the Lie

The biggest lie we must all overcome in this life is that it is not about us and our happiness, but about God and His glory. This is what distinguishes the hypocrite from the true believer. Jonathan Edwards, probably the most gifted theological mind in American history, says that the hypocrite only comes to Christ because He endorses their desire to be made much of. In other words, their whole perception of the Gospel is anthropocentric or ‘man-centered’. The only reason they come to Christ is because they are seeking a life of comfort, happiness, prosperity, and prestige. They know nothing of the holiness and majesty of Christ. They do not see the seriousness of sin and how it is a disease that is encompasses their entire being. They do not see themselves as being in need of rescue, rather, if anything they believe that God needs them. It is the height of human arrogance to de-throne Christ and place ourselves in His place and demand that He bow down to meet our demands and give us anything that we desire. They domesticate God and deify themselves. At the very least they are bringing God down to their level. There is no distinction between Creator and creation. How ludicrous! How preposterous! This is nothing less than idolatry. They exchange the truth of God for a lie and choose to worship the creature (in this case ourselves) rather than the Creator. And then, when things don’t go as they wish, they turn around and blame God as being unjust, unfair, and unloving.......

Edwards would go on to say that the true believer embraces Christ because of their desire to make much of Him. Out of state of brokeness and desperation, they see their plight and need to be rescued. The more they see the holiness of God, the more they realize the depth and seriousness of their sin. They realize that they are spiritually bankrupt and destitute. Their entire sustenance and well-being must come from outside themselves. They realize that even their righteousness is as filthy menstrual rags tainted by their own filth. In turn, this produces mourning and they begin to grieve over their hideous and heinous state. It is at this moment that Christ rescues them! The spiritual corpse is given life. They are given spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear. As they look to the Cross, they see the love, mercy, justice, and grace of God on full display. They are so captivated and smitten that they remain at the foot of the Cross and for all eternity will sing the song of the Redeemed:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!...Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to received glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created...Worthy are you to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

The lie is as old as Eden. “You will not die, you will be like God knowing good and evil.” Along with our parents, we are born into this world broken and alienated from God and each other. We seek to cover our shame and guilt by sewing fig leaves together, hiding from the only One who can truly cover our sin. Just like the garden, God must provide the sacrifice. Blood must be shed. Death must occur. Thankfully, He provided the ultimate sacrifice by offering His own Son to die the death we deserved to die! Our guilt has been taken away and our sin atoned for! This is the very heart of the Gospel. May we put to death once and for all the Lies that our hearts are so easily drawn to!