If anyone knows how to stimulate conversation, it’s militant atheist and U.S. talk show host Bill Maher. That said, I’m not sure Bill ever thought this quote would be used to explain a truth about following Jesus of Nazareth.
Bill asks a great question here. It’s a question I asked before and after I decided to follow Jesus (who many people believe is God’s Son) more than 10 years ago.
After making that decision, I held up Bill’s question to the hard light of examination. And I pondered the nature of all us human beings. Then the answer came to me.
- What message am I sending when I selfishly refuse to talk to my wife if I don’t get my own way?
- What message am I sending when I use all my tax return for vacations or electronic toys instead of putting some aside for charity?
- What message am I sending when I’m driving to work and I give someone the one-finger salute because I don’t care for his or her driving?
- What message am I sending when I pay a contractor under the table and avoid the taxes I should be paying?
It’s the same message every time. And it’s this simple: “God, don’t even lay one finger on the devil”.
When I do wrong and/or fail to do right, I’m telling my creator that I’m siding with His opponent. In fact, let me go so far as to write that I’m informing God that I like the devil more than I like Him.
If you’re a little disturbed, good. I’m certainly disturbed when I find my actions broadcasting that message. And yet, I seem to do it almost as often as breathing. In fact, when I live my life without acknowledging God and His gift to everyone who will accept it, I’m goose-stepping to the beat of His opponent.
Now take my “sins” and multiply them by, oh, a trillion. Now you can see why God doesn’t just defeat the devil. Because the actions of all humanity tell Him, with numbing frequency and nauseating volume, that we don’t want Him to. And so He doesn’t.
There is a way out of this deeply vicious cycle. A way to ensure that my actions don’t help fill up the bottomless sea of ugly messages to God. And that way is to accept His gift.
Tell God you’re sorry for the bad things you’ve done and the good things you’ve failed to do. Tell him you accept Jesus as your saviour and acknowledge His death wipes your past, present and future slate clean. And invite Jesus into your life.
If you’re serious about this, then watch things start to happen. Amazing, life-changing things. You’ll never be the same. And you won’t be siding with God’s opponent anymore.
Does this make sense? Yes or no, type your comment below and let’s have a conversation.
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