"Many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." (John 12:42-43 ESV)
"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." That really sums up the reason we do a lot of the things that we do. Romans 1:22-23 says "Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creepy things." It's so easy for us to give up the truly wonderful thing that is more intangible and abstract, for the counterfeit that we can see and feel and experience right now. The problem is, the counterfeit eventually leaves us empty and unsatisfied. It pleases for a moment, but is then revealed for what it truly is. But it's such a temptation.
So how do we combat this? We do what Paul said in Collosians 3: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:1-17 ESV)
Life can be a constant battle between focusing on the temporal or the eternal. Let's not lose that battle by settling for lesser pleasures. There is no greater satisfaction than getting to know the God who made us. And this comes primarily through reading His word, which is His revelation to us. If you want to get to know Him, go to the source. He wrote the book for you. Open to John 1 (about 3/4 through the Bible), and just start reading. When you finish John, just keep going. You will be amazed at how your life is changed.
No comments:
Post a Comment