Worthy, Worthy, Worthy

Perhaps you have noticed the difference in how life is defined by some of Scripture's authors, or past heroes of our faith, and the usual examples of Christianity we see in our generation.

Could there be a difference in WHY we follow God?

In the times of the apostles, it shouldn't surprise us that people like Socrates and Plato had come to the conclusion that there is an embodiment of perfection, greater than the flawed gods in the greek or roman pantheons. The very idea of perfection meant that there was a 'highest good'. There is "a something" if inesteemable worth -- something only a fool would trade for mere earthly gain. This idea prepared the way for God revealing Himself through the Gospel. (ie: To the unknown God.)

We see this same principle in the lives of Jacob and Esau. Esau was rejected because he chose immediate gratification (in his case, a meal) above his birthright. All the repenting in the world could not reverse his decision. He had made his choice.

Has our generation failed to learn from Esau?

If we had our hearts laid bare to us, what would we truly see as our priorities?

Some see God as a form of eternal fire insurance. Get out of hell free.
Some see Him as a way into a social network.
Some see Him as a source of blessings of one sort or another. Whether that may be peace, healing, finances, restored relationships, strength to drop some sort of a habit, whichever.

But do we truly see Him for what He is?

Can we, with David, say I love your law more than gold or silver?
Have we, like Jesus taught us, chosen God above houses, family or lands?
Can we, like the saints in Revelation say 'we loved not our lives unto death'?


Do we delight in him?

If our hope is in our health, we may turn away from God in sickness or the death of a loved one. If money, we may doubt God in times of financial loss. If our first love is comfort, we will not do anything that will endanger our comfort, even if it means dishonoring God. If our ultimate hope in God is any thing we may gain by knowing Him, we stand on shifting sand.

If our chief joy is TRULY the knowledge that we are His and He is ours, we may stand like Job did. Though life strip everything else away, yet we will rejoice, because we haven't lost what we loved most.

It is no mistake that Jesus taught us to pray that God's name be "hallowed". We need to have an ever-expanding view of God's goodness, majesty and worth. If we have too small an opinion of God, we will not have a vision of a God worth both living and dying for before our eyes.

Allegiance to a truly Great God, rooted in love, worship and adoration, makes the life that awaits us more compelling than the life we now live. It creates the kind of christians that, (in acts 5.41) rejoiced that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Holy God, grant that we may see You with new eyes.