Redeemed from Sexual Abuse - Simply Amazing!

Please take the time to watch this. It is pretty amazing. Pay attention to the honesty, vulnerability, and the glorious gospel of Grace. We'd all do well to develop relationships where we can speak this way (well...maybe without the poetry).

How Many Bullets Do You Have in Your Gun?

An old friend (who was not a believer) once told me that he carried around an imaginary gun in his pocket.  Every time his wife did something wrong, particularly against him, he would remain silent, all the while putting a metaphorical "bullet" in his gun for future use.  Then, at some future date, when he did something wrong, he would pull out the gun and shoot her with it - in other words, he would unleash war upon her with a list of all of her previous wrongs.

It's easy to look at this situation and see the major flaws.  This is no way to live in the home.  This is a marriage that will not last unless it is rescued by the power of the Gospel.  But, I would bet that we all have "guns" and we all, at times, like to load them.  What are we to do?  How do we end the miserable cycle?  Well, I am no expert, but I know who is.

Christ is the remedy.  But how?  Sure, it's easy to say that He is, but what does that mean?  Is it realistic to think that a simple fact - that Christ died - can help in the heat of the battle?  I mean, come on!  How does a man dying on a cross, over 2000 years ago, help our situation?  Here is at least one way:

Consider Col 3:3, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."  or, Gal 2:20 where Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ."

Bullets are instruments of punishment.  When we "shoot" others we are attempting to vindicate ourselves by their punishment.  This is tremendously crafty.  It's very difficult for a sinner on trial to place another (namely, us) on trial.  That's why we let the stored up bullets fly when our faults are exposed.

There is a serious problem with this though.  A person who sins against us cannot possibly pay for the sins they have committed against us.  When we try and vindicate ourselves, we really condemn ourselves.  Why?  B/c we find satisfaction in seeing them pay outside of the Cross.  We shoot and say, "Debt paid."  Well, no.  The debt is not paid!  And if we think that our little bullet is enough, we are selfish and unjust.  We care only that we feel better about the situation and care nothing at all about God's justice being satisfied.

If we truly stored up bullets for the sake of justice, we would take the matter to the highest court and forsake the temptation to settle it in the courtroom of our mind and emotions.  If we were truly concerned with justice, we would let God handle it.  We would let Him prononce the punishment.  We would let Him shoot!

Now, for the gospel.  God has already pronounced and exacted the punishment.  He has already shot His vindicative "bullet."  It is called the Cross of Christ.  And those who place their faith in Christ are so united with Him that His death can be called their death as well.  Amazing.  What does this look like in an argument in the home or among friends?

Billy shoots his bullet at his wife Betty saying, "You did this and that the other day!  You treated me miserably!"  Betty then sets her mind on Christ and understands that Billy's bullets cannot kill her.  Her sins have been punished already.  In reality, Billy is shooting someone who has already died, in Christ.  She says, "Yes, Billy you are right.  I am a sinner and I did do this and that.  I repent.  Will you forgive me?"

Billy, looking surprised, puts his gun down.  It doesn't make since shooting a dead person.  It is unjust to make Betty pay for sins that Christ has already justly paid for.  He repents saying, "Betty, I am sorry for being so crummy.  I am sorry for not seeing you in Christ.  He thinks to himself, "Yes, she sinned against me - but I will take that to the Cross and see her sins punished there."  He then says to his wife, "I have sinned against you and God.  I have tried to settle this matter myself.  Of course I forgive you, but I'm the one that needs forgiveness.  Will you forgive me?"

I know this is easier said than done.  But it must be said first...well, it has already.  The Word is sufficient for us.  Praise God that in Christ we have died and, in Christ, we now live!

Aloneness is No Indicator of Identity

One day while in seminary I was struggling greatly with temptation.  I was by myself.  My wife and kids were somewhere.  I sat there at the table, with my head in my hands fighting with all of my might to keep from sin.  It was a war.

Then I heard my neighbor’s truck crank up.  I immediately stood up and ran outside.  He was on his way to class when I told him what was going on. Without a moment’s hesitation, he pulled his truck back into his driveway and came inside with me. 

I will never forget our conversation.  I told him how disappointed I was in myself.  I said something to the effect of, “When I am by myself I struggle the most.  And I know a good indicator of who I really am is to look at myself when I’m by myself.”  In other words, I felt like a fake.  My solitude revealed who I really was, and it was not who I was when I was with others.

