People can deceive us but the worst deception of all is 'self-deception.' With all our 'God-talk' and business in so called church matters, our outreaches and programs, we can deceive ourselves into believing all this brings us into the fellowship of God, after all, we are doing His will! Take away our programs and all the busy things we do in the spiritual arena and where would that leave us? Some would believe we are dead spiritually.
Israel had their golden-calf to raise up as their spiritual work of their hands. Their 'god' was one they created by their efforts and it made them feel good to worship and they could see their 'god'. The God of heaven who delivered them was hidden from them by sight. Man wants things seen!! When they asked for the Almighty's name He said: "I AM WHO I AM." The eternal God will not be controlled or manipulated by any efforts of man. What is all this to us?
We are much better off today. Religion flows all around, preaching and teaching, religious programs and Christian music. We claim to know our God!!! But is this really true? Maybe we too have created a 'god' in the image of man?
How many movements among those calling God their Father have arisen? Too many have their political 'golden calf.' Or maybe education can bring us out of the dark and atone for our sins? Maybe our 'god' is one we can explain in terms of sociology and behavioral patterns? These are predictable and under our control! Maybe it is a 'god' that we have made dependent on us so we can worship us at the center and use all this great talent as the draw while making us feel so good, so special. The questions have changed from, "Is it truth?" to "Does it make us feel something?" Listen, I'm trying to get us to think about the frenzy many have created in the name of the Lord calling things spiritual! If all these things are so adequate for us in our thinking and worship how come so many have difficulty coping? Here's a struggle one goes through and the answer: "Read this book!" or "Take this medication!"
It seems at times there is little reaching to the God of heaven and earth. Little reading and learning the insight from the God who is Spirit. And yet God is the one who controls it all by stating through Jesus: "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these thing from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." (Matt. 11:25-27) May the Lord open our eyes and hearts!
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