Here’s a little test for this month’s column: which of these sermons would you be most interested in hearing: Raising Courageous Kids, God is a Holy God, Finding Your Purpose, Seeing the Glory of God in Jesus Christ, Get the Marriage You’ve Always Wanted or In Control: Our God is a Sovereign God?
Now let me say that each of these are legitimate sermon topics and
could be spoken about faithfully from the Scriptures. However, the topics
that most draw our attention may reveal something about our hearts and desires.
Notice, three of the sermons are about “me” (being a good parent, finding
my purpose, having a good marriage), and three of the sermons are about God (He
is Holy, He is Glorious, He is Sovereign).
Do you see? Your preference may point to your priority.
Am I more interested in God, or am I more interested in me? Am I
God-centered in my life and thinking, or am I man-centered? When we are
not God-centered, we care less about God and His character and more about “How
Can I Live My Best Life Now.” We may not
be interested in theology and doctrinal precision because we are not so
interested in God. We are interested in tips in how to live, because we
are primarily interested in ourselves. Some
have called this the eclipsing of Theology with Me-ology. The shift may
seem subtle, but its effects are immense.
God has made us with hearts that can only be satisfied with the
splendor of a glorious God and not a focus on self. We get a taste of
this great truth when we stand at the beach and watch a sunset. There is
something that happens when we see the beauty of the dimming sun reflecting on
the water—when the clouds seem to flame orange and red. We “ooh” and we
“aah.” We feel . . . deep joy and even delight, forgetting about
ourselves and being overwhelmed with great splendor.
The most glorious sunset, the most stunning mountains, the
grandest canyon pale in their beauty compared to the splendor of the God of
heaven and earth. We have been made to stand in breathtaking awe of
divine glory. Only He can satisfy your heart and mine.
But how can we see this God? We get glimpses of His glory in
the world He has made, but the Bible tells us that God is seen most clearly as
we look to His only Son, Jesus Christ. He “is the radiance of God’s glory
and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3).
Don’t get me wrong--tips for daily living are of some benefit. But we were made for--and we long for--more. Look to the Jesus of the Scriptures and . . . see. See glory, see splendor, see an amazing Savior, and see if you do not find what your heart yearns for most.
And
here is the—perhaps unexpected--everyday result: what saturates your heart will be what flows
from your life. The more you are
satisfied in the glory and love of Jesus, the more His grace will flow through
you into your marriage, into your home, into your habits and goals and a
thousand other ways. Look to Jesus.
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