He looked at me and said, “Where is that in Scripture?” I simply had no answer for him. 

Pascal gives some amazing insight into human heart regarding this subject:

“Man finds nothing so intolerable as to be in a state of complete rest, without passions, without occupation, without diversion, without effort.  Then he faces his nullity, loneliness, inadequacy, dependence helplessness, emptiness.  And at once there wells up from the depths of his soul boredom, gloom, depression, chagrin, resentment, despair.  Sport, entertainment, fashion, art and society are so often pursued not because of the pleasure they bring, but to take our minds off ourselves.”

This is well said.  The sinful flesh feasts at the table of individualism and loneliness.  Christian fellowship is so amazing in that it brings out who we really are – those who are justified, forgiven, and safely hidden in Jesus Christ.

Question 1: What is the Bible?

As we begin this study, it is important to note [again] that I am using Robert L. Plummer’s book 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible as a skeletal guide.  I would like to thank Dr. Plummer for his wonderful contribution to the church.

Yesterday, I discussed the importance of contextualization.  Today, as a precursor to our study, I’d like to give you an illustration that I carry around in my mind that helps me understand the discipline.

I think of contextualization like I think of traveling.  First, there is traveling like an astronaut.  From this point of view, one sees the earth in its greatness and comes away with a general overview, but with little detail.  Second, there is traveling like an airplane pilot.  As one navigates he sees not the earth as a whole, but the earth’s surface on a large scale, seeing some minor detail along the way.  Third, there is traveling in a motor vehicle – to stay with the “A’s” we will call this traveling in an Accord.  Here a person gets more detail and is able to see certain landmarks with greater clarity and longevity.  Forth, there is traveling like Adam – i.e. walking.  Obviously, a walker is limited in scope of content, but detail improves greatly, being able to use more senses and even take a small detour along the way.  Finally, there is no travel at all, but rest (I don’t have an “A” for this one!).  Here one focuses on one object or area and dissects it, studies it, meditates on it and savors every moment.  With these illustrations in mind, let’s begin our study!

Question 1:  What is the Bible?

In answering the question Plummer recognizes that for the seminarian this information might seem rather elementary.  I found this chapter very refreshing as it brought me back to the basics of a book I love so much.

An Overview of the Bible (an astronaut’s view).  Plummer writes, “The Bible is a collection of writings that Christians consider uniquely inspired and authoritative.”  Though it is a compilation of sixty-six smaller books (thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New); and though many books were produced by men of different time periods (c. 1400 BC – 90 AD), cultures, backgrounds and personalities, the ultimate author is God Himself who sovereignly superintended the process (more on this in Question 3).  Scripture itself boldly proclaims this very truth: “All Scripture is breathed out by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16).    

The Bible is history’s record and proof that God Himself has entered into a relationship with mankind.  This relationship is described by the word testament or covenant.  So, when we read the Old and New Testaments, we are not just reading history, poetry, or letters.  We are reading the record of a relentless God who pursues his often rebellious people through covenant faithfulness.  Pay attention to this and consistently ask yourself how the passage at hand attests to this fact.

The Purpose of the Bible.  Keeping things simple, Plummer quotes 2 Timothy 3:15.  He writes, “The purpose of the Bible…is ‘to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.’”  This purpose should be the lens through which we read all of Scripture.  Every single word of the Bible is meant to bring people into a redemptive relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

Basic Story Line of the Bible.  Within the first three chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1-3), we learn the origin of the universe, of man, and the cause and effects of sin.  Most importantly we learn that God Himself promises to remedy the tragic situation caused by man's sin through the promised Messianic “He” of Gen 3:15.

Moses, the writer of Genesis, then records God’s covenant with Noah (Gen 6-9) and His covenant with Abraham (Gen 12, 15, and 17). Abraham is Jacob’s (who later was renamed Israel in Gen 32:28) grandfather.  God would continue to have His special eye on the nation of Israel, but it is also clear that “He planned a world wide blessing that would flow forth from the Jews at a future time” (Plummer; cf. Gen 12:3). 

This plan finds its fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah, the one about whom the prophet Isaiah spoke, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.  I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isa 49:6).  Jesus, by His life, death, and resurrection, has inaugurated this worldwide salvation, which is now advanced by the power of the Spirit through His Body - the Church; and which will be consummated at His final return. 

There is much more I would love to say about the story line of the Bible, but time does not allow.  It is my hope that as we proceed through our study, the story line will become clear, easy to remember, and redemptive.

