Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 18
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
Even
around the church it is common to hear folks talk of a “coping mechanism.” We continue to let the world dictate to us
the terms we use in everyday communication.
Or, we let them counterfeit the Bible’s terms to where the meaning has
no significance as it did in the days the Bible was written. Any student of Scripture could give many
examples of this.
In
these pages from SIW, Michael gives us some bold statements that ought to get
our attention…
THE DEVELOPMENT OF IDOLS
excerpt
from pages 43-47 of SIW (5th printing,
March 1998)
excerpt
from pages 38-42 of SIW (14th printing,
March 2012)
(used with permission from
ALMI):
A coping mechanism is quite simply the
world’s term for an idol. An idol is anything, other than Christ, which one runs to when under
pressure.
…The enemy is not ignorant of our
personal history, and he uses it to develop a temptation that is perfectly
suited to us, luring with something that he knows will attract us.
…However,
there is one major problem with renewing a love affair with idols of our
past. God will not allow any idol to meet a Christian’s needs!...Christians who are using idols
with which to cope are easy to recognize, for they manifest such
symptoms as apprehension, uncertainty, dismay, distress, and depression. None of these will accompany the man of faith.
…God has called us to journey into
the Promised Land, but we have hidden the idols of the past so that just in case God doesn’t
help us (according to our timetables and own ways), we have them to trust. The majority of Christians start the journey into the life of peace,
rest, and victory with a suitcase full of the idols of the past – those things
that we trusted before we came to know Christ.
“Those who cling to
worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (Jonah 2:8).
It has been said that there are only
four types of people in the world. The
first says, “I, not Christ!” This group
includes such people as Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, and atheists. The second says, “I and Christ!” These will let Christ be fire insurance to
keep them out of hell, but will take care of everything else themselves. The third type says, “Christ and I!” These are the most miserable Christians, for
they want Christ to be their Lord, and yet if He does not act according to
their plan when they think He should, out come the idols. The fourth kind says, “Christ, not I!”
Having
learned the secret of dependence upon and trust in Christ alone, they enter
into God’s rest and cast all their anxiety upon Him.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
It
is interesting that in many of my most recent readings I have seen different authors
give their definition of an “idol.” It’s
like idols just won’t go away! We have
just finished an excellent study of Jonah and evangelism. There the author has his definition. I am reading a book on repentance…there the
author has his definition. Goodness
gracious…when are Christians going to get rid of all the idols?!?
Well,
thank you Michael for giving us an excellent definition, an alarming
realization, a powerful warning, and then 5 guideposts along “the journey of
life,” before bringing us to the eye-opening truth in Jonah 2:8. All of which ought to be a word from God to
encourage, exhort, and embolden us to take the leap into the life of “Christ,
not I.”
What
will it take for God to get us to “depend upon and trust in Christ alone,” and “enter
into God’s rest, casting all our anxiety upon Him”?
Note:
if you don’t have one of Michael’s Sidetracked In The Wilderness books,
please contact ALMI (www.abidinglife.com) and get one today!
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Getting
Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
leemccm@gmail.com
1737 CR
2051 Nacogdoches, Tx 75965 936-559-5696
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