IDOLATRY: Loves ... And Rewards!?!

The Idolatry Of Today
Covetousness
And
Selfishness
Love Of Money

And
Love Of The World
Are Like The Horsemen Of The Apocalypse
Riding Roughshod Amongst

And

Over
The Named People Of The Eternal God!

The Lord Said:

The Poor Will Be With You Always!
I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You!
Come Unto Me And ... Rest!
Cast Your Every Care On ... Me!

Satan Got Cast Out Of Heaven 

For Selfishness And Covetousness!

King Ahab Was Selfish And Covetous!

Achan And His Family Were Destroyed
For Selfishness, Covetousness 

The Love Of Money
And
The Love Of The World
And
King Saul
The Rich Young Ruler
King Herod
And
Pontius Pilate Lost Eternity
Because
They Patently Loved Self

The World

And

The Things Of The World!

Just So You'd Know ...

Living For And Loving The World
And
The Things Of The World
Do Not Bring Lasting Pleasure!

Living For Money ... That Filthy Lucre
Does Not Encourage One
To Seek After The Kingdom Of God!

Living Selfishly Does Not Encourage One 

To Share In The Sacrifice Of Jesus Christ The Lord

And

Indulging Covetousness
Enthrones A False God
- An Idol Known Useless -
Upon The Throne Of Your Heart
Instead Of The True And Holy God!

I, Therefore Urge You, Brethren ...

Please Do A 180
And
Turn Toward Him Who Is
The Holy God!

Please Accept The Offer Of 

A Covenant Relationship
And
Stop Trying To Be Your Own God!

Idol-Worshippers
Shall Not Enter The City
Neither Those Who Indulge
Selfishness And Pride
Neither Those Who Live For Those Things That
Cannot Ever Profit

And
Neither Those Who Sit Enraptured With
Tied Up In

And
Consumed
By The Ways Of That Devil, Satan
The True
The Ultimate Fraud!

If Almighty God Is Almighty God
Worship Almighty God!

If Satan Is Your God
By Virtue Of His Calling Your Shots
I'm Sad To Tell You That
Inevitably
Ultimately
Eternally
You Shall Surely Share
His Stated Reward!

The Pay For Which You Have Labored
Is
Exactly The Pay That You Will Earn
So, Do Not Be Like Ephraim!

Do Not Cause The Lord Of Life
To Speak Out Against You:

This Is The Harshest Condemnation Uttered 
From The Mouth Of Almighty God 
Because 
It Means Certain Damnation For The Recipient: 
You Are Left To Your Own Devices 
And 
The Wicked Manipulations Of Our Adversary
Our Accuser, Satan! 

The Facts Matter ...

No One With The Character Of Ephraim 
Shall Enter The City Of God! 

Even Though Ephraim Was One Of The Patriarchs
There Is No Gate In The Holy City Bearing His Name 
Because 
He Preferred Useless Idol-Worship 
And 
Actually, Continually
Rejected The Call Of The Holy Spirit 
To Return To The True 
And 
Pure Worship Of Almighty God 
So That He Would Be Blessed ... And Saved! 

Please Be Wise Unto Salvation
And
Do Not Reject Available Grace!
Please Answer The Call To Life Everlasting!
Put Away The Personal Idols
And
Make Your Peace With The Eternal God!

Jesus Christ Wept For Us! 

Do Not Permit Your Spurious Loves

To Gain For You

The Untenable, Inescapable
Unwanted, Unrejectable, Reward!

Real Greatness!

Dad?! 

Yes, Son?! 

Can You Tell Me What Is 

The True Measure Of Real Greatness?

Interesting Phrasing ... Why Do You Ask?!

I Am Asking ...
Dad, I Am Asking You, Well, Because
The Guys Keep Talking About
All The Athletes
Sportsmen
Entertainers And Actors
And Money As Oh, So, Great
But ...
Something Is Nagging At The Edge
Of My Consciousness!

It's As If There Is Something Really Important 

That I Need To Understand
So As Not To Accept What's On The Street As Fact!

Okay. Sit Down With Me
And We Shall Seek To Get You Your Answer!

First Things First!

Father In Heaven, 

We Come As Children

Willing To Learn

And Seeking Your Guidance!

Please Guide Into Your Truth

In Jesus' Name. 

AMEN.

Son,

It Is Written That

By Wisdom
You Build Your House
By Understanding It Is Established ...

... And By Knowledge
Its Chambers Are Filled
With Pleasant And Precious Riches!