Question for Reflection.  What is one new thing you learned about the Bible? (Or, possibly note a previously known fact that struck you afresh).

Purpose Statement and Important Facts for Genesis.  I write purpose statements for each book at the beginning of each book.  For some, I have multiple purpose statements that I have picked up over the years from different authors.  I try to memorize one, while visiting the others on a regular basis as I read/study during my devotions.  Study Bibles are good tools to use, though I have found that many feel the amount of information is a bit overwhelming at times.  The following is my favorite run down for the book of Genesis (taken from The Reformation Study Bible). 

Author:  Moses

Purpose: To teach the Isrealites God’s design for them as a nation through the background of early world history and the lives of their patriarchs. 

Date: 1446 – 1406 B.C.

Key Truths:

-       Although sin corrupted the ideal world Israel’s God had created, redemption would come through God’s chosen people.

-       The lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob provide many insights into the nature of God’s covenant with His people and their hope for the future. 

-       The lives of Joseph and his brothers reveal the ways in which the people of God are to relate to each other and to the world.

Keep these facts handy as you read through Genesis.

For Further Study.  Read Genesis 1 – 3.  Pay special attention to Gen 3:15.  Do some research on this verse, and explain its significance.  Then read 2 Corinthians 4.  Compare and contrast the two passages. 

This post is a bit longer than I had originally intended.  But there is some preliminary material that I included that will not be in future posts.  May the Lord bless us as we proceed to our next question.  I hope to post 3 per week.

What in the World Am I Supposed To Do With the Bible?

I begin this post with an example, so please bear with me.  Read and consider the following statement:

John went to meet Bill in Paris.

This sentence is simple enough.  Just like a verse from the Bible.  It is easy to understand, and upon reading it we have some information that we didn’t before.  But, there is still so much missing.  Let me give some history to contextualize it a bit.

John lived in the 1500’s and was a major player in the Protestant Reformation’s goal to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Not only was John a high-speed theologian, he also fought hand over fist for the rights of the poor, widowed, orphaned and oppressed.  Unfortunately, he did not go without an adversary - a well known heretic, who spoke often against his views.  We will call the adversary Bill.  John, though obviously frustrated by his adversary, pleaded  with Bill to recant his heresy and turn to Christ.  In an effort to work all of this out Bill called for John to meet him in Paris for a talk. 

Given this short paragraph, we have more information that helps us to understand better the first statement – John went to meet Bill in Paris.  Now we know that John and Bill aren’t best friends, but adversaries.  We know the goal of the meeting – to discuss theological views.  This is how contextualization works.  But why stop!  Let’s get more information.

Paris, at that time, was extremely hostile toward Protestant Reformers.  To go there as a Reformer was to risk one’s life.  This was no easy trip for John, especially since he was going to meet Bill.  But he went anyway.  Bill, however, was a no show. 

Wow! What a difference a few more sentences makes!  John sacrificed his life to talk to Bill (his enemy) about the Gospel, and Bill never showed up! 

Now we see even more clearly just how much contextualization enhances and excites our learning and understanding.  Without it we would have read the first sentence and moved on to other things.  The first sentence would have remained boring.  But when we add a bit of history and other facts about what was going on, the simple sentence turns into a gut-wrenching beginning to an amazing story. 

Many Christians in our world today struggle with their Bible’s for the very reason mentioned above.  We take a small verse, read it, and even memorize it, all without learning the context.  Therefore, we leave the verse behind in our lives as if it were as plain as “John went to meet Bill in Paris.”  Sure, the fact might be helpful someday – but still, it ignites nothing in the heart.  It leaves us unchanged as people.  But when we understand the context, we sit and think on the fact a bit more.  We begin to consider if we would do the same.  We begin to wonder what it was/is about John’s gospel that moved him to risk his life for his adversary.

So, here is my plan.  In order to help both myself and others understand the history and context of Bible better, I am going to take four months and go through Robert L. Plummer’s book 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible.  I will use Plummer’s work as a skeleton, adding helpful insights from myself and others from time to time.  Each post will contain the following elements:

-       At least one question from Plummer with a summary of his points and with added commentary from myself and others. 

-       At least one question for reflection regarding the above

-       A summary/purpose statement for a book of the Bible that can be memorized in one sitting

-       A portion of Scripture for reading and reflection

-       Questions related to the portion of Scripture to help gain further insight into the passage and the context as a whole. 

