“In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there’s actually no such thing as Atheism. Because there’s no such thing as NOT worshipping, everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” [David Foster Wallace, 2005 Kenyon College Commencement Address]
Q: What is your ‘choice’ for worship?
[I am a reader of ‘The Pour Over’ app; I wholeheartedly recommend it to you for your consideration.]
The above quote was taken from their ‘News health‘, Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The article was written by a staff member, Peter Nittler.
Nittler reflecting upon Wallace’s words, begins, “I’ve been known to start my days by plugging myself into the news machine. Before my glasses are on, the algorithm’s setting my mood and the experts are telling me how to think and feel about AI, immigration, wars-whatever’s hot in the headlines.” Though he wasn’t a Christian, the headband-wearing writer David Foster Wallace (quoted above) would call that behavior worship. And with remarkable theological precision. DFW would warn me: “pretty much everything you worship will eat you alive.”
Q: Does this sound like you?
Wallace is not making this statement distinguishing between believers in Christ and non-believers.
I agree.
Wallace is making a true observation of all humanity.
Nittler continues, “Worship money and things…you’ll never have enough. Worship beauty and sexual allure….you’ll always feel ugly. And in my case: worship the news…you’ll never know enough, be right enough, or be free from anxiety.”
Q: What is Nittler alluding to?
The Apostle John at the end of his first epistle, makes a simple, but profound statement.
The problem is, it is not simple.
He is deadly serious.
I John 5:21, NKJV, “Little children keep (guard) yourselves from idols. Amen” (insert mine) (emphasis mine)
Q: Do you believe that John’s statement is applicable to believers? to the Church? to you?
[At this point, I need to make an editorial comment. If you have not read the previous two posts, ‘Foundational Thoughts! and ‘Foundational Treason!, I recommend that you read these two posts before continuing to read this post.]
In the previous post I asked the question: Has idolatry been an issue throughout the history of the nation of Israel?
The answer to this question is YES!
The fact is, throughout the entirety of Scripture, the issue of idolatry is well documented.
The Word of God tells us that there are physical idols; and there are idols of the heart.
Q: Are there physical idols in the nations of the world today?
Q: Are there physical idols in our nation?
Q: Are there idols of the hearts in mankind?
As defined in the previous post, an idol represents humanity’s desire to worship another ‘god’.
The worship of an idol means, ‘I do not want to worship the one true God; nor do I want Him to govern my life’.
The truth is ‘I want to ‘control’ my life’.
Pastor Tim Keller, who passed away in 2023, summed up what sin is, with these words.
I paraphrase, “sin says that I do not anyone or anything governing my life; I do not want to be governed by God; I do not want to be depended upon Him; I want to be totally independent, dependent only upon myself.”
Q: Does this attitude reside in your heart?
As discussed in the previous post, Satan proposed to Adam and Eve to disregard God’s Word and “be like God”.
They chose to disobey God’s commandment, reject His authority, and “be like God”; this resulted in taking control of their own lives.
Their sin against God’s authority is an act of treason.
Strong words, but…
Their choice is the fulfillment of Tim Keller’s description of sin.
This ‘act of treason’ was offered to Adam and Eve by Satan, who himself, “said in his heart ” I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13-14, NKJV.
Satan committed treason against God, and God’s authority.
The result of Satan’s treason against God was :
“You shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” Isaiah 14:15, NKJV.
Please read Matthew 25:31-46.
Jesus explains what will take place when He returns again to judge the nations and separates the sheep from the goats.
Jesus said that hell, is a place of eternal punishment (i.e.-Pit); where “….everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels…” (Matthew 25:41)
Hell is not a place of eternal judgment prepared for sinful humanity.
But, you might argue that if a person does not accept Jesus as their Savior, then they will go to hell.
That is correct; they will go to hell.
But that is not God’s choice for sinful humanity.
Going to the place of eternal judgment is the result of sinful humanity not calling out to God who loves them.
God, the Father, who has provided the way for them to be eternally saved from the PIT of hell. (2 Peter 3:9)
Q: What is God’s heart for sinful humanity?
A: For God-so loved- the world-that He gave-His only begotten Son- that whoever believes in Him-should not perish-but have everlasting life.( John 3:16, NKJV)
[The hyphenated verse is my own design for emphasis. I encourage you to read each section carefully ; meditate on the words; and consider their importance.]
Q: What is the believer’s destination?
Not the Pit of hell; but everlasting life.
Q: What is the believer looking forward to?
In Matthew 25:32, Jesus said to His sheep; those who believed in Him: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world.”( NKJV)
Jesus said, believers are going to be in the Kingdom of God.
The Apostle John, in his first epistle, is addressing the Lord’s sheep, telling them to ‘guard’ their hearts from the allurement of idols.
Why?
Because an idol will turn your heart away from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Q: Do you remember that Satan tempted Jesus to worship Him?
Satan said to Jesus that he would give Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” if He would “fall down and worship Him.” ( Matthew 4:8, 9, NKJV)
Q: What was Jesus response?
“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord you God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” (Matthew 4:10)
What we need to understand is that Satan still seeks to be worshipped.
