BEWARE OF GRACE IDOLATRY

September 9, 2011

JONAH 2:8, 9

I can remember the first stroke of grace I could actually distinguish on my hearts palette.  I cried as one who had just finished a marathon of works trying to please a relentless coach of the law.  For a people pleaser like me I had gone through years of performing to be worthy for some unknown entity out there who would finally tell me I was good enough. And after many failed attempts to become more of an image than a person, more of a shadow rather than a saint: I found the artistry of Jesus’ love covering the canvas of my heart with colors more exhilarating than I ever imagined. I was transformed from irrelevance into a son crowned with gold from the hands of Jesus.   The grace of Christ’s love is the ultimate in transformation for one’s life, but we can certainly adulterate our hearts by selling that which is invaluable for that which is corruptible.  We do this by making Christ’s grace a substitute statue. 

As I was meditating on the Prophet Jonah’s digestive experience, I was struck by the profoundness of the transformation of Jonah’s heart while captured in the grip of death, only to so quickly deconstruct bestowed grace into a new idol when freed from the Sovereign’s squeeze.  For me what was even more astounding was that the historical fish story wasn’t so much about a wayward prophet, as much as it was about a wayward grace-idolater like me.  Looking into the prophet’s actions we can see the insidiousness of our idol making hearts that eventually return us to the cross for another brush of grace.  How does this happen to any of us who know heaven’s heart for us?  Take a look with me.

Recognize where you are and why

• ·         Jonah starts out well from his deluge of grace; he recognizes that God has him right where he is supposed to be: “For You (God) cast me into the deep…”  Like Jonah we must understand what happens when we act contrary to God’s commands to us. Remember Jonah was in fish soup because he had thumbed his nose to God’s call, but God provided a “think tank” for the prophet to digest his predicament.  The conclusion for Jonah was the same conclusion we need to come to and that is this: When God speaks to our hearts; that is grace.  If we try to take His grace and turn it to our own agenda’s, God often gives us a place to recall that it’s His grace and not ours to manipulate for our advantage.

Repent

• ·         Jonah finally recovers from amnesia and prays! What does he pray? Lord I took your grace and made it an idol. I didn’t do what you said I should and instead of putting an end to my life, you put an end to me. Lord thank you, I’m going to worship You for how wonderful You are because in putting an end to me, You saved me from myself (grace).  Then Jonah does what God commanded him to do.

 We are not always in difficult circumstances because we’ve been disobedient. In fact, many times things are hard because we are being obedient and in most cases, we know the difference.  When we’re sure we are not doing what God commands, we need to repent and pray a prayer similar Jonah’s and then get going with God’s grace.

God’s grace can become something we try to own when instead we should praise Him for what He has bestowed on us. Grace is only grace when we receive it as well as give it. When we grab grace as though its permission for self-centeredness, we take that which is beauty and exchange it for idolatry.

 

It might go well for us if we will stop for a moment and think; “where does God have me right now?” Do I need to rejoice and dance, or rejoice and repent? The answer may determine whether or not you should go fishing!

Blessings Pastor Brad