It is not my goal to give an exhaustive work on interpretation or hermeneutics.  I am in no way qualified for such a task.

It is my goal to keep each post one page long.  It is also my goal to keep the study short and simple; but also meaningful and insightful.  And it is my ultimate goal, that at the end of the year we all would be able to approach our Bible with more confidence, excitement and understanding. 

May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Pet 3:18).  And may God bless us with His bountiful grace in this endeavor. 

So, get ready.  Lord willing, we begin tomorrow!

What Do We Do With Doubt?

This question, “What do I do with doubt?” is one that is very significant, meaningful, honest, real, and important.  We are surrounded by skepticism.  We are skeptics of one another.  We are skeptics of the car salesman, mail man, customer service rep, pastor, and even our dog…let’s call him Ralph.  In other words, we trust no one.  Therefore, we are conditioned to doubt everything.

But what if you are a Christian?  Is it okay to doubt God?  Is it okay to struggle with belief?  I have been paying close attention to the struggles of both new and veteran believers alike. We all struggle with doubt. We all, at some point, sit back and say, What if this is all one big fluke?  Am I singing to the air?  Am I praying to the sky?  Why doesn’t God show Himself more clearly to me? Sometimes I wake up in the morning and wonder what in the heck I am doing.  I too, doubt.

I understand that many good books have been written on this issue, and that my little post is not going to provide anyone with an exhaustive account of the epistemological (a fancy word for the study of how we know things) struggles of the human experience.  But I will give my two cents with the hopes that they may help a few in their common struggle. 

I’m gonna start by stating that there are at least two types of doubt – good doubt and bad doubt. 

Let’s begin with the bad.  Bad doubt is the most common form in our day.  It has its roots in the Enlightenment of the 18th century, and can be found streaming from the mind of Rene Descartes. If you Wikipedia him, you will find ample information, but for now it is only important for you to know his most famous saying – “I think, therefore I am.” 

Now, many have expounded the saying, based on the broader context of his philosophy to “I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am.”  Okay, enough with the heady stuff.  Simply put, this type of thinking begins with doubting everything and seeks to work toward belief.  This method places a high emphasis [and trust] in the rational mind (hence, Descartes’ Rationalism) to obtain information and truth – to arrive at belief. 

In short, and most importantly, the one who doubts badly is certain of the rightness of his reasoning process and doubts everything else – even God.  This sort of belief says, “God…tell me why I should believe in you.”  The bad doubter finds the primary reason for doubt in God. God didn’t make Himself known well enough; or, He did not speak audibly to us; or, He did not give a clear enough book; or whatever. 

The bad doubter believes if God would have done this or that, he would then find a reason to belief in Him.  But, God has not, therefore the bad doubter doubts God.  Presuppositionally speaking, this method of doubt is nothing more than a mirage, that seemingly gives a person an excuse not to surrender and submit to God.  This person, in his heart feels that he is innocent and God is the one who is at fault for not making Himself unable to be doubted.  He says, “I cannot know God, therefore I am not responsible for not knowing.”  This was Bertrand Russell’s main argument.

On the other hand, we have the good doubter.  This is the category in which many sincere Christians find themselves.  They believe in God – in Christ, but they simply struggle with doubt sometimes.  This sort of doubt is very different from that above.  To the one who doubts this way, Christ gives grace and kindness (Mark 9:24), whereas to the former, he gives rebuke and contempt (Mark 16:14).

The good doubter does not begin with doubt but with belief.  He (or she) presupposes the goodness, justice, kindness, and love of God, and sees doubt not as a defect in God but in himself.  In other words, God is not the one who is at fault.  God communicates very clearly.  He has done all things perfectly.  Man is the problem.  And man’s sin after the fall has been the chief source of doubt ever since.  The good doubter doubts himself, because of his sin, and holds God in the highest place of honor.  When he approaches Christ, he does not say (like the bad doubter), “Jesus, why didn’t you make yourself clearer?”  The Pharisees did this.  Rather the good doubter says something like, “Jesus, I am sorry I am doubting you.  Something is wrong with me.  Will you help my unbelief?”

Allow me to give you a few helpful insights as to why this sort of doubt is actually a good thing.

First, when you struggle with objections to the faith sincerely and honestly, only then will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to those who are skeptical.  Everyone has doubts.  This is a point of contact with an unbeliever.  However, we must direct them to see the flaw in humanity, not in God.

