Distractions

When I died, I cried out to God and to my surprise, He answered.

Many people can read Ecclesiastes with the response, ‘Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.’ And yet, we can still walk away from that book without the benefit of the wisdom it is meant to convey.  The ‘Teacher’ sets out to achieve happiness by mastering knowledge… then pleasure… then work… then wealth and possessions… status… then women… they were all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Thousands of years ago, these words were written, and some of us pretend that they are no longer applicable for us today.  Yet look at what we clamor for… even demand, from our government leaders and others around us… Equality in education, money, and opportunities… so everyone has an equal chance to pursue knowledge… afford the pleasures that appeal to them… work hard to get ahead… accumulate wealth and possessions… and the acceptance of any activity that may bring sexual pleasure.  After all, it’s only fair.

Even a Christian who seeks justice, remains faithful, and walks humbly is left confused.

Having explored all too many of those tempting options, I found myself in a pit of despair, worry, regret, guilt, hatred, betrayal, rejection, and anger.  Lots of anger.

When God answered my cry, I KNEW. I knew He was real. I knew He was with me. I knew I was never going to be the same. And I knew… I had no idea what to do about it. But I was getting to know the One who did.

Imagine my surprise to hear the clarity of the lies of the great deceiver as outlined in the Garden story in Genesis.

1. The devil gets us to question God’s Word.
2. The devil scoffs at the negative consequences of sin.
3. The devil accuses God of evil intent.
4. The devil advertises sin as beneficial.
5. The devil uses sin to create shame that destroys our future relationships.

We have all listened to that liar. And as we run away, and try to hide, and try to cover ourselves, it is the voice of God that is calling out to us, ‘Adam, where are you?’

Don’t get ‘God’ confused with being spiritual – the devil is a spiritual being. There are many religions and churches that still get this wrong.  Many organized religions promote self-effort for you to become what you are not.  That, too, is meaningless!  (If I could have, I would have, by now.)

It is only true Christianity that says we become, by Grace, who we really are.

It is truly through the fear of God that we begin to grow in His wisdom. And it is in His wisdom and through His grace that we can leave evil behind as we learn to distinguish truth from the distracting lies around us.