We're coming up on what many people consider to be "the most wonderful time of the year." Here in Minnesota, we've had a few rounds of light snow but it hasn't stuck around just yet. Nonetheless, the reminders are present: the holidays are on their way. And with the holidays come a whole host of events, people, and opportunities unique to this season. The commercials on TV portray households as being cozy and warm and decorated just perfectly. We buy all kinds of fluffy things to battle the biting cold -- socks, sweaters, blankets... And for most people, at some point, we find ourselves thinking or saying, "I just love this time of year." Why? I think it makes us feel good. We like the feeling of the holidays and the advertising companies know it. Who can resist a good snuggle with a puppy or a baby while sitting by the fireplace with a twinkling Christmas tree as the only source of light? Only the Grinch himself, I'd say.
But I don't think the holidays are the only time we chase the feeling of being cozy, warm, and happy. Actually, I think that's a year-round 24/7 pursuit, just without the mistletoe and turkey. In fact, I'll boldly say that humanity as a species has been chasing this same fuzzy feeling since the beginning of time. It has always been one of our greatest natural attractions.
From the moment Adam and Eve were busted for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, they set the trend for humanity to want to cover whatever is wrong, broken, dull, or simply too much to handle at once. Think about it -- why do we put stuff into cupboards in our homes? Because if we left all our junk laying around, we wouldn't be able to handle the lifestyle it would take to constantly navigate our stuff all day every day. Why do we cover the bodies of those who pass away? Partially for practical sanitary purposes, partially out of respect for the person's dignity, but also because death is really difficult to stare in the face and while it doesn't remove the reality, it temporarily eases the cognitive dissonance of seeing something difficult and having to process it. It's why before and after pictures are their own kind of satisfying -- we all long to see growth and positive change. I also think this is why people love Hallmark movies. Everything is so picturesque and no matter how much trouble the characters get into, it always turns out okay in the end. Theologians talk about this phenomenon as the longing for redemption. And we'll do just about anything to help our hearts feel redeemed, even if it's not genuine.
God has hard-wired every human heart to crave redemption and justice. He also gave us the dignity of causation, as in, the ability to make choices that have real consequences in a world He alone created. He didn't have to give us that ability. He could've made us slaves or pre-programmed robots, but He didn't. And, like a rookie chemist in a fully-loaded lab, without wisdom and careful living, we're bound to make some explosively bad decisions that cause brokenness and injustice. We like to think we can fix stuff and by the grace of God, we've made progress in many areas of life such as medicine, technology, and education. But we all know, there's still a whole lot of brokenness happening even in the healthiest, most technologically advanced, and best educated parts of the world. We are not immune to experiencing brokenness. No ordinary human has the answer. Yet, we still long for everything to be made right, for what's broken to be healed, for what's been lost to be fully restored.
Jesus knew this. Jesus experienced this. Jesus came to earth precisely FOR this.
The devil knew it, too. Look at Matthew 4:1-11. Satan tries three times to tempt Jesus, who has been fasting for 40 days, into giving up His holiness for temporary relief. Why? Because he knew Jesus was hurting. He knew the humanity of the God-Man Jesus -- and humans hate pain. What did Satan use to tempt Jesus? Three things: food, power, and glory. Why these three things? At face-value, one could read the account and wonder what would've been so appetizing about bread made from rocks. But look deeper. These three things are what engage our hearts the most.
Food, here, was the appetite Satan chose to focus on, but I think it's also fair to expand it to all appetites. Physical hunger is probably our most frequent, but we also experience the desire for comfort, understanding, intimacy both emotionally and physically or even just physical nearness or connectedness (this is why we hug!), as well as specific appetites relevant to our gifts and callings. Our external, physical life is literally driven by these appetites and to be clear, they are God-given and not inherently wrong, bad, or sinful. But when we're deprived and hungry, we become vulnerable -- and Satan loves to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of human nature. We are much more likely to make impulsive and potentially bad decisions when we are really feeling and experiencing a need or pain. When you're that hungry, almost anything will suffice no matter the cost. This is dangerous.