Second, good doubting keeps us humble.  It helps us to see others (who are doubting) not with contempt but with mercy and grace.  When an unbeliever has some of the same doubts as a believer, this protects the believer from being arrogant and offensive.  Good doubting helps us realize that being without doubt is a gracious thing.

Last, good doubting protects and strengthens faith.  Keller continues (in The Reason for God), “A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.”  If a person humbly searches for God, he/she will only find Him.  He is faithful even when we are faithless.  Christ helps those who come to Him in repentance saying, “Help me.”  He who is most certain [namely, God] will graciously help those who struggle with doubt.

What Do We Really Want?

This is a question that we must answer, at least to ourselves, honestly and accurately.  What do we really want?  What does our heart really find satisfaction in?  What is it that I am willing to gladly spend the most time, money and effort doing?  These are some questions that help us get to the bottom of things.  They help us answer the main question at hand.

I remember a comment by John Piper that I heard a long time ago.  He said (and I am paraphrasing), "people in the world are not impressed with Christians who want the same things that they want, but only tack on a superficial 'Thanks God!' on Sundays."  In other words, if the Church wants the same things that the unbelieving world wants, the difference being only a matter of means, then the unbelieving world doesn't see God as the greatest Treasure, but only as a means to getting some inferior worldly treasure.  Sorry for the long sentence.

Allow me to give some implications:

1.  This lifestyle promotes idolatry.  This is perhaps the most dangerous implication.  Why?  Because idolatry is forbidden in the first commandment.  But we must not stop here.  Breaking the first commandment leads, necessarily, to the breaking of the others.  In other words, in breaking other commandments, we ultimately break the first, and vise versa.  For the moralist (like me), this is devastating, but needed news. Using God as a means for getting what the world wants without God is not worship of God, but something less than God.  Again, this is idolatry.  It is wanting something other than God.

When I want something more than God, I am willing to break God's rules to get it.  This is called stealing, coveting, and lying.  When I want someone else's spouse more than God, then I am willing to break God's rules to get their attention.  This is called idolatry, but also adultery.

2.  This lifestyle leads people into a greater misunderstanding of human nature.  Mankind was made for God.  When man fell from God, the separation caused a God-shaped hole in the human heart.  The hole is a vacuum that attempts to fill itself with anything it can.  This is called human desire.  We can call it craving, appetite or longing.  This is important to understand so that when we feel a desire we can seek to fill it properly.  We are spiritual beings and can only be filled by the God who is Spirit.  To try and fill our deepest cravings with earthly things, denies this spiritual nature.

3.  This lifestyle leads people into greater bondage.  The hole in the heart is too great for small, earthly things.  They simply will not fill it.  Food won't - that's why we get hungry multiple times a day.  Drink won't - that's why we get thirsty multiple times a day.  Sex won't - that's why the sexual act satisfies for short periods of time.  Money won't - that's why those who have a lot of it only want more.  Power won't - that's why those with great power also have the greatest amount of anxiety and fear of losing it.  And they will loose it one day.  Popularity won't fill the whole - that's why we despair when we think about how fickle the human heart is.  People like us one day, and don't like us another.  Material possessions won't - that's why we have to have a new phone, car, house, clothes, or whatever, all the time!

In short, trying to fill a spiritual, God-shaped hole, is like trying to fill the universe with water using a squirt gun.  We try forever, and get nowhere.  This is bondage.  We are never satisfied.  We never get what we want.

4.  This lifestyle keeps us from realizing what we really need.  In affluent America, we have the ability to satisfy even the smallest craving.  Money allows for this.  When we even think we are hungry, we can have french fries within minutes!  No need to wait on mommy to cook.  We don't like to crave for too long.  Fill it now, before the craving gets too strong.  Get the new phone NOW.  Get the new whatever NOW.  What?  You don't have the money?  That's okay!  You want it.  Get it.  Now.  We finance!  Who needs prayer when you've got money!

Instead of allowing our wants to become great, we squash them.  But as stated before, we have hundreds of cravings; and to keep all of them happy, we become tired people.  Hint, hint.  And we ultimately, don't get "hungry" enough to realize that only God will fill the cavity.  We ignore Augustine who said, "We were created for You Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."