“Even though he (Satan) was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does, hoping to gain the worship of the world and encourage opposition to God’s kingdom. Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult and world religion. Satan will do anything and everything in his power to oppose God. However, Satan’s destiny is sealed-an eternity in the lake of fire(Revelation 20:10). [Source , Got questions: Who/what is Satan?] (insert mine)
Satan is especially deceitful in his use of physical idols and idols of the heart.
Believers ‘in Christ’ must understand that Satan is relentless, active, and in total opposition to God.
We know that Satan was defeated at the cross. (Colossians 2:15; context Colossians 2:11-15)
Yet, in the purpose God, until God’s salvific plan is completed; God allows Satan to be an adversary working against His people,the purposes of God, and to be an influence the the affairs of the unredeemed people of this world.
Satan’s activity is completely governed by the Sovereignty of God in complete Holiness.
Q: For what purpose?
[it is not hard to find books, sermons, teachings seeking to answer this question]
Let us consider some examples from the Word of God.
Go to ‘The Book Job’. (Job 1:1-22)
Q: What did God allow in the life of Job?
Q: What did God want Job to learn?
The Holy Spirit, led Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man to be tempted by the devil. (See Matthew 4:5-11)
Q: What did God allow in the life of His Son?
Q: Why did God allow this in the life of Jesus His Son?
Jesus, responding to His disciples, when they asked Him to teach them to pray, included these words, “lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one”. (Matthew 6:13, NKJV)
Q: Who is the evil one?
Satan
Q: Why is it important to understand the significance of these words in our walk with the Lord?
Paul instructed the Ephesian Church, “Finally My brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, (so)that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities, against powers, and against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12, NKJV) (insert mine) [boldness mine]
Q: What is Paul reminding the believers in Ephesus about the enemy of the Church?
The following thought was put forth by John Piper ?
Can you visualize how much we experience the glory of God, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives because of the presence of Satan in the world today? (See Desiring God, ‘Ask Pastor John’, episode 408, August 15, 2014)
I would like to say it this way.
Everything God does ‘sticks it’ in the face of Satan and brings Glory to Him.
Q: Why does God purpose for us to experience Him ‘sticking it’ in the face of Satan in our lives?
The ultimate ‘stick it’ in the face of Satan happened at the Cross.
2 Corinthians 4:6, NKJV, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (see also, Colossians 2:11-15)
Paul, himself, asked God three times to remove the “messenger of Satan” that God allowed to torment him.
Q: Who initiated that?
Q: What was God’s response to Paul’s prayers?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. (II Corinthians 12:9, NKJV; context verses 7-10)
Q: Have you experienced the sufficiency of God’s grace in your life praying for Him to remove the struggles in your life?
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, said of Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man, “…who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became that author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…” (Hebrews 5:7-9, NKJV, context Hebrews 5:1-11)
Q: Where did Jesus offer up the prayers and supplication, with vehement cries?
A: In the Garden of Gethsemane.
Q: How is His struggle different from Adam in the Garden of Eden?
Q: Did Adam struggle over whether to obey God or acquiesce to Satan’s temptation?
A. I honestly do not know.
I do not see anything in the Word of God that indicates that Adam struggled against sinning.
We do know implicitly that Jesus struggled regarding the removal of sin that Adam had committed.
Adam submitted to Satan’s words and that resulted in sin.
Jesus submitted, as the Son of God/Son of Man, and said, Father,” not my will but your will be done”.
Jesus drank the fullness of the cup that the Father had put before Him, and went to the cross, as the Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world. (Matthew 26:36-46)
Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension verifies that Christ’s work on the cross is finished that offers fallen humanity the gift of salvation buy grace so that they can be saved from eternal damnation. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This digression is necessary.
The Church must awaken to the spiritual warfare that is present; and Satan’s relentless , ongoing, active opposition in the lives of believers, and the Church seeking to discredit the work of Almighty God.
At the cross, Jesus triumphed over sin, death, and Satan.
The Apostle Peter, reminds the “pilgrims of the Dispersion”:
“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8, NKJV)
Consider the words of Jesus to Peter, “Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you…” (Luke 22:31,32a, NKJV)
{I am so glad that Jesus is our (my)great High Priest that lives forever interceding for us (me). (Hebrews 5) (inserts mine)
Consider Job 1:6-7, NKJV, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Sounds like I Peter 5:8)
At this time, the issue for us to know and understand is that God is Sovereign over all the earth, all mankind, and uses Satan for His own purposes.
That can be a tough truth to swallow, but it is all part of God’s process.
Therefore, let us remember Romans 8:18-39.
I encourage you to read this passage of scripture.
In the midst of this passage, Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NKJV)
Paul concludes this passage by telling us:
“Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, whall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39, NKJV)
Q: Do you recognize from this passage of scripture that Paul is assuring us as believers that there are no works of Satan, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior?
Rejoice!
This is a good time to take a break and stop, rest ,and reflect upon what has been shared so far in this post.
God governs all, by His Sovereignty and Providence, according to the Word of God.
Whatever ‘ways and /or means’, He chooses , is part of His eternal process to redeem (justify) a lost humanity; conforming(sanctify) us to the image of His Son; so that we will spend eternity (glorified) in His Presence.
Our task then is “to be faithful in the ‘not knowing’ of God’s work in our life”.
Isn’t that a definition of ‘faith’? (Hebrews 11:1)
blessings, a brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 