September 14 – Plugging into the source

For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the Lord made the heavens. Majestic splendor emanates from him, he is the source of strength and joy.  (2 Chronicles 16:26-27 NET)

When the Bible mentions idols and gods, we tend to picture ignorant, primitive civilizations bowing down to crude statues. But among church-going believers, there are many who invent their own gods.  When a believer does not want to submit to spiritual authority, but prefers to hop from church to church, and from one TV evangelist to another, they are in fact trying to custom-make their own god who will tell them what they want to hear.  When they don’t want to be held accountable for their spiritual lives and development, or be given guidance when they fall into sin, they have made a god in their own image.

We are all tempted to want an easy path, a god that doesn’t require much of us, and an appearance of spirituality that needs no sacrifice.  Christians who have become lax in faith but then return to God, are always ashamed of how far they’d drifted from Him, and of the fantasy-god that their minds so quickly created.  Unfortunately there are many who have drifted and never returned.  No wonder the Bible says that our hearts are more deceitful that anything else and incurable (Jeremiah 17:9).

In contrast, the Almighty God is our source of all strength, and all joy.  Picture being loved and empowered by the One who created the entire universe and all there is in it, with splendor and might radiating from Him, offering you authority over all evil, and a position as heir in His Kingdom – forever.  No pitiful patchwork god that our little minds create can compare to Him.  Why would anyone want to choose a false god that is worthless, over the true God who is full of power?

When we don’t submit to Him, and when we don’t die to our flesh, we cut ourselves off from strength and joy.  He is that source, and that is His promise to us.  For the depressed, the weak, and the fearful, the source of deep and lasting joy begins with God.  For those who are facing problems that intimidate them, that are beyond human effort, the source of supernatural strength to overcome is available in God.  This is not just a nice poetic saying, God is teaching us something practical to put to use right now.  

First, rid yourselves of all false gods that may have subtly crept into your hearts.  They are worthless and an abomination to God.  But once you have made the true God your Lord, count on majestic splendor shining over you, and strength and joy that surpass human understanding to be resources that you can tap into and use whenever you need.  Don’t accept anything less – this is a truth that He has spoken.  This is your promise.