Say one of an infinite number of other problems befall you. What do you do as a Christian? You turn to GOD. Prayer, pleading, bargaining, reaching out to friends for prayers, turning to GOD in all ways. Then an answer comes along and poof - we're gone.
For example, your marriage ends, and alone in the heartbreak you know that GOD was absent in the relationship either from the start or in the end. You know that you need to get yourself in a good place, you need to turn back to Him. But a new person walks into your life, attractive, seemingly perfect for you, because as we know everyone is for the first few months. You're saying I love you in a week and praising GOD for answering your prayers. But do you turn to GOD and ask "is this of you?". Nope. Shiny bauble people.
Say you struggle with illness or injury. Fear overtakes your heart. Is this the end? What about all the things you haven't done? What about all the missed opportunities to "be a better person?" What about time with your family and friends? You just need one more chance.....then you recover. Do you say "OK GOD, you gave me back my life, now what do I do with it?" Nope. Shiny bauble people.
You lose your job and immediately you know you are in trouble. How do you keep a roof over your head? How do you pay your bills? What if you can't find work quickly, or at all? What if you have to take less money? But then a great new job offer comes along, well "great" because it's now and it's good money. However you won't be able to go to church. It requires long hours away from your family. You'll have to give up all the work you do in the community. Do you ask "GOD is this where you are leading me?". Nope. Shiny bauble people.
You lose your job and immediately you know you are in trouble. How do you keep a roof over your head? How do you pay your bills? What if you can't find work quickly, or at all? What if you have to take less money? But then a great new job offer comes along, well "great" because it's now and it's good money. However you won't be able to go to church. It requires long hours away from your family. You'll have to give up all the work you do in the community. Do you ask "GOD is this where you are leading me?". Nope. Shiny bauble people.
You know how I know? I was a Shiny bauble person for a large part of my life. GOD was my go to guy when things went awry. So I of course assumed when an answer came that solved my problem, particularly one that was exactly what I'd asked for, well surely that was from Him. I mean after all, that's what He does right? He loves us and He is just waiting to give us whatever we want or need.
Wrong. I can clearly see a pattern in my life, even in just a cursory review of the events of my past. A house built without GOD will not stand. We tend to think of Satan as someone who only brings harm and strife to our life. Not true. He'll bring you everything you ever wanted, you know why? Because as soon as we have it, we put GOD back on the shelf......until we need him the next time.....
Until we are once again wondering how we ended up right back where we started.
