There is no shortage of people who aspire to be as “gods” these days. Thousands line up in hopes of becoming the next or latest American idol. There is even a junior idol contest where ambitious parents offer their children as sacrifices to the celebrity “gods” on the altars of amusement. We sing, we dance; we play our way through this world (or watch those who do) never pausing to realize that the devil has gotten the whole world dancing in a graveyard. Satan tried to inspire Eve with such ambitious aspirations, and “to be as gods” (Gen. 3:5). His lyrics are a lie. Our “gods” today are surrounded by a matrix of a modern media that created them. Their illusion grows larger than life with every camera’s flash. Everyone wants to be a Millionaire. Everyone wants to be a Star. Even the Church is picking up the mantra.
We have taken our eyes off the stars that fascinated the Magi and have fixed our hearts on lower lights. The stars today are not in the heavens, but in Hollywood. They are digital rather than divine. Our “stars” never lead to a humble manger. Our graven images are painted with computer pixels and are generated by entertainment moguls who market dreams and fantasy. Their Genesis makes man in man’s image. TV and Movie screens offer up their incense of illusion and the masses are mesmerized. Our “stars” are in stadiums. Our hopes are in horse races. Our longing is in lotteries. Our faith is in our own fabrications.
Woe to the church that borrows their manners from the world or bows to a mirage. Woe to those who settle for spotlights and lesser lights of entertainment. Satan’s promise of “knowing good and evil” is today called “sophistication.” For the church it is suffocation. The church that is bored with Jesus must change its tune and tries to make God dance like some minstrel for the world’s amusement.
John said it well. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passseth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1Jn. 2:15-17).
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