Leaving my home country was far from easy. Ions of years ago, I decided to
attend university in the United States. It wasn't until my application was
approved however, that reality set in. Did I really want to go through with
this? After all, Belgium was my home. All of my friends were in Belgium. All of
my family was in Belgium. All of my belongings and memories were in Belgium.
Could I really leave all of that behind?
"It'll only be for a short while!" I reasoned. But this thought did little to
relieve my stress. I didn't know why, but deep down inside, I had the feeling
that I was leaving my home for good, and the thought left me torn. But how could
I advance my education in the way I hoped to advance it without leaving my home?
With dread and trepidation I prepared to transfer to another continent. I could
only take three suitcases with me, and most of these were filled with clothing.
I was forced to place a value on the rest of my belongings, for only the ones of
the highest value would be sandwiched between my clothes. I also tried to spend
as much time with family and friends as possible, but even this was stressful,
for ever in the back of my mind was the realization that I would soon be
transported by plane to an unknown continent, to an unknown country, and to an
unknown university where they spoke the dreaded language that I had been unable
to master in high school (See
Undeserved Success. My Lord and Master Series part 5)!
Though I tried to maintain a positive attitude, there was no denying that the
first few months away from home were hard. On my second day at the university, I
met an American friend who I had known in France. He had a somber warning for
me: "Welcome to our materialistic society! Watch out, because your mind will be
bent as you are gradually sucked into materialism." Such comforting words! I
made a resolution that day to resist any and all materialism!
It wasn't too hard in the beginning to maintain my European heritage. I was
homesick, and I tended to compare everything with Europe. However, as days
changed into months and months into years, I discovered to my horror that I had
indeed become materialistic. Initially I blamed the culture. Then I noticed that
in reality, there were many people who successfully resisted this temptation,
and I also was eventually brought to realize that materialism was no better in
my home country! In fact, people throughout the entire world are faced with
identical temptations! It wasn't where I was living that made me materialistic,
it was succumbing to the temptation!
This is, in fact, a Biblical principle: "You know that your brothers throughout
the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings…" (1 Peter 5:9 NIV), and
Bible people faced the same kind of challenges. Look at Lot, for example. He
moved away from his birth place, Ur of the Chaldeans, with his uncle Abram to an
unknown land called Canaan. He most likely faced the same challenges I did,
because he and his uncle eventually split up over conflicts of wealth:
"Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their
possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And
quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot." (Gen 13:5-7
NIV)
Abram let his nephew choose which part of the country he would live in, and when
Lot realized that the plain of Jordan was well watered and looked like a little
paradise, he chose this part of the land. Unlike Abram, his eyes were attracted
by the glories of city life. This move now seemed much easier than the one from
Ur!
"Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the
plain and pitched his tents near Sodom." (Gen 13:12 NIV)
"Watch out Lot! Before you know it, you will become materialistic!"
And this is what eventually happened. Before Lot knew it, he moved right into
the city of Sodom: "He (Lot) was living in Sodom…" (Gen 14:12 NIV)
Lot's mind gradually became warped by the thinking of that local town. As
wickedness increased, God decided to destroy the city. He sent angels to warn
Lot and to lead him out of the city before it was too late, but when the news
circulated through town that Lot was housing unknown guests, the town men
rallied around his home with far from healthy plans! (See Gen 19:5).
Lot did try to appease them. However if you analyze his reasoning, you will
realize that he was no longer the same person who used to travel with Abram:
"Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, "No, my
friends. Don't do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never
slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like
with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the
protection of my roof." (Gen 19:6-8 NIV)
Wickedness had invaded his own roof! He literally had to be forced out of the
city with his wife and his daughters (See Gen 19:16). When they were warned to
not look back, Lot's wife couldn't resist. Her heart to belong to this place!
Filled with lust and evil she looked back. When she did, "she became a pillar of
salt." (Gen 19:24-26)
Meanwhile, Abram was changing as well. Only instead of his change being for the
worse, it was for the glory of God. Throughout his lifetime, he learned to
depend 100% on God.
One of the reasons why our prayers seem to go unnoticed is our evil
inclinations, our hidden sins, our "false gods" who require most if not all of
our attention. God cannot help those who live like that! Holiness can not be
mixed with filth: "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes
from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full
of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (Isa 1:15 -17.
See also Jer 11:11-15; Amos 5:21-26; John 9:31)
Is it hopeless, then, to even pray to God if we are fighting with unwanted
filthy inclinations and addictions?
Not at all! You can be freed from these addictions if you come to rely on the
power of Jesus! He died so that you could be freed! He rose again on the third
day, and he shares His resurrection power with you so that you could indeed be
truly free. Let's continue reading through Isaiah 1: "Come now, let us reason
together," says the LORD." Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you
are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land…" (Isaiah 1:18, 19
NIV)
Freedom is now more of a reality than ever! "So if the Son sets you free, you
will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV) I can confirm this, for I have been freed
from several addictions, thanks be to God! God can and will transform you into a
person of light, if you will only let Him: "We, who with unveiled faces all
reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor
3:18 NIV)
We have a choice to make. Either we continue with our evil longings and become
transformed into filthy, hopeless pillars of salt, or we allow ourselves to
become transformed "into his likeness" and enjoy real freedom from addictions
and evil thoughts.
Only by allowing God to work the changes in our life will we become what we were
meant to be: "Images" of God Himself! (see Gen 1:26) And only by allowing our
lives to be transformed will our prayers be heard.
When we live in sin, we have no idea what is good. How can we even try to pray
for the good of ourselves and others? The prayer that can transform all of this
is this simple prayer: "Lord. I am a sinner! I feel lost! I don't know where to
turn! Please come into my life. I accept you as my Lord and Master and believe
in your promise of complete freedom from my awful addictions. Thank you for
welcoming me the way I am. I will follow you wherever you lead me. I love you
Lord!"
God has great plans for you if you will let Him transform you to your full
potential!
P. S. Thanks be to God, I eventually was able to shake off many of my
materialistic tendencies. I have learned to love this culture, to call it home.
I feel blessed to be able to live in this country of opportunities. Remember,
hope is ever at our reach when we abandon ourselves in the insatiable love that
God has for us!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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