I finally settled in to watch the Super Bowl after half time. Since the Green Bay Packers weren't playing, I wasn't as enthused as I could have been. The game proved to be more exciting then expected. Going into the second half the game was virtually tied, and the battle for victory was hard fought, all the way the end. The Giants prevailed.
The Patriot's depression was matched by the Giant's exaltation. As the Patriots slinked off the field the Giants began to celebrate. Pictures, interviews, and finally the presentation of the Lombardi trophy. With great fanfare the trophy was paraded through a line of players as they touched and kissed it in a display of satisfaction (and dare I say idolatry) that started to turn my stomach. I don't want to dismiss the euphoria that comes with reaching the pinnacle of your profession. The Giants deserve to feel good about their season, and celebration is their due, but this, to me, was a little excessive. Tomorrow, Tuesday February 7, 2012, down the streets of Manhattan, their will be ticker tape parade honoring the victors of a football game. The city wouldn't even do that for the troops coming home from Iraq. How skewed our worldview is when those who protect our freedoms are met with less enthusiasm than a football team.
The irony is that God sees how believers respond to their passions (whatever they are)and longs that we would be as passionate for Him. Football isn't the only culprit. Sports in general, work, hobbies, addictions, and even family can so passionately be pursued that they replace God for our attention. Sin keeps us from God, that's why we need a savior. Sin vies for our attention, and we lose focus on God's redemptive plan.
We often think of idolatry as an evil and destructive force, but the objects of idolatry don't present themselves as evil. In fact we replace God with these things, because the opposite seems true. We settle for an inferior satisfaction, because the good feelings are immediate. Yet, those immediate feelings are short lived. Football seasons end, children move away, spouses disappoint, work becomes tedious, and my hobbies merely distract. They satisfy, but not very deep, and not very long. When all is torn away we need something that satisfies; we need a Superior Satisfaction.
Our souls were created for God, the were created in His image, they were created for communion with Him. Sin has placed a chasm between Him and us, and that is why our souls feel empty, and why we try to fill it with something, but nothing but God will truly satisfy.
It is a wondrous thing; the love of God. Knowing our need He provides the way, the means, the substance, the superior satisfaction. He provides Himself. "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:19,20). Until we come to grip with our need for Christ, and the superior nature of His satisfaction, we will never become the person for which we were created. I'm just saying...
The Patriot's depression was matched by the Giant's exaltation. As the Patriots slinked off the field the Giants began to celebrate. Pictures, interviews, and finally the presentation of the Lombardi trophy. With great fanfare the trophy was paraded through a line of players as they touched and kissed it in a display of satisfaction (and dare I say idolatry) that started to turn my stomach. I don't want to dismiss the euphoria that comes with reaching the pinnacle of your profession. The Giants deserve to feel good about their season, and celebration is their due, but this, to me, was a little excessive. Tomorrow, Tuesday February 7, 2012, down the streets of Manhattan, their will be ticker tape parade honoring the victors of a football game. The city wouldn't even do that for the troops coming home from Iraq. How skewed our worldview is when those who protect our freedoms are met with less enthusiasm than a football team.
The irony is that God sees how believers respond to their passions (whatever they are)and longs that we would be as passionate for Him. Football isn't the only culprit. Sports in general, work, hobbies, addictions, and even family can so passionately be pursued that they replace God for our attention. Sin keeps us from God, that's why we need a savior. Sin vies for our attention, and we lose focus on God's redemptive plan.
We often think of idolatry as an evil and destructive force, but the objects of idolatry don't present themselves as evil. In fact we replace God with these things, because the opposite seems true. We settle for an inferior satisfaction, because the good feelings are immediate. Yet, those immediate feelings are short lived. Football seasons end, children move away, spouses disappoint, work becomes tedious, and my hobbies merely distract. They satisfy, but not very deep, and not very long. When all is torn away we need something that satisfies; we need a Superior Satisfaction.
Our souls were created for God, the were created in His image, they were created for communion with Him. Sin has placed a chasm between Him and us, and that is why our souls feel empty, and why we try to fill it with something, but nothing but God will truly satisfy.
It is a wondrous thing; the love of God. Knowing our need He provides the way, the means, the substance, the superior satisfaction. He provides Himself. "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:19,20). Until we come to grip with our need for Christ, and the superior nature of His satisfaction, we will never become the person for which we were created. I'm just saying...
No comments:
Post a Comment