God Who?

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 (NIV)

Along the dusty paths of the wide road we find many religious markings.  It is evident that the sojourners are no stranger to worship. They have made many gods that they find suitable for worship.  Like the Israelites at the base of Mount Sinai they used their best efforts to forge a deity that they could identify with in worship.  The golden calf was a familiar image from their past. They had knelt at his altar many times. The tragedy of the golden calf is that it was built in the shadow of the Most High.  The people could see the smoke rising from the mountain, they had heard the voice of the Lord, they watched as Moses climbed into God’s presence but still they fashioned a familiar god. 

Paul tells us in our verse this week that “they glorified Him not as God”.  This is the thread that runs through the pilgrims on the wide road. Every man doing what is right in his own eyes and heart, feeling justified by his own works, refusing to receive what God has plainly revealed.  In the ageless past Lucifer refused to glorify God instead desiring to become as God.  This is the danger of self centeredness.  He sought equality with God and felt slighted by the glory of God.   It made him mad.  He grew bitter every time God spoke.  He rejected God’s warnings.  He believed that He was capable of being the master of his own destiny.  Pride consumed him until there was no pretending anymore and open rebellion broke out in heaven.  Lucifer was so special in heaven that one third of the angels were deceived by his lies. That means they had trusted him before his fall.  God had been good to Lucifer giving him much but in the end it was ingratitude and selfishness that drew Satan to the Wide Road.  It is that way with everyone on that road.

If only the Israelites had looked up at the mountain of God.  If they had trusted in God’s love and grace.  Sometimes it is that grace that is the very thing that makes us falter.  Why would God love us?  Why would He care about us?  The darkened heart cannot imagine a love that loves unconditionally, that reaches out to the unlovable, but that is exactly what God has done.  He has seen the images built along the road and called us to look upon Him.  Turn from our false gods and false security and receive Truth in our inner parts. It seems that the history of Israel is replete with false gods and rebellion.  It is also covered with the unfailing love of the One True God who relentlessly pursues His love and even purchases her from slavery.

The gods of our making are easy to accept but they do not love us. We may pursue them but they will never pursue us.  The One True God loved us when we did not love Him.  He pursued us when we resisted Him and His mercies endure forever.  His way is straight and His path is narrow but He promises to never leave us and His love endures forever.

The Man In The Mirror

Matthew 5:3 (NIV) - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Sometime in the future if an artist were to try and encapsulate our era they might just sculpt an image of a man with both arms wrapped around himself in a loving embrace gazing into a mirror and kissing himself. We are not just self-centered we are proudly self-centered. We are not just selfish we are recklessly self sufficient. Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Our generation shouts its own message of blessedness. “Blessed is the man who is always right." "Blessed is the man who is strong." "Blessed is the man who rules." "Blessed is the man who is satisfied with himself." "Blessed is the man who is rich." "Blessed is the man who is popular." “Blessed is the man with the largest church.” I am reminded of a bumper sticker that was popular a few years back that declared, “He who dies with the most toys – wins!” The problem with that thinking is that he who dies with the most toys – still dies. Naked we came into this world and naked we will leave this world. Our popularity, power, and possessions will fade away like a summer mist.
Our hope is in the Lord! Our store house is not of this world and is not found in self! Narcissism, even when promoted as self-love in the church still leaves us with the emptiness of this world and robs us of the kingdom of heaven. When we replace our search for righteousness by a search for happiness, holiness by wholeness, truth by feelings and ethics by feeling good about ourselves the Church of Jesus Christ suffers loss and all that remains is self. To all of this Jesus speaks above the roar of our fleshly proclamations, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
What will your eyes behold when you look into the mirror of the future? What about your children and friends, your coworkers and neighbors, the man you passed on the street, will they see that sculpture embraced in self love and admiration or will they see the one that left His throne, walked among sinful men, was rejected and crucified because God so loved the world? Will they Jesus when they gather around the final resting place of your life or will they just fight over your stuff?

I Can Do It

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

“I Can Do It” The human condition is one of struggle. We struggle to come into the world and from the moment that we take our first breath we begin to adapt and overcome. Some have described this struggle as survival of the fittest. Watching a child we see them move from dependence to independence whether it is in the struggle to feed them self, to walk, or to find work and make a living each person lives their life struggling from one goal to another. We are fortunate to have this ability because without it the human race would soon be extinct. But as always what is a blessing on one hand becomes a curse on the other. From our first breath we are conditioned to “do it ourselves” so when we have to lay aside our pride and self reliance to seek God and His help we find that we must overcome a strong fleshly desire that springs up from our core being. To truly humble ourselves and pray means overcoming our survival instinct. Perhaps that is why so many find it hard to pray or turn prayer into a time of demanding God do what we want Him to do.
Abraham knew that God had promised him a child. He had faith and trusted that God was going to keep His word. Yet, we still find Abraham trying to solve the problem on his own. Sarah was only being helpful (she thought) when she suggested using Hagar, her handmaid, in the socially acceptable way for barren women to give their husbands a son. Abraham saw that this way worked for everyone else. Why not give it a chance? Survival instinct on display! To truly come before God in humble prayer we must cease from our labors. Still our mind from it’s fleshly pursuit and wait upon the Lord. The promise of God is that “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” God is able! He is my strength! He is my deliverer! He is my ever present help in times of trouble! So today, I will believe! I will trust not in my wisdom or strength but in God alone. I will humble myself and pray.