The Real Deal

"The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things - the beauty, the memory of our own past - are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers." - C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Often we attempt to get back to a place where a song, a book, an experience, even a relationship made us "feel alive." We mistakenly worship, or "ascribe value" to that thing in our past rather than the Creator of that thing. My wife is quick to remind me that the blessings of the Lord are given to us to draw us to Him. These things and events that He brings into our lives that impact us and touch our hearts are given by the Lord to show us a little piece of eternity.

The reason, however, that we begin to worship these things that are fleeting is because God has put eternity into the heart of man (Ecclesiastes 3:11). There is something inside each of us that draws us to worship something - to ascribe value to something; be it football, music, bands, or the only One deserving of our worship.

Rather than chase after things that are fleeting - things that don't last - which is like chasing after the wind, we should chase after the One who wrote eternity into our hearts. Why chase after something that will eventually fade and disappoint you. Go after the real deal. Everything else turns into dumb idols.

"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:11

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13

Also read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Romans 1:22-25, Hebrews 12:1-2