June 14
1 Kings 12:20-13:34 | PS 132:1-18 | Prov 17:6 | Acts 9:26-34
At my hospital they have an "all faiths chapel", and at certain times offer a prayer in the chapel for those of all faiths. I remarked to someone when the announcement was made one day how little sense that makes. A generic prayer made to a generic god (little g) has nothing to do with the one true God, God the Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whose Son is Jesus Christ. If a little boy was lost and ran over to me and called me father, I would not accept that title, but would offer to help him find his real father. Likewise, I would not lead others to think that we all worship the same God, when in the reality, no matter how well meaning, we don't. Jesus said in John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Our role as His ambassadors is not to assimilate but to point to the one true God, and to our only hope, Jesus the Christ. As an aside, I find it interesting in this new push towards globalism and internationalism that people believe that my nation, the United States of America, founded upon the Bible, though reeling under the weight of sin, should be placed under the same umbrella as nations who never worshipped God, who were founded upon godless principles, who exalt dictators and people and not God. One nation cannot be interchanged with other nations, one father cannot be interchanged with another father, and the one true God cannot be interchanged with any other god.
The new king of Israel, Jeroboam, though prophetically promised to be king, feared the turning away of the people as we read in 1 Kings 12:27, "If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So, he decided to replace the worship of the true God in the prescribed fashion according to God's law with his own method to his own gods, as we read in 12:28-31, "Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi." Though all belonging to Judah and Israel were ethnically Israelites, they were now following different Gods.
Our faith was never meant to be easy or convenient. It is to be true. We should never go to the nearest church because it makes life easier if that church is not teaching the word of God. Certain churches and denominations will appeal to the flesh because they don't require a denial of self. They say come as you please, stay as you are, just come here every week and sit in our pews. How does this reconcile with Jesus' words in Matthew 16:24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Things may sound nice and all-inclusive. They might be popular. They might not offend anyone. But this is a religion and a god of your own making. God's word is clear. If you are going to a church in which that message is being distorted, run. Have nothing to do with it, no matter how persuasive and pleasant that preacher might be. Man-made worship may be more convenient than obeying God's commandments, but it is always a trap. Don't elevate convenience over obedience.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: