Personal validation, life jacket or lead boots.

 

Sin can be defined as anything that is responsible for offence to the most holy and sovereign ruler in all of creation. I believe it is fair to say that there is only one original sin. Every other offence to God stems from this one original sin. It is of course idolatry.

Without getting too technical and perhaps oversimplifying it one can refine idolatry as the absence of God worship. We were created by God for his purposes and to live in his service fulfilling his purpose for our life. When we chase after anything other than His plan for us we find ourselves in that dangerous place of falling into that idolatry category.

It is no secret that every person young and old thrive on validation from significant persons in our life. In some cases it’s our parents in other instances our peers and so on. As a matter of fact, millions of people have reverted to seeking personal validation in an online persona on social media.

We were all made to be validated and that is why we crave it. Searching for is in any inappropriate place could likely see us inside that idolatry box. God sets relational validation in our reach but places them firmly inside the boundaries of moral values and standards.

Human beings were made to be validated, originally by our parents and to a large degree by our peers. As we mature in our relationship with the Father, he expects us more and more to seek fulfillment of this ingrained desire to be validated from him. It is on God’s plan for us to live in a relationship with him that is filled with intimate moments.

In instances where we find ourselves outside this fulfilling and evolving relationship with the Father we are also living outside of his purpose and therefore outside of his provision. The purpose of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was to provide a means for us to remain connected with the Father where we can constantly be refreshed and lifted up to meet our purpose-built desires filled.

The more involved we become in an intimate relationship with the Father the more satisfied rewarding our lives will become. However when we stray away from that life-giving relationship we move outside of Gods provision. Romans one says that God expects us to be in submission to, and at peace with Him. It also says that those who reject his provision, purpose and offer of relationship with him will be allowed to be overrun by there own desires and will eventually be consumed by it.

All vanity based sin is of course offensive to God. Every reason God had to destroy Sodom and Gemora are still valid reasons for judgment and rejection by God. In my mind though, vanity, sexual immorality and selfishness, greed and such things are secondary sin. They are an outcome or a consequence of a greater sin, that is idolatry.

A relationship with God provides us with the means and support to overcome our sinful nature and live lives that lift us to new heights and lets us gain new potential as we mature in responsibility in our service to God and his purpose for our lives. A growing relationship with God will also feed our need to be acknowledged and validated by Gods approval.

WHO DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR: “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”

We were made to be loved and approved. Knowing when where and how to find it has the potential to make or break our life and place in God’s everlasting Kingdom.

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