The Lure of a lie
A wise person once told me that a good lie has an element of truth in it, in order for it to be believable. It’s a statement that has stayed with me through many decades, always reminding me to examine the things that come my way. And much has crossed my path. With the advent of technology, came the unlimited potential to communicate in ways that we could only imagine from our days of 1960’s sci-fi and games of pure imagination. Today we have leapt the barriers into a century where if we want to, we can say anything we want, read anything we want and believe anything we want. It’s our right. But in this freedom of thinking and information, the lines have not only blurred but practically obliterated to the point of unrecognition.
I want to talk about a garden that long ago was the backdrop for a lie laced with a tinge of truth. So appealing was this lie, that mankind has been reaping the consequences of its destruction ever since. Relationships are tricky at best and I don’t know of a single marriage that has not encountered its share of troubles. Even friendships and family bonds can be tested to their ultimate limit when pride and ego stand between truth and repentance. The relationship I want to talk about today is between God and His Bride. Make no mistake, God loves His Bride. Deeply, wholeheartedly and passionately and He has made it His purpose to pursue Her at all costs, even laying down His very life for Her. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that this Bride, though lovely in God’s eyes, is anything but perfect. She is so flawed, so broken and yes, dirty, but God still loves His bride. She has hurt others, misrepresented God and torn families apart, but God still loves His Bride. She has manipulated, lied and deceived many, but God still loves His Bride. She has misused His name, His resources and His people, but God still loves His Bride. She has been angry and unfaithful and murderous, but God still loves His Bride. He has had every reason possible to abandon Her and reject Her, but God still loves His Bride.
Today I see and hear a language that I do not understand. I have chosen to label it “crockpot theology.” A little of this, a little of that. Throw out this idea, it makes us squirm. I don’t like the sound of that so let's kick it out. More sugar, more fat, more sweet comfort to our itching ears. We want to hear what makes us feel good and what is pleasing. But that’s not reality. When we are wrong we need to receive correction. When we sin, we need a consequence. And just as important, when we are the recipient of lies, sin and evil, we need an advocate to fight for us.
Next week marks the Holiest of Weeks in the Christian calendar. A time where we celebrate everything that God has done for His Bride. And in case you are unsure who that is, it’s me and if you want it to be, it’s you too. The narrative today is that there is no sin and that we are all good and each of us are drifting about in the cosmos finding our own version of the truth and living happily ever after. Oh the lure of the lie. Without sin there would be no need for Jesus, no need for the cross. History alone, is enough to confirm the existence, death and resurrection of the Son of God, yet still, we reject the Truth, preferring our own version and the lies it deceives us with. I am guilty. I am a sinner. I need what Jesus offers. His death, His sacrifice, His blood are as real to me today as they were on a September evening back in 1978. Thank God for the blood. Thank God that He cleansed me from my sin and thank God that even though I’m broken and flawed and imperfect, He still loves His Bride.
