In Lewis’ Screwtape Letters he describes the temptation of praying to the “god†that is “up and to the left at the corner of the bedroom ceiling.†Our enemy wants us to worship anything other than the Triune God. He doesn’t mind if the god we’re worshipping closely resembles Jehovah, just so long as we aren’t worshipping Jehovah himself.
Man has the bad habit of thinking he can keep God in his pocket. Man wants a god he manage. One that fits with what he imagines a god should be. A god that coddles him, but strikes terror in his enemies. A god who sits only as high as the rafters.
But that isn’t the God we come to worship. We worship the God who made heaven and earth. The God who revealed Himself to our first parents and then to the patriarchs, prophets, and psalmists. The God who is not to be likened to another, and who has no equal. The God who came in human flesh, died in place of sinful man, and was raised by the Father’s power.
Have you been entertaining low thoughts of God? Have you been holding up a mirror and convincing yourself that that is what God must be like? Have you been settling for an Americanized god who is safe? Have you crafted idols so as to avoid making eye contact with God?
The remedy for all these vain imaginations is to forsake the habit of trying to pass off our knock-off idols for being the Triune God, and come to God on His terms. His terms are these: cast away all your idols, and then meet with God as He revealed Himself. In short, turn from your idols by looking God in the eye. Which is to say: look to Christ.
Leave a Reply