The second temptation was that Jesus could gain all authority on earth-- a literal power grab if there ever was one. To be honest, at face-value, I don't understand the appeal of wanting to be the big shot in the office or the monkey in the middle of the circus. But if we correlate "power" with "control," my palms get just a liiiiiittle bit sweaty. I dislike being the center of attention, but even moreso I hate feeling helpless. There are few feelings as defeating as feeling helpless, ergo, the idea of having just enough power to avoid that feeling could be appealing. To be clear, again, there's nothing sinful about being the boss... but even bosses have boundaries.
The third and final temptation was for glory and recognition. Who doesn't love to be loved? Part of the human nature is the need to belong somewhere and to feel purposeful. When we are praised, it feeds both those innate desires for belonging and conquers the fear that life may in fact just be chaotic and meaningless. It feels good to be recognized for making a difference and since we are wired to want this, we become vulnerable sometimes if we pursue it too much or by utilizing unethical or immoral patterns. Perhaps this is the trap of pro athletes who use performance enhancing substances to achieve something. They want the glory of being the best more than anything.
Here's the bad news: we're all susceptible to these same tricks. If Jesus wasn't immune and He was a perfect example, why would we think we are exempt from temptation?
Here's the good news: Satan's been running this same gig from day 1. It's always the same tricks and if you chase each of these issues down to the root, really, all three come down to one thing: chasing a feeling instead of holding fast to the truth. In the first, we are tempted to chase whatever makes us feel full or not "hungry" depending on the appetite. We do not like to feel empty. In the second, we are tempted to chase after feeling in-control or authoritative. We hate feeling helpless, and often, for people who have experienced trauma, this is the root: they felt helpless and trapped in a situation that was harmful. And in the third, we are tempted to chase the feelings that come with knowing you're the best, the greatest, the one everyone wanted to win...
But stop and ask yourself: are any of those feelings even true? Before diving headlong into the pursuit of something that seems good, let's make sure it's true first. This was exactly how Jesus responded.
Regarding the temptation for bread when He was probably the most hungry any human has ever been, He acknowledged that "Humanity cannot live on bread alone, but on every word from the mouth of God." Our souls are just as hungry as our stomachs but if we only ever try to satisfy our physical desires and we do not acknowledge the need for literal soul food, we are without the vital dense nutrition we actually need to be satisfied. A great meal is great for a few hours, but eventually hunger returns. We may use the holidays to emotionally fill up on the love of friends and family... but you know as well as I do, it's not a cure for loneliness the other 364 days a year... Our souls need the satisfaction of God's presence as much as our stomachs thrive on the nutrients of a great meal.
Regarding the temptation for control, we need to acknowledge a universal truth: we have freedom or autonomy (we are not robots), we have responsibilities, but at the end of the day, nobody actually knows what each day holds. Car accidents, medical conditions, unexpected pregnancies or deaths, job promotions, relocation, or loss -- all of these things and so many more are the things that change lives in a matter of moments. And though you may possess the best insurance policies known to man, no insurance policy can prevent natural disasters. We may be moving legislation that allows humans to dictate when or how their life ends, but the reality is, none of us consciously chose our birthday, our conception, or our family of origin. Some things are just completely out of our control. But they're not outside of God's everlasting arms. The temptation, then, is to want to tell God how He should do His job... but it would only be so that we feel like we're heard or feel in control. And when it feels like God isn't listening, we're often tempted to use what control we do have (through the dignity of causation) to comfort ourselves... It's one temptation compounded by another; both rooted in feelings.
The temptation for glory (the way I see it), is really only tempting if we don't understand who Jesus is and the character of God the Father. The only way I would want glory for myself is if I don't know the goodness of God's love, His protective heart, and His intent to make me a beautiful bride in Heaven. I would only enjoy feeling like a big shot around town if I didn't understand that in the grand scheme of things, I am so, so minuscule. Here's what's already true: if we know Jesus as the King of our hearts, we ARE promised glory with Him! It's in the book, and God's Word cannot fail. The temptation loses its luster when we realize it's only a temporary and fake "glory" for ourselves when compared to eternity in Heaven with Jesus.
