One In a Million or One Of The Million

Is my Christianity anything special? Am I just one of the millions, lost in the crowd of religious people, or am I one in a million marked by the presence of God and His supernatural power?

2 Timothy 3:1-6

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Reality Check:

As I look at this verse and see the characteristics of a lost and self-absorbed generation, sadly, I find myself looking back and waving on at least 3 points.

I will keep those points to myself, thank you.

This verse outlines our sin nature and what we would look like if left to follow our natural desires. If you are honest, you too can see yourself waving back..

It's that last bit that seems to accuse me most,

"having a form of godliness but denying its power."

You see, every religion in the world can make me a moral person. It can give me a form of godliness. But this form of morality is powerless to do anything other than make me believe I am a good person. In truth, this kind of godliness is actually Godless and, as such, it is powerless. If I understand this passage correctly, these kinds of folk are deliberately denying the true Power of God. They don’t want it. How crazy is that?

Not for the first time, I find myself considering the words of Moses. When confronted with the Idea that God would not accompany the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses asked God to reconsider.

Exodus 33:15-16

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

My prayer

Dear God, my morality is not what distinguishes me from the rest of the religious people in the world. Like Moses, I want you, not religion, not good behavior, I want you to be my distinction. Your actual presence in my life. Your power, that supernatural stamp that leaves other religious people convicted and drawn to you, Dear God, may you be seen in me!