What drives you?
I’ve been thinking about such things, trying to put together all of the truths that I’ve learned about human nature over all of these years in ministry. Plus, I’ve looked in the mirror.
You and I are interesting creatures, to say the least. The Apostle Paul admitted as much in Romans 7. The I’s have it … “I do not understand my own actions … I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate … I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out … I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
Other than that, Paul was perfectly well-adjusted at all times and in all situations.
You’re probably, much like me, strangely comforted by Paul’s brutal honesty about himself in that chapter. It’s refreshing, because it’s where we all live. We recognize in ourselves some not-so-flattering realities we’d rather not face or admit, like debilitating weakness, blatant hypocrisy, empty promises, unchecked pride … you get my point. At least Paul told the truth.
And, yet – remarkably – the same Paul who penned that chapter brings us the very next chapter and verse (8:1): “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” No condemnation! None! None whatsoever! The gospel truly is amazingly good news. In Christ, we are free from the law of sin and death.
But we’ll never be grateful for the gospel as we ought unless we understand the depth of the rebellion from which we’ve been rescued. In other words, we have to grasp the Bible’s bad news before we can grasp its good news. So, who is this man in the mirror? Obviously, we don’t have time to plumb the depths of human depravity, so I’ll focus on just one part of our problem: we love our idols.
The older I get, the more I realize that a sinful and selfish heart – which we all possess – majors on making idols out of the needs which we perceive to be unmet. “I don’t have it, so I must get it.” This is particularly true when it comes to unmet needs from our childhood. When we’re kids, some desires aren’t wrong in and of themselves – we all need love, care, and attention of course – but somehow the “needs” became larger than life. It doesn’t take long for any of us to become obsessed with what we want but we don’t have. That’s idolatry, and we’re all good at it. John Calvin rightly called us “idol factories.”
I’ll share with you the three idols that I see in the mirror, and that I’ve seen in the lives of people I’ve loved and served from coast to coast: Approval, Acceptance, and Affirmation. All A’s, so they’re easy for us to remember. Of course there are other idols, but these three tend to hold tremendous sway over us. Our brain tells us: “I need approval to feel worthy.” And it speaks with a powerful voice.
We all want to be loved. That’s normal and healthy. But what I’m talking about is craving the validation of others. That’s unhealthy. It’s also a very common trap into which our sinful hearts let us fall. If you’re there right now, don’t beat yourself up. You’re in good company. But I’d urge you not to settle for staying there – living there for the rest of your life. If you’re trusting in Christ, God wants you to live as the free person He already declared you to be.
One of the passages that I find helpful is Colossians 3:1-17, which – amazing grace again – Paul also wrote. In light of God’s Word, when we ask ourselves … “What am I greedy for?” … it helps us identify our idols. After all, you and I can’t escape our idols if we don’t even know what they are.
Here’s why we can’t let our idols win the day. They’re against God. They lure us away from the Lord. They cleverly trick us into thinking that we can find validation … and purpose … and meaning … and joy … apart from Christ. Paul tells us to put our idols to death – that’s strong language – because they’re stealing from us the wholeness and peace for which Jesus lived and died. For us.
If you want to know who the real Grinches are, they’re our idols. So read that passage slowly and thoughtfully, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you important insight into your own soul. “Show me my idols.” And ask yourself: “What am I greedy for?” That’s a new and better way to look in the mirror, friends.
At least to some degree, you may find the idols of Approval, Acceptance, and Affirmation.
As we learn to “set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” – and to “put to death” and “put away” those idols that are at war with God – we’ll find room in the inn to “put on … compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Talk about spiritual progress. That’s the real deal.
When Paul wrote to encourage the believers in Ephesus, he explained to them the one true source of their worth. This Christmas season, and in every season, these beautiful words are no less true of us … “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God!”
So, let’s come to our senses and agree with God. As we’ve been loved, let’s put on love for those around us, and for a lost world. Let’s forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Let’s seek the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts. And let’s give God thanks for such grace, and mean it.
Fair warning, idols: you’re going down.
What drives you?
Pastor Charles
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