All Right! We're On The Same Page!
Now Tell Me What You Understand
To Be The Visible Character Of Many Of Those
Lauded In The Public Domain As Great?!

Dad, I Can Count 

- Without Even Thinking -
The Many So-Called Greats
Who Lack True Character!

Many Of Them Are Drug Abusers
Womanizers
Indulge In Abominable Lifestyles
Lack Self-Control
Rabble-Rousers, And More
And I Don't Understand 

Why They're Called Great! 

Several Of The Old Greats

- Still Considered Great -

 Even Committed Suicide

And Many Of The Young Crop

Are Following In Their Footsteps! 

What's So Great About That?!

Son, Do You Remember The Story Of Samson

The Judge In Israel
At The Time Of The Philistine Dominion!

Of Course! 

He Was The Strongest Man Who Ever Lived! 

He Was The Greatest!

And ... He Was The Weakest!

How Can You Say That?! 

He Tore A Lion In Half ... With His Bare Hands

Killed 1,000 Men With The Jawbone Of An Ass
Lifted The City Gates Off Its Hinges ...
He Was Truly, Truly, Fantastic!

He Was Fantastically Foolish
He Had No Self Control
He Lived By His Emotions

AND
Of Him His Libido Had Control!

He Who Is Mastered By Earthly  Desire
Is Weak!
True Strength Comes From The Emotions
You Control
Not The Emotions That Control You
Using Up Your Life Force
With Vanity And Things That Do Not Elevate You!

Yes, Sir.

Let's Reason This Out Together ...

Samson Was A Nazarite From Birth
He Was Dedicated To God

He Was To Avoid Wine And Alcohol
He Should Not Have Been Fraternizing With The Idolatrous Philistine Women

He Should Not Have Married One!
He Should Not Have Been Involved With Delilah, A Known Prostitute!

Yeah, Especially One Whose Name Means Consumer!

No, Son.
He Should Not Have Allowed Himself
To Participate In The Charms Of Any Prostitute - He Was Set Apart
AND
Designated As Holy Unto God!

Samson Utterly Betrayed His God
By Foolishly Betraying His Secret
For A Tawdry Exploration
AND
He Put Himself Outside The Ark Of Safety
The Hedge Of Protection
AND
For His Weakness
His Willfulness
His Malicious Disobedience
He Caused The Spirit Of The Living God
To Finally Depart From Him!

I Guess He Was Not So Great After All!

Samson Would Have Been Truly Great
IF
He Had Been Faithful
AND IF
He'd Had Self-Control
AND
Firmness Of Resolve
AND
Practiced Self-Denial
Not Giving In To The Lust Of His Eyes
The Lust Of His Flesh
AND
The Pride Of Life
Trusting In His Long Hair And His Muscles
Neither Of Which Gave Him
One Single Iota Of Power!

His Power Came From His Fidelity
His Devotion
To His Living And Holy God!

Neither Fame
Nor Fortune
Nor Associations
Make One Great!
They Can, However
Make One Notorious
Careless
Indifferent
Unfaithful
Faithless
Wicked
Wasteful
AND
Turn One Into A Wastrel!

Son, Satan Uses

Our Cherished Character Defects
AND
Flaws
To Undermine
AND
Ultimately
Destroy Us!

I Guess Buying Into Your Own Press
Is Not A Good Idea!

It Isn't!

Hmm ...

So, Dad
Would You Say That
Faithfulness
Self ... Control
Obedience To God
Self ... Denial
Integrity
AND
Firm Resolve
Are Some Of The Attributes
That Make A Man Great?!

Yes, I Do ... But

Think On This:

Samson Was Physically
AND
Spiritually Ruined
BUT
In The Midst Of His Misery
He Truly Learned About Himself
AND
Because Of Complete Repentance
AND
Turning Away From Sin
AND
Turning Toward The Savior
The Lord Heard Him In His Plea

AND
Gave Him Forgiveness
AND
Restoration To Power
To Complete His Mission
Even Though It Cost Him His Earthly Life!

This Is Lesson For Us All:

Our Sin May Be Forgiven
BUT
There Are Always Consequences
To Our Wrong-Way Walking!

Thanks, Dad!
I Knew I Could Count On You!
I Love You!

I Love You, Son!
You May Count On Me
BUT
You Must Depend On
AND
Trust Completely
In And On The Eternal God!

I Hear That And ... I Totally Agree!