must be sober and vigilant as regards his adversary the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), Presumption responds, “Every fat must stand upon his own bottom.”
Which, in other words, means: “Don’t bug me. I’m okay. Just worry about yourself.” (“Every [person] must stand upon his own [ground].”)
Of course, Presumption couldn’t be wrong and someone else right!
PRESUMING UPON GOD
And there are those who live their whole lives and then, there they are on their death bed, and you would share Christ with them to save their soul, but their response is, “No thanks. That’s all right for you. But for me, you see, my whole life I’ve done it another way.”
And to admit at the end of your days that you’d lived your entire life for the wrong thing, it’s a tall order.
Think about it.
There are many “Presumptions” out there.
They’ve “presumed” their way is the right way.
And that, in the end, God must save them (allow them in Heaven). (Matthew 22:11-13)
The devil told Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple since, after all, the angels would catch Him.
The Bible even said so! (Luke 4:9-11)
But what was Christ’s answer?
“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Luke 4:12)
And so Jesus literally wouldn’t put God to the test.
Which is just another way of saying He wouldn’t presume upon His Father and force His hand to do things a different way than He saw fit.
We must be careful that our Christian life isn’t us calling the shots, but the Lord.
“Thy kingdom come, [God’s] will be done.” (Matthew 6:10)
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