Preachers, books, TBN, and articles tell you constantly that the Christian life is the greatest, the most exhilarating, and the most rewarding life available. Although true, they miss the point! They tell you how God adds so much to you. If you are not careful, your walk with Christ will disintegrate through false hope and expectancy. Because what they don’t tell you, but you will find out as you mature, is that God takes away so much. God is determined to remove from your life everything that would make you earthbound, self-dependent, or secularly-safe. The closer you get to God the less of other things you need. Jesus said, “He that loses his life, will find it.”
When Abraham was 115 years old and Isaac was a mature young man, God demolishedhis entire security system – Isaac. He said to Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you" (Genesis 22:2). God's message was specific. There was no doubt what He meant. Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and woke up Isaac and two of his servants. They piled wood on the donkey for a burnt offering and began their slow three-day walk. I doubt if Abraham slept much those nights. He had a real relationship with God. He had seen his faith work in times past and received the great promises God made to him. This was an agonizing decision. Neither Abraham nor his community practiced human sacrifices.
You see, Abraham had the same problem we all have. I call it the “God And” syndrome. Abraham felt as though as long as he had “God and Isaac” his world was perfect. Many people make this same mistake. God and my job… my spouse… my mother… my car… No sooner do you start to boast in something, God shows up and says, “YOU GOT MAIL!”
God was asking Abraham to give back the gift which HE had made possible. TO BE CONTINUED…
Prayer
Lord, I will make you the basis of my hope and trust. Free me from the “God And” syndrome. No longer will I think God and joy... God and power... God and love, for YOU are JOY... YOU are POWER... YOU are LOVE! Make me secure in you God - alone. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Go Deeper?
Gen. 12:1-4; Gen 22; Ex. 20:1-3; Mal.1:11; Luke 17:33; Mt.13:44-45; Mark 10:28-30; Rom. 8:18; Rev. 7:9-17
When Abraham was 115 years old and Isaac was a mature young man, God demolishedhis entire security system – Isaac. He said to Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you" (Genesis 22:2). God's message was specific. There was no doubt what He meant. Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and woke up Isaac and two of his servants. They piled wood on the donkey for a burnt offering and began their slow three-day walk. I doubt if Abraham slept much those nights. He had a real relationship with God. He had seen his faith work in times past and received the great promises God made to him. This was an agonizing decision. Neither Abraham nor his community practiced human sacrifices.
You see, Abraham had the same problem we all have. I call it the “God And” syndrome. Abraham felt as though as long as he had “God and Isaac” his world was perfect. Many people make this same mistake. God and my job… my spouse… my mother… my car… No sooner do you start to boast in something, God shows up and says, “YOU GOT MAIL!”
God was asking Abraham to give back the gift which HE had made possible. TO BE CONTINUED…
Prayer
Lord, I will make you the basis of my hope and trust. Free me from the “God And” syndrome. No longer will I think God and joy... God and power... God and love, for YOU are JOY... YOU are POWER... YOU are LOVE! Make me secure in you God - alone. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Go Deeper?
Gen. 12:1-4; Gen 22; Ex. 20:1-3; Mal.1:11; Luke 17:33; Mt.13:44-45; Mark 10:28-30; Rom. 8:18; Rev. 7:9-17