This first chapter of perhaps Paul's most read book (Martin Luther himself thought it was 'the purest of the gospels') is a serious heavy hitter, and makes no false pretenses about the sanctimonious followers of the Lord, who bear nothing but wickedness in their actions, thoughts, and feelings.
"For I long to see you...that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." (11-12)
I know I am slipping away from the heart of God when I no longer seek to be around my brothers and sisters in Christ, and am no longer drawn by their 'mutual faith' and in relating to their similar struggles and weaknesses. A lot of times I just give in to this inferiority complex I have and 'exchange the truth of God for the lie' (25). Like some fiendish heroin addict or rebellious teenager I deny the truth that is staring me down, and deny how badly I really need God in every moment. We should want to be around each other, 'and all the more as you see the day approaching' (Hebrews 10:25).
"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things." (22-23)
One image that comes to mind is the picture of Darth Vader atop the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. This is the result of letting God become something transitory, that flows along with pop culture, rather than the sovereign, unchanging heavenly host that He is.
I pray that everyone reading this sees how easy it is to slip away from the Lord. Were it not for His Holy Spirit and a constant reminder in our hearts that there is none greater than He, we too could end up making such wicked and callous mistakes. Men with the best of intentions can become the next Jim Jones if they stop looking to God for guidance. Know your own heart I implore you (I say this also to myself), because God is worth fighting every struggle in our hearts for!
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