Playing Games?

Our grandsons love playing tag. When they visit our area, there is a park that has a big rock that they call base, and as long as they are on it or touching it they are considered SAFE. There have been other times we have used a circled area as base, or a tree stump, or some other designated spot where no tagging is aloud. As our grandchildren step off base and challenge whomever is “it”, they excitedly run back to the designated “safe zone” and either exclaim, “I’m on base! I’m on base!” or “I’m safe! I’m safe!”

Even I enjoy this game with our grandsons and they enjoy it with their “PAPA” (as they call me). It is a good way to use up some of their energy and we end up laughing a lot together as we play. However, it is sad that such is the picture of the way some approach their spiritual life. They live life “off base” from what God desires and then believe they can simply step within what is considered to be a “safe area” (a church building, fellowship with Christians, time doing a little Bible reading, etc.) and feel things are just fine.

During the time of Jeremiah such seems to have been the game. We read…

“(3) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: AMEND YOUR WAYS AND YOUR DEEDS, and I will let you dwell in this place. (4) Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘THIS IS THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD.’” ( Jeremiah 7:3-4 ESV)

“I’M SAFE! I’M SAFE!” “I’m in the temple!” Can we hear the game being played? Have we observed it? Have we been guilty of playing it? The warning here is that such were deceptive words! They were not SAFE!

Dropping down a few verses we read…

“(8) Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. (9) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, (10) and THEN COME and STAND BEFORE ME IN THIS HOUSE, which is called by my name, and say, ‘WE ARE DELIVERED!’ -- only to go on doing all these abominations?” ( Jeremiah 7:8-10 ESV)

To play this game is to be self-deceived! It is a sign of the thinking being completely “off base” and religion has merely become a game rather than the essence of life. When we step out the door of our assembly with one another and then live like the world or read our Bibles and fail to live those principles in our life, we may fool others, but God knows what’s really going on. It is when we continue to genuinely seek God’s Will and strive to live in accordance with it, that we can be TRULY SAFE even as we go about our daily activities. May our living in the sphere of God not be something we play at, but rather be that which we take seriously as the true foundation and essence of all our life’s activity.

Have a great day KEEPING LIFE ON BASE WITH GOD!
Carl

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