Forfeiting love. (Grace)

Those who cling, or give theirselves to worthless idols, forfeit or give up the grace, the love, and INTIMACY that could have been theirs!! Jonah 2:8

Idols take on many forms. Regardless of which form it takes, idols are anything that requires foremost devotion! What or who is the most important in our lives? What or who takes up most of our time in any given day? Religion tries to disregard or make excuses instead of facing blunt reality! Religion hides, truth exposes.

This passage from the word of God isn’t exclusively talking about our relationship with the God of heaven. In fact, if you say you love God, but do not show love for people, you are religious and a liar. Whatever you did not do to the least of these, you did not do unto me! Matthew 25:45

Anytime any of us choose to give ourselves over to anything other than love and spend time with worthless devices, our phones, things, internet, etc…. instead of with each other and God, we give up any closeness and true love we could have enjoyed! It’s a trade off literally. We’re not talking occasional checking of email, reading someone’s text they just sent, or even browsing the internet here and there. We are talking about total addictions where pretty much most of our time is being used up alone with THINGS! The network of THINGS. Isn’t that what computer technology is evolving into after all?

Separation from our loved ones and our alone time should be limited. Otherwise, we will grow apart from one another and welcome a coldness of heart, instead of closeness with those we should be interacting with on a daily basis. Families are being ripped apart and most of us don’t even see it. There are literally strangers in our own house now!

Let’s say this again. Beware… the world’s love is waxing cold as darkness increases. Even members of the same household are drawing unto themselves with their worthless phones and devices and STUFF rather than interacting with and loving each other. If this is not love waxing cold, I don’t know what is! We make excuses by saying we interact through online social media. No! This is a counterfeit virtual world! There is nothing real about it. You can supposedly even send virtual hugs. What a lie from our enemy! Tell me, do any of us REALLY feel loved with a virtual hug? It’s all fake. There is no substitute for touch. The world is trading real heaven sent love for mere substitutes and consequently flesh and blood people are starving for REAL LOVE!

Those who are in their late 40’s and older have seen and are witnessing this grievous change in community and families all around them. If we forfeit intimacy and love, tell me what is there left? If we turn our backs on love, are we not turning our backs on God? God is love!

Oh God of heaven…help us and wake us up in this final hour!