The world has never had a shortage of gods - of beings, ideas, creatures, things, stories, whatever that men have worshiped. That men have believed have had the power to shape our mortal lives in meaningful ways and therefore, require some kind of deference.
But only the Lord has ever inspired any kind of true devotion.
The gods of the world, they are transactional gods. Tit-for-tat. You do this, your god does that. Or they are dominant gods, using men as pawns in their cosmic battles. Or they are demanding gods, requiring certain behavior from their followers.
And the exchange rate isn't great.
If you please your god, you might get something you want. Or you might get something your god wants to give you. Or you might help your god to victory in the cosmic battle of the gods. You might escape this world. You might be rewarded richly with virgins and ice cream. You might get a nice pat on the back.
Only the Lord stretches out His arms and welcomes you home.
Only God promises love. Only God promises redemption. Only God promises restoration. Only God has something in mind that is truly good for you and not just a satisfaction of some fleshly desire.
Only God inspires you to dream bigger than your life.
Only God inspires you to dream bigger for your life.
It doesn't take a lot to understand this. Look at the stories of the other so-called gods. Look at what they promise. Look at what it takes to get there. You have to climb mountains and scale tall buildings and be perfect and achieve on your own.
Only God crossed the heavens and came to earth to be with you, and only God promises that He has a place for you. Not for all the people like you. Not for everyone who earns it. Not for whoever figures it all out.
But for whosoever will. All who will come.
Matthew had it right: God, our God, the Lord is unlike any other (14:2).
And I am so glad He is.
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