5.  This lifestyle destroys relationships with others (not to mention our relationship with God, which is implied in every point).  How can this be?  Well, think about it.  Our deepest cravings are relational in nature.  We don't like to be alone.  Even the most materialistic people try marriage.  We think we want to be alone so that we can do whatever we want, but we soon find out that what we want is not aloneness.  When our house is empty, we sit on the floor, look at all of our possessions and long for the times when we had nothing and when we genuinely laughed with others.

So, we get off of the floor and try a relationship.  This lasts for a while.  But when we try and fill the craving with a person, we soon realize they just don't fill it either.  So we stretch them.  We pull them in all directions.  We make people bigger than they are supposed to be.  This is called abuse.  This is why we get angry when people don't do what we want them to.  This is why we try sex before marriage.  This is why we go into deep depression when people leave us.  This is why we can't seem to stay in a relationship.

Side note:  have you ever wondered why people stay in abusive relationships?  This is why.  Often what we want is not what the other wants.  We want them and they want something else.  So, when we get in the way of what they want, they abuse us.  But we ultimately want them, so, in order to keep them, we enable the behavior.  We allow them to keep pursuing what they want, which is not God.  This is not love - but manipulation.  Both are abusive in some way; but definitely in different degrees.

What we really want is God (real need).  They (the felt need) are not God.  So when they don't fill, we abuse them, and then toss them for something (or someone) else.  Simple enough.

Another side note:  this is why pornography is so popular.  When sex with another doesn't quite do the trick, we twist it and make it into something that it was never intended to be.  This is also the reason why those who begin with soft porn, eventually end up pedophiles if they continue in their quest to fill themselves with sex.  This obviously destroys relationships.

6.  This lifestyle defames God and paralyzes evangelism and missions.  Ed Stetzer wrote in Comeback Churches, "It's ironic that most evangelical churches are filled with people who live very much like the world but look different from it.  It should be exactly the opposite.  We should look similar to those in our community but act differently."

When a person finds the Treasure that fills his greatest desire, he rests.  God is the Treasure.  And when we have God, we rest.  The cavity is filled.  We lack no more.  Sure, we have small cravings, but those are small indicators that our true fulfillment is in God, through Christ.

You see, if we simply had the Treasure, this would not be enough.  First we must know that it is secure.  We must know that we can never loose it.  Otherwise we live in constant fear of loosing what is most dear to us.  This is the sort of feeling I get when I think of loosing my wife, or one of my children.  But what if we could have God and know that we could never loose Him!  Threats to our lively-hood no longer cary the punch they used to.  In Christ, we are safely hidden in God (Col 3:1-4)!!  So the next time you think about the tragedy of loosing a loved one, think upon Christ to satisfy your despair.

This leads me to my second point.  We must also know why it is secure.  Simply put, our Treasure is secure because it was bought with Christ's blood.  His blood covers the only thing that compromises our security - our sin.  In Christ, we have our Treasure eternally.  It is based on His work, not ours.

7.  Finally, this lifestyle leads us to a misplaced hope which is insulting to God.  Our hope is not on this earth.  Our hearts are finally filled with only spiritual things.  That is why we must pass all earthly things through the "unto the glory of God" test.

If we eat, sure the food satisfies; more than that however, God, the provider of the food Ultimately satisfies!  This protects us from obesity and anorexia in all areas of life - not just food.  Place your Ultimate hope in the New Heavens and New Earth, and the Crown of Glory that you will receive on the Last Day!  Your best life is not now.  You have the down payment for sure - in the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit that reminds us that we are spiritual and not earthly.  We eagerly await our Heavenly Home.

In summary, ask yourself what you really want in life.  How do you find this out?  Ask God (Ps 139).  Then survey your life to see what situations drive you to anger, despair, depression or other sins.  What is it at those moments that is threatened?  What is it that you are willing to break God's commandments to get?  What is it that causes you to say, "Sunday is for God...THIS does not apply."  It is work?  Whatever, IT is, it is an idol.

Once located, dethrone the idol.  It will not ultimately satisfy.  Call a spade a spade.  Tell the truth.  Repent of idolatry - this simply means, drop the idol on the ground.  Empty your hands.  Then turn them upwards toward Christ in heaven.  Embrace Him by faith and receive fulfillment and satisfaction eternal!

And when the world sees you forsaking its treasures, it will ask, "What is it that you have that makes you so calm during adversity and trials?  What do you have that keeps you satisfied so that you don't need a whole bunch of stuff?"

When they ask...tell them about the Truth.  Tell them what you really want (Ps. 73:25).