Let’s pray:
Lord I come to you humbled that by Your grace I may have a new life . Please use me as your vessel to be your Disciple reaching out to all as the light on the hill. Please clear my mind & spirit as I listen to your words so that my words & actions become a symbol to all that I come into contact with today & in the future until I sit at the right of Jesus. Amen.
Romans 1:18-23
The Message (MSG)
Ignoring God Leads to a Downward Spiral
18-23 But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.
My Small Group is currently studying “Gods at War.” People today have idols (whether we want to admit it or not). No we don’t worship golden calves, but we fall victim to other things that consume, or become false gods in our lives. Pastor mentioned a few weeks ago movies or entertainment. They provide a diversion & immediate satisfaction, but what happens when the movie is over? Many times I don’t even remember what the movie or show was about (let alone the name of it). The Gods at War study focuses on these short term fixes-pleasure, love, money, power, me.
Football (especially in Texas) is a false God. I wait all week for the big game. My life is centered around making sure I don’t miss the big game (whether it be in the stands, or in front of the TV). I have to get the yard mowed, clean the house, do whatever so I can watch the game. Then the game comes, I cheer for my team & then it is over. I am happy for a while that my team won, or depressed for a while when my team loses (between UT & Dallas depression has become the more likely emotion.) But whether I am excited over the win, or upset over the loss, before long I am fine & ready for the next “big game.”
Unfortunately, I can’t say I set my calendar & get excited each day for the real game-Me giving all of my time and passion to the 1 true GOD. I can rationalize it, all I want, but that doesn’t mean God approves of my justification. I can see the football game, TV movie, etc. Just because I can’t see GOD does not mean that I should ignore Him. The existence of GOD is all around me, it is up to me to acknowledge Him & put as much passion, love & excitement in following Him as I do in following a game, or television show. As pastor said, those things are instant gratifications. Following GOD & expressing my faith & love for GOD to all that I come in contact with are lasting & will not be forgotten.
Is there more to life than getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, eating dinner, watching TV & going to bed so that I will be ready to do it all again tomorrow? Or as Tom Brady said in the clip 2 weeks ago, is that all there is after 3 Super Bowl Rings? Is there something more?
I can see the power & love of GOD all around me. I can shut HIM out with my false gods, or I can “open my eyes” worship HIM & proclaim my faith with the knowledge that no this is not all there is! This is only a short journey to eternal life with my Father.
Do you fall into the same traps as I do? Do you allow these false god’s to consume your life? I would love to hear from you.
Have a Blessed Week,
Jerry