In the transition from the sermon to the altar call Sunday afternoon, Pastor Sam said, "There are all kinds of idols that are trying to distract us and take shares."
Our pastor's statement, supported by Scripture and by history, was a reminder to us that some who serve God do not serve Him exclusively. On remembering my own struggles with serving God, my mind immediately went to the first nine chapters of Ezekiel. In those chapters, religious leaders came to Ezekiel seeking a word from the Lord. As they waited, the Lord showed Ezekiel that the leaders, though consistently engaged in temple service, had actually covenanted themselves to pagan gods. They would literally turn their backsides to the place where God's glorious Presence was resident, and would bow in worship to the sun god. Without words, their actions were saying: "God, kiss our backsides. We're not quitting our ministry jobs: we'll serve You out there when we feel like it, and we'll serve these idols in the back room here when we feel like it. Deal with it, God."
But our God is not into polygamy. He says to the idolater, just as Jesus said to the evil one: "Get behind me, Satan: for it is written, You will worship the Lord your God, and He is the only one that you will serve." (Luke 4:8, emphasis mine)
Our God has called us into exclusive relationship with Him. This goes against the grain of the world, which shies away from exclusionary terminology. The world promotes the idea of everyone being able to live as they please, and everyone being given access to heaven regardless of the way in which their lives were lived on earth. Some branches of the Church have also jumped onto the bandwagon, advertising themselves as "inclusive" (the implication being that one can attend church, and even enter ministry, without ever giving attention to the demands of Christ).
This is not a new concept. Scripture recounts the crisis of Hophni and Phineas, the sons of Eli who routinely, and publicly, ate the prohibited portions of the sacrifice and engaged in sexual intercourse with women who were hanging around near the door of the tabernacle (see First Samuel 2:22). This practice was common in the worship experience of those who served the pagan gods of fertility; it was an acting out of the people's desire for fruitfulness of lands and families. And Hophni and Phineas, rather than standing apart from the practices of society, jumped right in. It was as if their actions said, Guys, God Almighty isn't enough of a Power for you. Let's do what the pagans do; maybe their gods can help us out.
The spirit of idolatry is relentless and aggressive in its effort to fool Christians into living what they think are "compartmentalized" lives. But if we give in to the temptation to help ourselves at the table of the world, we will then cease to reflect the glory of God. Pastor Sam spoke of the crisis of carnal Christians who ask, "Can I make an appearance in the pus?", as if one can do so without being negatively affected and negatively affecting the lives of countless others. To pull a related Pastor Sam quote from a few years ago, "Sin cannot hold the glory of God." Ask any person who has seen their ministry fall apart when they attempted to juggle the life of Christ with the life of sin, and they will tell you: "No man can serve two masters." (see Matthew 6:24).
Even one share in idolatry is enough to wipe away the presence of God's glory. Like the vision of Ezekiel, we who look on can see the Presence leave the life of a person who refuses to give God exclusive place and exclusive rule. It is the echo of old Samson: their body may look the same on the outside, but in the time of crisis it becomes abundantly clear that the power of God no longer resides in them. And, like Samson, the person might not even realize the glory has departed. "I will go out as I have at other times before..." (Judges 16:20) No, Samson, you won't. Repent.
-If we pursue holiness, our lives will be a reflection of The Holy One of God, our Lord Jesus.
-If we do not pursue holiness, we will not reflect the Lord's glory, and according to Scripture we will not see Him (see Hebrews 12:14).
Oh, Lord, here we are. No riders attached, no idols in tow, no shares held by others. We are Yours, exclusively. Give us grace to pursue holiness, for the glory of Your name.
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