Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Ecclesiastes 7:20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. The worship of and the lust for the three Gs: the girls/guys, gold, and glory are the root causes of man’s sinful destructive choices plus the tribulations caused by the same sinfulness. From the beginning of time, these coveted idols and offshoots of them, have caused mankind to sin and sin some more. Our egos are preyed upon by the enemy of our soul, and Satan knows which G to stimulate when we are weak. We give Satan the right to speak on our behalf when we sin, so if we want the devil to shut up; stop giving him ammunition. The opportunity to sin is always in front of us and we need to choose to stay forthright in Christ even if the world seems to be getting away with their evil choices. Eccl. 8:12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
I like what Ann Lamotte says, “We are not punished for the sin, we are punished by the sin.” It does not take much observation to see how some politicians, celebrities, and artists have tried to usurp the glory that truly belonged to God Almighty. These humanists take God’s glory and keep it for themselves, believing they are above God’s laws. In the same way, Satan tried to expropriate God’s glory for himself. In like manner, many people try and seize the glory God deserved, by claiming to be self-made and reliant upon no one but their own acumen and abilities. On many occasions, after these declarations of grandeur are made, it is not long before they crash to earth with severe consequences. Isa. 42:8 I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Whether these egotists suffer from the Icarus syndrome or plain hubris, they eventually fall, and the results are always the same, their self-induced punishment reveals their patheticness and that they are only human after all. God’s glory belongs to God and only God can handle the power of it.
Sometimes people cross the line of covetousness before they realize they are trapped, and then they cannot go back because they are now ensnared. They may have signed a financial agreement that is way above their pay grade. The desire for that new house, car, or whatever status symbol was trending at the time, was too hard to resist. Now, they are slaves to a debt that is crushing them. Coveting the glimmer and shine that their craving for gold caused was just too hard to withstand. What was once a dream to work toward, is now a nightmare to live with. Deut. 7:25 You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God. There is nothing wrong with gold and its use for living, but to become consumed by the imaginary power and accumulation of it is a losing game.
The faultline of society reveals what is just beneath the surface, and as we navigate through this world of pansexual ideology, what is beneath the surface is rotting the hearts of girls’ and guys’ visions of what love is. The worship of body image which promotes a narcissistic view of one’s self is rarely satisfying. In many cases, it creates dissatisfaction and self-loathing. Surgical enhancement of body parts to achieve acceptance in society becomes the choice of many. In some cases, these choices have created the opposite effect on their self-image. What was sold as truly liberating to these love-starved people, ended up causing depression, anxiety, and self-esteem problems within those who put their trust in the procedures.
I am not badmouthing reconstructive surgery that is needed because of a mastectomy, amputation, or life-threatening burns. Thank God these people who have suffered these traumas can have a semblance of normality returned to their lives through the skills of medical care workers in that field. My concern is for the people who have bought into the perfect girl or guy body image to attract an imaginary perfect lover into their life. Someone can be the best-looking person ever to walk the earth, but if their heart is ugly, then ugly will eventually reflect in everything they do. 2Sam. 14:25 No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. Absalom’s heart was full of treason and murder which eventually got him killed. He was physically perfect and adored for his beauty, and yet, there was no substance of character or satisfaction in that imagery. Absalom still wanted more of what he thought would fulfill his self-image. But his pursuit only turned out to be a grab for someone else’s glory and power.
Jesus surrounded Himself with everyday people. He invited fishermen, tax collectors, and a variety of followers to walk with Him and fulfill God’s plan for mankind. After the resurrection of the Lord, these same people, with Christ in their hearts, transformed the known world. Eccl. 7:19 One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town! We become like what we worship. If we are worshiping the Lord and follow His lead in life, there will be authentic joy and peace, even though there may not be peace in the world. As we follow our saviour, we will find our place in His plan. Phil. 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Whoever keeps chasing the girls, the gold, and the glory to acquire gratification, had better get ready for some hard times of disappointment and heartbreak. No one or anything can fill the hole that sin created within man’s soul. Prov. 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Christ the Lord is the one who knows how to knit His love and move His healing into our scarred souls to fulfill what we have been looking for in all the wrong places. Only Christ, through His sacrifice, can give us the true beauty, riches, and honour that will bring us back into friendship with God our Father. Thank you, Lord, for loving us into your eternal plan.
Blessed you Norm