Shiny Toys

Today Andy Stanley said: The kingdom of this world is designed to distract you from what really matters.”

This reminded me of distracting a bored baby by jingling a shiny keyring to distract him. You know it works. Why should we be surprised that the same ploy works so well for Satan? He knows if we’re Christ’s followers, our souls are safe, but he can steal our joy and fellowship with our Father, diminish our obedience, rob us of time, hours, years of service to our calling by deceit and distraction. "You can go to church next week--a party like this is rare as a blue moon. "Everybody will be there for good, clean fun. (BYOB) No harm done." Warning: Distraction!                    

We’re too smart to be fooled, right? We’re not babies. Really?

Why are there football games back-to-back Sundays? Spicy, guilty-pleasure television shows? Why are shopping malls open Sundays? Why X-rated movies ANY day? For the first half my life these didn’t exist for mainstream folks, but mainly in the mind of someone bored or greedy for fame and fortune. Shopping for non-essentials on Sunday violated the “blue laws”, designed for workers’ day of rest and worship. Satan reminds us that watching TV isn’t wrong. Football isn’t either. Unless it steals time we should be using in better ways. That’s where Deceit succeeds (and makes millionaires of his people, but trust me, you can't take it with you).

Sundays families gathered after church to eat, visit, rest, take a scenic ride in the family car – together. Change is not inherently progress. Let's not fall for his shiny toys.

   1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
      3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.  Romans 12:1-3

A New Car

                                   

Thinking back over the last 25 years, I have had the pleasure of acquiring three new cars, right from the showroom. Along with the title, I was presented with the Manufacturer’s Warranty, spelling out my responsibilities for the care of the new vehicle.

No one required any promise from me to follow explicitly all the instructions. I think they expected anyone smart enough to have a driver’s license and car insurance would understand that the manufacturer who built the car knew best how to maintain its safety and reliability. Read it or not, the car was mine. Following the instructions and suggestions was optional. Life expectancy and reliability of the vehicle was not optional.

The warranty was based on the quality of my care, my following the basic rules, caring and feeding the new baby properly: changing its tires, oil, well-baby checks at the dealership or other professional caregiver, routine maintenance and learning the unique features not included in my previous car. 

Consequences of ignoring the manufacturer’s manual was usually expensive in one way or another, when the vehicle required intensive care.

Same way with the Bible. Really, did you think it was just a “vanity-published book” , created by God to pat Himself on the back for His own amusement?

Consider that He is the manufacturer of humans in His spiritual likeness (which everyone since Adam has rebelled against at times). Consider that He knows you inside and out, front to back, head and heart to toes and wants to introduce you to the best way to live and become prepared for an eternal future with Him, warranty and all. Same as with the new car, following the Manufacturer’s instruction manual is optional; the result is not optional.