The stomach gods

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.  –Philippians 3:18-19 (NIV)
 
How did Paul know what humanity would look like in the 21st century? He didn’t, at least not specifically. He was just going off history and observing the world around him. Since the time of the fall, the enemy has convinced people they could do the god thing better than God: “Set your own rules.” “Follow your heart.” “If it feels good, do it.” “You do you.” “The highest love is self-love.” How’s that working out? Let’s take an inventory.
 
Casual infanticide. Rampant self-inflicted mental illness. Normalization of unimaginable sexual depravity. Unfettered materialism. Anesthetizing with whatever chemicals we can get our hands on. Turns out not only are we lousy gods; we’ve almost succeeded in de-humanizing humans. Ours wouldn’t be the first culture of death undone by our own appetites. The prospect grieved Paul. It grieves God. How much does it grieve us?
 
There is a better way. It just depends on what we’re hungry for...
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.”  –Isaiah 55:1-3a (NIV)
 
Because of the LORD’s mercy, the invitation is open…
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  –Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV)
 
It’s counter-intuitive, but the way to life comes through self-denial…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  –Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
 
And ultimately, God will set all things right…
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  –Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)
 
There is a way that leads to life. It isn’t heavily traveled. If you choose it, don’t expect applause. But keep your eyes open – odds are you’ll come across souls who have tried the broad path and found it to be a lie. Show them the better way. And keep walking. And keep praying.
 
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...  –Philippians 3:20 (NIV)