All of this to say... we're living in a world that is hungry, that wants power and control, and that wants to be known as the best-(whatever)-ever. Look at the way we're handling sexuality; consider our appetites for both food and fad diets; examine why it is that we want glory... we want to be our own gods so that we can feel comfortable and avoid suffering. It's so easy to do. But if we make our lifestyle into patterns that pursue feelings, eventually we begin to forget God's faithfulness. Let's talk more about that next time.
(to be continued)
But I don't think the holidays are the only time we chase the feeling of being cozy, warm, and happy. Actually, I think that's a year-round 24/7 pursuit, just without the mistletoe and turkey. In fact, I'll boldly say that humanity as a species has been chasing this same fuzzy feeling since the beginning of time. It has always been one of our greatest natural attractions.
From the moment Adam and Eve were busted for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, they set the trend for humanity to want to cover whatever is wrong, broken, dull, or simply too much to handle at once. Think about it -- why do we put stuff into cupboards in our homes? Because if we left all our junk laying around, we wouldn't be able to handle the lifestyle it would take to constantly navigate our stuff all day every day. Why do we cover the bodies of those who pass away? Partially for practical sanitary purposes, partially out of respect for the person's dignity, but also because death is really difficult to stare in the face and while it doesn't remove the reality, it temporarily eases the cognitive dissonance of seeing something difficult and having to process it. It's why before and after pictures are their own kind of satisfying -- we all long to see growth and positive change. I also think this is why people love Hallmark movies. Everything is so picturesque and no matter how much trouble the characters get into, it always turns out okay in the end. Theologians talk about this phenomenon as the longing for redemption. And we'll do just about anything to help our hearts feel redeemed, even if it's not genuine.
God has hard-wired every human heart to crave redemption and justice. He also gave us the dignity of causation, as in, the ability to make choices that have real consequences in a world He alone created. He didn't have to give us that ability. He could've made us slaves or pre-programmed robots, but He didn't. And, like a rookie chemist in a fully-loaded lab, without wisdom and careful living, we're bound to make some explosively bad decisions that cause brokenness and injustice. We like to think we can fix stuff and by the grace of God, we've made progress in many areas of life such as medicine, technology, and education. But we all know, there's still a whole lot of brokenness happening even in the healthiest, most technologically advanced, and best educated parts of the world. We are not immune to experiencing brokenness. No ordinary human has the answer. Yet, we still long for everything to be made right, for what's broken to be healed, for what's been lost to be fully restored.
Jesus knew this. Jesus experienced this. Jesus came to earth precisely FOR this.
The devil knew it, too. Look at Matthew 4:1-11. Satan tries three times to tempt Jesus, who has been fasting for 40 days, into giving up His holiness for temporary relief. Why? Because he knew Jesus was hurting. He knew the humanity of the God-Man Jesus -- and humans hate pain. What did Satan use to tempt Jesus? Three things: food, power, and glory. Why these three things? At face-value, one could read the account and wonder what would've been so appetizing about bread made from rocks. But look deeper. These three things are what engage our hearts the most.
Food, here, was the appetite Satan chose to focus on, but I think it's also fair to expand it to all appetites. Physical hunger is probably our most frequent, but we also experience the desire for comfort, understanding, intimacy both emotionally and physically or even just physical nearness or connectedness (this is why we hug!), as well as specific appetites relevant to our gifts and callings. Our external, physical life is literally driven by these appetites and to be clear, they are God-given and not inherently wrong, bad, or sinful. But when we're deprived and hungry, we become vulnerable -- and Satan loves to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of human nature. We are much more likely to make impulsive and potentially bad decisions when we are really feeling and experiencing a need or pain. When you're that hungry, almost anything will suffice no matter the cost. This is dangerous.
The second temptation was that Jesus could gain all authority on earth-- a literal power grab if there ever was one. To be honest, at face-value, I don't understand the appeal of wanting to be the big shot in the office or the monkey in the middle of the circus. But if we correlate "power" with "control," my palms get just a liiiiiittle bit sweaty. I dislike being the center of attention, but even moreso I hate feeling helpless. There are few feelings as defeating as feeling helpless, ergo, the idea of having just enough power to avoid that feeling could be appealing. To be clear, again, there's nothing sinful about being the boss... but even bosses have boundaries.
