Have We Lost Our Center? Finding Our Way Back to Truth

What is Our Center?

When we let go of Truth’s hand, we stray from the path God set for us. Because God is a gentleman, He doesn’t scold or condemn. Instead, brokenhearted, He watches us take the first step off His path and waits patiently for us to realize our error and turn back.

The first step off God’s path is onto the road to the city of Destruction, led by Deception, that passes through Sin Valley. But when we focus on life’s trials or successes, we take our eyes off Jesus. He is no longer our center.

Deception is so good at his job that we quickly lose sight of Truth. God’s path becomes a distant thought, and we settle into this new life and a new way of thinking. This is now our center.

History Repeats

Amos, The Old Testament prophet, paints an ugly picture of a Hebrew society with remarkable similarities to ours. In his visit to Samaria, to sell wool, he witnessed displays of ritual worship, flagrant disparities between the rich and poor, and the cruelty of the slave trade. (Amos 1-4)

We boast our success and popularity in worshiping the new fads and trends of our time while knowingly becoming members of a society that’s unfair economically, unashamed morally, and unjust socially. We’ve strayed off God’s path for so long that we are unaware of the ugliness we now call “truth.”

Judgment Comes

Sometimes we need a little encouragement to see the error of our ways.

In the past, when God’s people sat with Deception too long, God sent prophets like Amos to declare His word and steer His people back to Truth. When that didn’t work, their sin led to destruction.

Today, God sends friends, family, sisters, and brothers in Christ to do the same. We sit in church and hear a pastor’s message, or we read a devotional book with conviction. If we hear and repent, God will graciously lead us back to the path of Truth. However, if we plug in our earbuds, turn up the volume, and ignore the messenger, we will surly see the city of Destruction in all its glory.

Regardless of how it comes, judgment is guaranteed but so invaluable.

Rejoice and Grow in Judgment

When judgment, out of love, offers you a choice to repent and correct your behavior, it’s a time to rejoice.

“Sin dulls our spiritual senses and lulls us into self-indulging sloth, but judgment wakes us up to God.”-Eugene Peterson

It’s hard to hear that we messed up, stepped off the path of Truth, or listened too long to Deception’s explanation of reality. But in judgment, if we can listen with open ears, see our errors, and take ownership of our actions we are assured that God will be merciful.

Like an earthly father who judges the behavior and disciplines his children out of love and for safety, so much more so does God judge and discipline His children.

Rest assured knowing God loves us so much that he doesn’t want to see us walk through Sin Valley any more than He wants us to live in the city of Destruction.

My Prayer

Thank you, God, that You are a Jealous God. Jealous to be the center of my life with no competition.

Help me to love you with everything I have. Help me to keep my eyes on you and accept judgment out of love by all you send my way. Give me ears that hear and eyes that see and a heart that obeys.

If I have replaced You with any other thing in my life, please reveal it to me so that I may repent and put You back as center, where You rightly belong.