16 Feb Definitely Not Indefinite

At my daughter’s school they are studying indefinite pronouns. I don’t personally have a memory of learning indefinite pronouns, per se. Do you? All. Another. Any. Anybody. Anyone. Anything. Both. Each. Either. Everybody. Everyone. Everything. Few. Many. More. Most. Neither. Nobody. None. One. Other. Several. Some. Somebody. Someone. Such.

 

When the material was first introduced, I kind of laughed to myself about how much I use those words with my kids. Usually it’s in the context of trying to manage their expectations and steer them away from unnecessary details and specifications that could become black and white rules in their young minds. “You said every day I can do ___…” No, I said some of the time we will do ___, and when we do it, everybody will be able to. Sound familiar?

I can look back at my own childhood and teenage years and see how along the way people were careless or maybe just unintentional about managing my expectations. Promises made then broken leave a permanent mark in your memory. I remember being disappointed, at times distrustful, and having a false sense of hope in people who didn’t have the power to really come through and deliver.

“Isn’t our world on an indefinite bandwagon? Everyone is entitled to everything. All things have equal value.”

Isn’t our world on an indefinite bandwagon? Everyone is entitled to everything. All things have equal value. If anyone disagrees, someone can label you intolerant, racist, or old-fashioned. We’re told to “co-exist” in so many ways. Being tolerant of all religious beliefs has morphed into a right for all beliefs to be considered true, because surely there must be many “gods” and everyone has the right to be right, no matter what those beliefs are. Even for Christians, so often an attitude prevails that I can live both my way and God’s way.

Is the world trying to manage our expectations? Absolutely. Only the world isn’t a loving, caring parent who is looking out for our long-term best interests. If we take the world’s advice, we will find ourselves disappointed, distrustful, and having a false sense of hope in people who don’t have the power to really come through and deliver.

The God of the Bible is anything but indefinite. The complete creation took seven days. He didn’t get started, then get distracted, maybe procrastinate a little, then finally get the job done. Throughout the Old Testament we see time and time again how precise and definite God is. He gives explicit and thorough instructions to Noah about building the ark. He does the same with Moses throughout the exodus and desert wandering of the Israelites. The details of building the Tabernacle are far from indefinite. God displays His definitiveness through fulfilled prophecy. And in the New Testament, Jesus makes such concrete declarations about Himself that it’s shocking and offensive to those around Him.

“The Bible is very clear about Whose name is above all names. It is very clear Who gives eternal life. It is very clear Who has the power to really come through and deliver. There is nothing indefinite about it.”

The Bible is very clear about Whose name is above all names. It is very clear Who gives eternal life. It is very clear Who has the power to really come through and deliver. There is nothing indefinite about it. Does this bring you comfort or does it cause some uneasiness? It’s not politically correct. The definite nature of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will always stand in opposition to the indefinite nature of the world’s message. He alone is the source of the kind of steadfast truth that our souls crave.

Lord, please give us wisdom to see the truth in You and find comfort and peace in the fact that You are holy, majestic, powerful, merciful, and infinitely definite.

-Kathy Usher