Settling
...a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving--in her heat who can restrain her? Jeremiah 2:24a niv
In case no one has yet noticed, politics can sometimes be a laughable enterprise. I was going to say politics in the United States, but then there is always Italy. In fact, the current brouhaha over the governorship in our largest state, California, bears all the marks of an election run-up in the land of the Caesars. On his way out for corruption and incompetence, those lining up to replace Gray Davis in a special election include a Hollywood actor with oversized biceps, a pornographer, a diminutive and aging child actor, and a porn star who has taken to baring portions of her anatomy in public places. Nor is the insanity limited to the sunshine state. For a while there we almost had that renowned purveyor of serious television--the once-mayor of Cincinnati, Jerry Springer--running for the United States Senate. We are all breathing a sigh of relief that he wisely decided not to run, but his recent dabbling in politics reminded me of one of his programs a few years back. Sometimes while I'm throwing on clothes after my morning shower, I'll turn on the TV and flip through a few channels. And sometimes (Just once in a while, that's all. Really.) I'll happen upon the channel showing The Jerry Springer Show, and linger for a few minutes (Just a few. Really. Trust me.) to see what sort of human oddities they're parading about on that day. For those of you in other countries, or who have been living in a cave for the last ten years, the Jerry Springer Show is today's version of Truth or Consequences married to That's Incredible! The producers go trolling for the lowest life forms they can find, dress them in the sleaziest attire they can obtain from the local Goodwill store, then pit them against each other in mock domestic slugfests--usually incited by one or more of the guests revealing a heretofore hidden, aberrant lifestyle that is met with the displeasure of the other guest(s). It's all rollicking good fun for those with the morals of germs. Well, one day, perusing the channels after my morning ablutions, I discovered that ol' Jer had on two women who both lived with--yet who each claimed sole ownership of the affections from--their live-in boyfriend. They were pretty strange all by themselves, exchanging revelations and looks of stunned disbelief, as they each claimed that this supposed Adonis loved only them. But the place really broke loose when this adored and adoring Greek god came out on stage. The world has never seen a more miserable-looking slug than the lowlife that crept out in his baggy clothes, scruffy goatee, and multitude of earrings and other bodily piercings. And he had the personality and IQ to match his loathsome appearance. (Honest, I only watched for a few minutes.) Even the calloused Jerry Springer couldn't hold back his incredulity. Laughing, he said to the two women: "You're fighting over this? This?!"And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. "Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" Luke 4:5-8 nasbu
All right, enough of Jerry Springer and his cretaceous minions. As stunningly bizarre as that scene was, it illustrated perfectly the paradox of the Christian settling for--even pursuing--the counterfeit pleasures of this age, when the true and eternal delights of heaven are at his or her disposal. "You're settling for that--when you could have this?" We carry around within us the buds of riches, the true essence of quality and wealth, the knowledge of eternity, and the capacity for holiness. Why, then, do we waste our time with such trivial, base distractions intended for those of meaner birth?Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 nasbu