A quote has been on my mind. It’s appropriate for Valentine’s Day even if it is one day late. I once heard an interview where the guest said these wise words:
“It’s so important that marriage, or finding that person,
or being in that relationship doesn’t become our substitute god. So many people believe, ‘If I had the guy, if
I had the girl, I’d be happy and fulfilled,’ and then end up living for, and
investing all of their hope and trust in that potential relationship. And God is clear… [a substitute god] will let
us down, if we try to replace Him.
It’s so vital that we be living for Him; that we not be
living with the idea that life starts once you get married, or anything like
that. God has you where you are right
now for a purpose. And you can enjoy
that, you can make the most of it, and really be able to look back without
regret at this time of your life.”
These inspirational words were from an interview way back
in the year 2000; they were spoken by Joshua Harris. He has veered so far off course today from
what he believed in 2000. First he
bad-mouthed the Christian content he had written back then, and then in July of
2019, he went so far as to declare that he himself was not even a Christian
anymore. A month later, I blogged about all this. In part, I quoted a line from “The Wizard of Oz” in reaction; when
Dorothy was about to leave Oz, the Tin Man said, “Now I know I have a heart,
because it’s breaking.” I indeed felt
heartbroken.
But let me get back to the original quote again. Because wherever Joshua Harris is spiritually
today doesn’t really have any effect on his words back in 2000. I’ve lived enough life now to know that Joshua
was right all those years ago. A substitute
god of any kind will always let you down.
Jesus said that He is the “true vine” (John 15:1), and thus anything
else that we try to put in His place is doomed to fail. Marriage, a romantic relationship, or
children are gifts from God, but if try to put them in the center of our
universe, rather than God, that’s when it becomes idolatry.
Let me conclude by speaking of Joshua Harris’ announcement 5
years ago. As I said, it broke my heart. I look at him with compassion. I pray for him. I wish someone would tell him that the God he
once eloquently proclaimed stands ready to embrace and forgive him. As the old hymn puts it, God’s grace “will
pardon and cleanse within”; it is “greater than all our sin.” Joel 2:13 reads, “So rend your heart, and not
your garments, and return to the Lord your God.
For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness;
and He relents from doing harm.” That’s
a word for anyone who has strayed away from the Lord.
God bless,
Kevin
