Indiana Jones is searching for the cup Christ used at the Last Supper in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." The cup was found but could not be taken from the entrance of the place where it had remained for hundreds of years without causing the earth to split open and swallow everyone around. Olga (at least that's what I think her name was) who was working with the Nazis wanted the cup for herself and reached for the cup as it fell into one of the chasms caused by the removal of the cup. Indiana tells her to give it up and take his hand. She is so enamored with the cup she loses are grip on Indiana Jones and falls to her death.
I thought of how many people want to say they are seeking the Lord but can't seem to let go of this world. You just can't have both. You either let go of the world and truly seek the Lord or you hold onto the world and never truly know the joy of your salvation.
Let's say, for example, that you want to be rich or famous or powerful. There is no way to seek these things in this world while seeking the Lord. You may become rich or famous or powerful but you will not have sought them. Solomon had these things because he asked the Lord for wisdom rather than riches or power. God gave him the riches and power anyway.
Let's say you want to ask God for something that He has already prohibited. It can be an illicit love affair or lying in order to make a sale or anything else that God has prohibited. How can you expect God to answer that prayer when your face is turned so completely toward this world? How can you say that you are seeking the Lord's will when you are violating it?
No, the hard part of seeking God is letting go of this world and all that is in it.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God's kingdom to be here on earth as it is in heaven. No one in heaven seeks this world. Why would they want a cheap imitation while holding that which is genuine and priceless?
We must let go of our love for this world and all that is in it. Then, and only then, are our desires so changed that we know the desires of God. We know them because we have them.
Most church people act like this world is real and the kingdom of God is a fake. Some day that will change for every one of us. Some day every knew will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. It won't be just words. It will be the truth lived out.
I let go of this world again today. Then, I seek Him and His desires rush in.
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
2 comments:
When read this Indiana Jones story you put here, this other picture comes to mind: The monkey and the cookie jar. Are we like the monkey who has put his hand into the cookie jar, set there as a snare? To the monkey, what is in the jar is too tempting to let go, but if it does not let go, he stays captured. If it lets go, it can free itself, and run off, and live. Satan tried it on Jesus; he took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, saying to Jesus,“All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.” (Matt 4:9) We know that Jesus refused, and the Devil left after his 3rd and last temptation failed to ensnare Jesus. Satan's modus operandi does NOT change much; he used it on Jesus, he would use it on Jesus' disciples, us! We have no choice, be like Jesus or be like the monkey? Let go and live, or hold on and die.
Hard! Still we have to work at it; we have to persevere in it, in NOT succumbing to the snares of the Devil. The Christian life indeed has a lot to do with perseverance in the noble, and avoiding the ignoble; and it is NOT we are saved, already perfect, and sinning is of no consequence (like, do what you feel like doing or NOT do anything at all - just bask in grace), as were taught by some in the overly grace movement. Indeed, we must constantly remind ourselves that we are NOT to love the world or the things in it. Had Jesus gave in, and took up Satan's offer, He would NOT have got back into Heaven, and be with God; By Jesus reply, we knew Jesus knew the desires of God, and He wanted to live out that desires of God - "Worship the Lord God, and serve Him only" (Matt 4:10).
Actually, Jesus did warned us - "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt 7:21). Jesus also said in Matt 6:24 that we cannot serve both God and Money (epitomizes the world). No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
We can do the will of the Father only when we know His desires; and we can have His desires only when we let go of our love for this world or the things in it – make room for His desires. I repeat: it calls for perseverance; we fall down, we get up again; we sin, we repent and confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and get restored again and again; we get challenged and we get afflicted, we look and look again to the Lord, we receive God’s grace and help, we dedicate, we stray, and we rededicate and we continue on, with our journey of holiness, until the very end.
I am “married” to God, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, NEVER WILL I part with my God. And hereto I pledge you, God, my faithfulness. Anthony Chia, high.expressions
I can't even believe this has only 1 comment.I guess the truth isn't loved by many.This opened up my eyes once more the are false teachings that are teaching people to love God for the things of this world..Seeking God so he can give you the things of this world its actually very sad.This teaching is not based on the word of God but the love of the world.Let us not be discouraged.May his will be done!
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