According to Wikipedia a “marionette” is a “puppet controlled from above using wires or strings.” A marionette’s puppeteer is called a “manipular.” Therefore a marionette is only able to do what the manipular allows it to do. A pull on a string or wire here or there the puppeteer can get the puppet to do almost anything. While it may be entertaining to all of us, it isn’t entertaining for humans to fall into such a predicament. In my preaching experience I hear people say this is exactly how they feel. They are pulled in every direction and they just go with the pull from their manipular.
God didn’t intend for any of us who are made in His awesome image (Gen. 1:26, 27) to be manipulated in such a way. We were all given a mind which is much higher than those of all other creatures that He created! Make no mistake about this! If He wanted us to be controlled from below, He would have come up with the idea of creating “marionettes.” I tell people who feel this way to check all around them to see if they see or feel any strings or wires attached to them. And to their surprise, they cannot see nor feel any type of attachment. (Yes, even Satan is a manipular).
God, Himself, doesn’t control us in such a way. He established rules for a peaceful life & not just a mere existence. Provided we are willing to become obedient to the One who knows us best. But God didn’t attach strings to us, otherwise we would be mindless robots. Having said this, I would like to call your attention to the fact that “decisions determine direction.” Joshua of old said, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river; or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me & my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). Direction will determine our final destiny. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to destruction, & there are many who go in that way. Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to life, & there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13, 14). While God allows us to make choices, we must make the right one in order to avoid the terrible consequences of the wrong one! There is a heaven to gain & a hell to shun!
Here are some examples of how people are “marionettes.” They allow the world & the things in to guide them away from serving the Lord:
1. A certain rich man allowed a material manipular to pull him in a direction away from God. (Luke 12:17-20). He was called a “FOOL” by the Lord.
2. King Nebuchadnezzar allowed power to cloud his mind. (Dan. 4:30-37). He was made to graze like the cattle in the field.
3. Felix trembled because he didn’t want to relinquish control to the Lord. (Acts 24:25). He thought he knew better on how to pilot his life. (Most people have the same mind-set today).
4. Then there was King Agrippa (Acts 26:28), the prodigal son (Luke 15), & on & on the list goes!
The apostle Paul said, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth (interest) … I please all men, not seeking mine own.” (I Cor. 10:24-33; cp. Phil. 2:4). We must all submit, willingly to God’s righteousness. (Rom. 10:3). This will then become a winning situation for everyone. Please don’t allow public opinion rule you or pull you in directions you really don’t want or need to go. We will all stand on judgment day before a just God either with the Lord or we stand alone! The latter isn’t best!