7-7-14<\/p>\n
How many of us serve two gods? Even believers, not excepting born-again Christians, are not immune from the biblical injunction against serving God and Mammon. But this will not be a message about greed, avarice, and covetousness. In Western cultures we are more gaudily materialistic than in poorer societies \u2013 but the sin of serving false gods is not a matter of uncommon opportunities before us, but our common and rather dark, unfaithful hearts, the sin nature we all share and must resist.<\/p>\n
Today, though, I invite us to think about two Gods that devout Christians unfortunately serve. That is to say, two natures \u2013 in our perception \u2013 of the same God. Not the \u201cvengeful\u201d Old Testament God vs the \u201cloving\u201d New Testament God. Not the manifestations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But the God we know imperfectly, despite His desire that we know Him; despite His plans for us to know Him better. Worst: the God we divide in two \u2013 approaching Him one way, in one attitude of prayer; and another God of another nature (in our minds), approaching Him in contrary fashion.<\/p>\n
Just in case this starts sounding preachy: none of us are immune to this tendency, least of all, among humanity\u2019s members, me. So you are eavesdropping on my confession.<\/p>\n
We all turn to the Lord in bad times, hard times, difficult times, confusing times. Disaster, sickness, crisis \u2013 it makes no difference. And we quickly note that there is nothing wrong with this! Scripture fairly drips with the overarching message that God wants to hear from His children. If you are a parent, don\u2019t you want to hear from your children \u2013 even more so if they are undergoing trial or, simply, that they NEED you? Even if we approach God in humiliation and shame, remember that \u201ca broken and a contrite heart God will not despise\u201d (Psalm 51:17).<\/p>\n
Possibly less often do we approach God when things are going swell. Human nature again. \u201cPraise God\u201d and \u201cThank you, Jesus,\u201d after we wash out the auto-phrases, likely are lifted heavenward less often than they should be by most of us. And probably less often that those other requests and spiritual shopping lists.<\/p>\n
I suggest that the problem \u2013 perhaps I should say the solution \u2013 is not so much that we lack constancy. I think the matter at hand is that we tend to divide God. Not literally, because He is unified, the One True God; but if we treat Him far differently at different times, we are, in the process, denying His divinity in our own lives. Insulting Him. Cheating ourselves.<\/p>\n
The point is, despite what we know in our heads, our hearts \u2013 the exercises of our faith \u2013 too often see separate Gods whom we access. Bad.<\/p>\n
We should pray confidently and in full faith, that is, in the same manner, whether things are \u201cbad\u201d or \u201cgood.\u201d Take note of the quotation marks, because our definitions might not be God\u2019s! Give everything to the Lord! When things are \u201cbad,\u201d offer the sacrifices of praise. When things are \u201cgood,\u201d still petition Him for mercy and forgiveness.<\/p>\n
A great poetic version of this truth is found in the lyrics of the gospel song \u201cGod Of the Mountain\u201d written by Tracy Darrt.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife is easy when you\u2019re up on the mountain, And you\u2019ve got peace of mind like you\u2019ve never known. But then things change and you\u2019re down in the valley. Don\u2019t lose faith, for you\u2019re never alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou talk of faith when you\u2019re up on the mountain. But the talk comes easy when life\u2019s at its best. But it\u2019s down in the valley of trials and temptation \u2013 That\u2019s when faith is really put to the test.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
\nWhen things go wrong, He\u2019ll make it right.
\nAnd the God of the good times is still God in the bad times.
\nThe God of the day is still God in the night.\u201d<\/p>\n
The operative words remind us that the God ON the mountain is still God IN the valley. He cares for us the same way; we should approach Him the same way, no matter the circumstances. The God OF the good times is still God IN the bad times. <\/p>\n
The God OF the day is still God IN the night.<\/p>\n
+ + +<\/p>\n
A powerful performance of this gospel is a click away. It is associated with many people (Tracy Darrt\u2019s own family band; the McKameys; others) but no one more than Lynda Randle. She is the great contralto gospel singer, the sister of Michael Tait of the DCTalk and the Newsboys. This is a video recorded at a church concert of the Isaacs, the (mostly) Bluegrass group comprised of mother Lilly, daughters Sonya and Becky, and son Ben. You want impromptu? In this concert, they spotted Lynda in their audience, invited her onstage, prodded her to sing; they discussed keys and ranges; they backed her up on a song not in their repertoire \u2013 and we have a memorable moment of spiritual music, delivered from the heart to our hearts.<\/p>\n