The third and final temptation was for glory and recognition. Who doesn't love to be loved? Part of the human nature is the need to belong somewhere and to feel purposeful. When we are praised, it feeds both those innate desires for belonging and conquers the fear that life may in fact just be chaotic and meaningless. It feels good to be recognized for making a difference and since we are wired to want this, we become vulnerable sometimes if we pursue it too much or by utilizing unethical or immoral patterns. Perhaps this is the trap of pro athletes who use performance enhancing substances to achieve something. They want the glory of being the best more than anything.
Here's the bad news: we're all susceptible to these same tricks. If Jesus wasn't immune and He was a perfect example, why would we think we are exempt from temptation?
Here's the good news: Satan's been running this same gig from day 1. It's always the same tricks and if you chase each of these issues down to the root, really, all three come down to one thing: chasing a feeling instead of holding fast to the truth. In the first, we are tempted to chase whatever makes us feel full or not "hungry" depending on the appetite. We do not like to feel empty. In the second, we are tempted to chase after feeling in-control or authoritative. We hate feeling helpless, and often, for people who have experienced trauma, this is the root: they felt helpless and trapped in a situation that was harmful. And in the third, we are tempted to chase the feelings that come with knowing you're the best, the greatest, the one everyone wanted to win...
But stop and ask yourself: are any of those feelings even true? Before diving headlong into the pursuit of something that seems good, let's make sure it's true first. This was exactly how Jesus responded.
Regarding the temptation for bread when He was probably the most hungry any human has ever been, He acknowledged that "Humanity cannot live on bread alone, but on every word from the mouth of God." Our souls are just as hungry as our stomachs but if we only ever try to satisfy our physical desires and we do not acknowledge the need for literal soul food, we are without the vital dense nutrition we actually need to be satisfied. A great meal is great for a few hours, but eventually hunger returns. We may use the holidays to emotionally fill up on the love of friends and family... but you know as well as I do, it's not a cure for loneliness the other 364 days a year... Our souls need the satisfaction of God's presence as much as our stomachs thrive on the nutrients of a great meal.
Regarding the temptation for control, we need to acknowledge a universal truth: we have freedom or autonomy (we are not robots), we have responsibilities, but at the end of the day, nobody actually knows what each day holds. Car accidents, medical conditions, unexpected pregnancies or deaths, job promotions, relocation, or loss -- all of these things and so many more are the things that change lives in a matter of moments. And though you may possess the best insurance policies known to man, no insurance policy can prevent natural disasters. We may be moving legislation that allows humans to dictate when or how their life ends, but the reality is, none of us consciously chose our birthday, our conception, or our family of origin. Some things are just completely out of our control. But they're not outside of God's everlasting arms. The temptation, then, is to want to tell God how He should do His job... but it would only be so that we feel like we're heard or feel in control. And when it feels like God isn't listening, we're often tempted to use what control we do have (through the dignity of causation) to comfort ourselves... It's one temptation compounded by another; both rooted in feelings.
The temptation for glory (the way I see it), is really only tempting if we don't understand who Jesus is and the character of God the Father. The only way I would want glory for myself is if I don't know the goodness of God's love, His protective heart, and His intent to make me a beautiful bride in Heaven. I would only enjoy feeling like a big shot around town if I didn't understand that in the grand scheme of things, I am so, so minuscule. Here's what's already true: if we know Jesus as the King of our hearts, we ARE promised glory with Him! It's in the book, and God's Word cannot fail. The temptation loses its luster when we realize it's only a temporary and fake "glory" for ourselves when compared to eternity in Heaven with Jesus.
All of this to say... we're living in a world that is hungry, that wants power and control, and that wants to be known as the best-(whatever)-ever. Look at the way we're handling sexuality; consider our appetites for both food and fad diets; examine why it is that we want glory... we want to be our own gods so that we can feel comfortable and avoid suffering. It's so easy to do. But if we make our lifestyle into patterns that pursue feelings, eventually we begin to forget God's faithfulness. Let's talk more about that next time.
(to be continued)
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