Thursday, July 31, 2008

Is God Impressed?

Photo by Byron
Temples are still there on the high places.
Is God impressed? I don't think so. No more today than in the time of ancient Israel.
"They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless."
What we consider worthwhile is not very often what God does. Today we have perhaps some new gods - which most people wouldn't think of calling idols. But what is a false god, other than something we trust in for truth and help and self worth? The big ones of our age are science, technology, education, drugs, and medicine - aside from and along with the more ancient gods of money, power and sex.

Did you ever think that just possibly public icons like Marie Cure or Albert Einstein were not so especially worthwhile in God's eyes. Certainly no more, and maybe less, than a child of his who follows after the things close to his own heart. And, we have no need to wonder about that either. He has taken the trouble to communicate and preserve for us his precious Word. If a doctor has found a new way of saving lives, that may be good, but only to the extent that it gives someone an opportunity to seek and serve God in any bonus years they're given. Time that is only a blink in eternity.

Hezekiah was told to prepare himself, that he would die of the illness he had, but after he sought the Lord for healing, with tears, he was given an extra 15 years to live. He then managed to annoy God with his pride and to produce a son, Manasseh, one of the more wicked kings ever to rule Judah.

Jesus tells us, his followers, that we will do great and worthwhile things. That is great in God's eyes.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Greater than those things (the miracles - verse 11) Jesus did!? Wow! And, that wouldn't be discovering a new asteroid and naming it after yourself either.

2 comments:

  1. I was reading Chronicals lately and was noticing that the Kings were continually having to tear down the "high places", and if they didn't there would usually be bad consequences. Like sin in my life.There are consequences if I don't get rid of all of it.

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  2. Yes, I guess "high places" are a good metaphor for something we put up above where it ought to be in our hearts.

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