For the customs of the people are
delusion;Because it is wood cut from the forest, the work of the
hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They decorate it with
silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers so
that it will not totter...do not fear the, for they can do no harm,
not can they do any good. Jeremiah 10:3-4,5b
This passage continues our thoughts of
how our creativity, if not directed by the Spirit of God Himself, can
lead us into sin. This is the story of the craftsmen...remember, we
talked about the children of Nehemiah's time moving into the valley
of the craftsmen...those who worked to make idols of worship, leading
millions into the worship of pieces of wood representing false gods.
We tend to think of people “back then” who were superstitious and
bowed to idols. It happened in the Old Testament, in the New, where
Paul was run out of town when the idol makers for Diana thought they
were going to be put out of business, and today, all over the world.
If you don't think people bow before idols, go to Asia. Look at
India. Images of the Buddha, of Shiva, of thousands of gods we in the
west have never heard of, are bowed to daily. The rat god, the snake
god, the gods of war and fertility get offerings of food, money, and
praise. And lest we think Christians are immune, look into some of
the denominations and cathedrals. There are relics and tombs and
“holy places” that draw people not only to wonder at God, but to
worship those pieces. Instead of hearts being lifted in praise to a
Holy God and His Son Jesus, they prostrate themselves before a statue
or image and beg for God's attention. Some places do help our hearts
submit to God, but others...well, I will politely put it that they
are a stumbling block.
We are so easily
deluded. A delusion is: A
false personal belief that is not subject to reason or contradictory
evidence and is not explained by a person's usual cultural and
religious concepts …
We
are lead away from what we know is true and develop ideas that make
us believe the lie. Satan is the master of delusion. He deluded
Eve...she knew that God was good and had given everything she needed
for happiness and holiness, and yet she began to doubt that. And she
acted on that delusion. It was a piece of wood coated in gold and
silver...the forbidden became beautifully coated in “being like
God,” to look like more than it was. She forgot one important thing
in Satan's coaxing. She already was like God! He had made Adam and
Eve in HIS IMAGE. They were as close to God as they could get as
created beings, and yet the lie became more beautiful in their minds.
Why is it when we have it good that we desire something more? I have
a SABLE, fabric “stash accumulated beyond life expectancy,” but I
also have a wish list for Hancock's of Paducah, Jo Anns, and
Crafter's Choice on my computer. I need not one more thing (ok, I
need a FQ of a certain fabric to keep from having to tear out a
couple of blocks on the quilt I am working on, but you get the
point), but all I have doesn't keep me from wanting more. And that
discontentment poisons the well. I can look at the things I have
managed to achieve and make the idols or look at them as pointless
endeavors. My mind can delude me into thinking that satisfaction can
be found somewhere other than in His Holy Will, outside of His
desires for my life. I can wrestle with these things, or I can shake
the delusion out of my head. Face it, the desire for more fabric or
books or machines pales in the face of the other delusions Satan sets
before us. But Jeremiah reminds us that these things, if seen for
what they are, cannot harm us ultimately. When we look at that idol
and think,”You are wood covered in gold. You are harmless, and your
only value is the gold itself.” that we can walk away unharmed.
When we see the threats of the god it represents and believe that
lack of submission to it will cause us harm, we fall into the trap.
What if I walk away from the demands of this god? Will I starve, be
cursed, or not have children? Will I wander aimlessly and come back
in the next life as a bug or fish, or a rich man? We see threats,
deprivation, and unfulfillment everywhere. If we are looking anywhere
but at God, we wander. When we fail to see the whole of God, all of
His beauty, all of His goodness, even in keeping away certain things
and people from us for our good and the good of those around us, we
believe the lie and are deluded.
I
will confess to watching “The Bachelor” last night. The guy is
from Iowa, and I wondered how Iowa would be portrayed and what kind
of women they would put in front of him. One by one, gorgeous women
stepped before him, most putting their best foot forward in making a
first impression. Then you see the behind-the-scenes, who is really
sweet and beautiful, and who is a potty-mouth, back-biting piece of
work. The girls start to see each other, and the next weeks, which I
do NOT plan on watching, will be full of this guy dealing with
delusions. What he will see of these gals is not the whole picture.
There are plenty of gold-covered pieces of wood for him to look at.
But unless they show him the tape of these gals when he is not
around, he will be deluded. And we delude each other until we become
real with each other, confess our sins, and come clean.
On
a brighter note, some day we will all be presented to Jesus, and he
will separate the sheep from the goats. He won't be picking one
“perfect” bride, but all of those chosen by God to become His
bride. He will not be like the bachelor who didn't want more girls to
come...too many choices. Jesus wishes all would come to him, but not
all will. He wants the banquet hall full to the brim, but knows that
many are called, but few are chosen. Not everyone will want to share
in the bounty of His love. I just hope that I can look beautiful in
His eyes, that I be pleasing when brought to the mansion to be His.
That is when true beauty will be enjoyed forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment