Once upon a time there was a boy, who later grew to be a man.....
Seems like everybody's story begins this way. At some point we learn the truth, and our world no longer seems fairy tale.
As teens, we discover the hard truth about our parents. These super humans aren't really who we believed them to be. Somehow we are able to pull back the curtain, and discover their true identity. Instead of super, they quickly transform to human. Flawed, frail, and filled with anxiety. Did they mean to misrepresent themselves? Maybe, but as a parent myself, sometimes no matter who you think you are, your children still see you as greater than you feel.
Through all my struggles, failures, and times I've stood in compromise; I've learned God still sees a perfect masterpiece. Why? Is He blind? Does He even know who I am? Does He keep me down, just so I have a need for Him, like some sort of overlord? Maybe I'm not a man at all, but a little boy still looking for superheroes.
The truth is, He sees us as righteous and perfect because of the blood of Christ Jesus. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary built a bridge between our sinful selves and the holiness of God the Father. When God looks at us He sees Jesus. I'm so thankful for that.
In the last blog post, I wrote about the filter we use to see and hear God. Just as our children see and hear God through their superheros, God knows us through the filter of Christ Jesus our Lord. Without Him, God couldn't have the relationship that He once had in the garden of Eden.
Paul says this in his letter to the church in Rome:
"I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate." Romans 7:15(b)
A parable I've read recently, I think addresses the issue of brokenness in our hearts:(a)
"A rabbi and his young disciple sat side by side under the shade of a large oak tree. "Help me, Rabbi," said the disciple. "I am a double-minded man. The law of the Lord tells me, 'The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not be in want.' But oh, how I want!" The rabbi's face revealed a trace of a smile, but he remained silent. "And Rabbi," said the younger man, "the law of the Lord tells me that my soul finds rest in God alone. But oh, how my soul finds rest in everything else!" The rabbi's face revealed the same trace of a smile, but still he remained silent. "And Rabbi," said the student, "the man after God's own heart told us to ask and seek after only one thing--to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple. But my heart seeks after so many things." The student lowered his voice to a whisper. "And the beauty I secretly gaze upon brings me shame. How will I ever become a man after God's own heart when I am so unfaithful?" With this the rabbi let go of all constraint and began to laugh, his eyes sparkling. "My son," said the rabbi. "Listen to the story I am about to tell you." "Long ago, a skylark flew above the parched and desolate ground of the desert. Times were hard for all living things, and worms were not easy to come by for a creature of the air. Even so, the skylark sang a winsome song day after day as he sought his daily portion. As each day passed, the difficulty of finding food grew more extreme. In his hunger he began to grow restless. And in his restlessness he forgot how to sing." The rabbi paused for a moment, wiped his brow, and exhaled deeply. The student sat attentively on the edge of his seat but wondered what this story had to do with becoming a man after God's own heart. In a whisper the rabbi continued. "One day the skylark heard an unfamiliar voice. It was the voice of a traveling peddler, and the skylark could not believe what the peddler seemed to be selling. 'Worms! Worms! Mouthwatering Worms!' cried the peddler. "Come right up and get your delicious worms today!' Incredulous at this sudden good fortune, the skylark hopped closer to the peddler, drawing nearer to this manna from heaven. "'Worms today! Two worms for one feather!' said the peddler. A the mention of worms, the skylark felt the pang of hunger, and suddenly he understood. My feathers are many, thought the skylark, imagining the taste of the worms in his beak. Surely I will not miss just two small feathers. So, unable to resist any longer, the skylark plucked two of his smallest feathers and surrendered them to the peddler, who, unbeknownst to the skylark, was the unholy one in disguise. "As promised, the skylark had his choice of the fattest, juiciest worms he had ever seen. And all without needing to dig and claw in the unyielding ground! So the skylark took hold of four glistening worms and swallowed them. Such small sacrifice, yet such great reward, the skylark told himself. Two small feathers is no concern to me. With his stomach full, the skylark stepped from his high perch and began to soar. And as he did, he began to sing once again. "The next day the skylark swooped and sang until he met the nefarious peddler once again. Just as before, the peddler offered two worms for one feather. So the skylark feasted on the luscious worms until he had his fill. And so it went day after day. Times were still hard for all living things, and worms were still not easy to come by for creatures of the air. "One day, after finishing the worms, the skylark attempted to take flight. Instead of soaring, he plummeted to the ground with a thud. Stunned but grateful to be a live, the skylark realized he had no more feathers. Of course, he could no longer fly." The rabbi paused for so long that the disciple thought the story was over. He responded to his teacher by saying he would ponder the meaning of the story. "Ah, but the story continues," said the rabbi. Sitting down, he exhaled deeply again. "Once the skylark realized he had given up his feathers and could not fly, he came to his senses," said the rabbi. "Desperate, he hopped and stumbled through the desert, gathering worms. A small one here, a small one there. After several days of striving and toil, he had a small pile of worms and returned to the peddler. 'Here are enough worms to exchange for my feathers--I need them back.' "The devil, however, just laughed and said, 'You can't get your feathers back! You got your worms, and I've got your feathers. And after all, a deal is a deal!' And with that, he disappeared into thin air." As the rabbi finished speaking, the young apprentice noticed a tear running down his teacher's cheek. "Rabbi, why the tear?" the disciple asked. "The heart of God breaks when we give away our feathers for worms," the rabbi answered. "But even more, His heart breaks when we try to buy our feathers back. For only God can restore our feathers." After a long silence the disciple asked, "And Rabbi, why were you laughing before you told me the story?" The rabbi turned, his moist eyes now twinkling again. "I laughed with joy because I have seen your heart. In your heart there is a song. And with your heart you will learn to fly."Another way to illustrate this, is to ask you a question: If you were hungry and you had to choose between two things, a bowl of vegetables or a bowl of chocolate cake, which would you choose?
Just saying the word chocolate has already taken us to some place magical with oompa loompas or the joys of birthday parties. Or maybe you think of a guilty pleasure that seems like no big deal.
But what goes through your mind when you think of celery sticks and carrots? Maybe you are reminded of how you always pigged out at the salad bar at a buffet or maybe you think of potluck dinners where someone always brings veggies and dip. Or maybe you shudder at the thought of them because you were always made to eat your vegetables.
If we look at them side-by-side, we notice two things. The chocolate cake is a slice of heaven only to be regrettable when we step on a scale. Where the vegetables may not taste great, but they are great for you.
Just like in the parable we all know what is right and good, but we want what we want when we want it.
Somehow this mindset, almost never leads to long-term benefits.
What I've learned about myself, is that I treat God much the same way. Trusting God through obedience and righteousness isn't fun, but it is what is best. Taking what we want when we want it, gives us power and pleasure that will eventually ruin us.
Whether, your addicted to gambling, eating, porn, or compulsive shopping; these are all symptoms to a greater dilemma.
Adam and Eve had this problem. Everything was simply brilliant, until the serpent told them what they wanted to hear. "God is not telling you everything. He only told you not to eat of the fruit, because He didn't want you know as much as Him." Sounds like Satan is describing an overlord, not God.
What did Adam and Eve do? They bought it, hook-line-and sinker.
Every time we give in to the lies of the deceiver, we erode our intimacy with God. Our filter becomes our experience and understanding, rather than trust and obey.
Let me be clear....God didn't move, YOU did!
The grace of God is there waiting patiently for you to return to Him. What empty wells do you turn to, when God doesn't microwave His blessings? The more you nuke the promises of God into the lies of Satan, the harder it will be for you to hear clearly, without a feeling of worthlessness and shame.
God does not produce shame, nor does He claim your worthlessness. That is from the deceptive lies of Satan himself.
Jesus illustrates this beautifully in the parable of the lost son in Luke 15:11-32. The son wanted his inheritance NOW, so his father gave it to him. He left home and squandered it all on the pleasures he found, only to find himself begging for pig slop just to survive. So he decided to return home with his tail between his legs. While he was still a ways away, his father saw him and rushed out to his son, and hugged him. He demanded the best robes and food for his son was lost, but now he is found.
God is the dad and we are the lost son. His grace doesn't shame you because of your past, nor does it reject you because you don't measure up. YOU ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP!! He knew you before you were in your mother's womb.(C) You are known by Him!! Walk upright for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Watch this video from Bill Cosby about his experience with manipulation and deceit. Notice all of the lies he tells himself, just so he can get what he wants when he wants it. I'm just thankful God does not deal with us like his wife would.
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