Living Vicariously

Today we had chapel up here on the hill. Dave Sanders spoke and I would like to share a bit if what he talked about.

He started off by talking about how God is a jealous God who wants all of your heart. There are those who would say that God has their heart entirely, they do not give any part of their hearts to something else, they have no idols. But there is a verse that speaks of how it is not just our actions that are sins but also our thoughts. If you have thought it you have done it in your heart. What is in your heart will eventually show itself in some way. All of this that he shared led up to a rather hard hitting question.

Do you, do we, live vicariously through the music we listen to the movies and TV we watch, and the books we read?

Maybe you don’t commit adultery, murder, hate, do drugs, get drunk, maybe you are practically angelic. But do you live those things through the music you listen to? Is a desire in your heart, contrary to God, coming out in the things you listens to and watch? I would ask, why do you love the music and the movies you watch, and how does it affect you? How does it influence you? How does it make you feel? How does it make God feel? Would you rather be entertained by your favorite TV show then spend time with God? Is the media an idol? God wants to be the only god in your life, he does not share.

I am not trying to be legalistic. If you can honestly say after searching you heart that it does not affect you and you do not love it for any other reason than the music, apart from the words is amazing or you just love the TV show because of the suspense, then okay. It is entirely between you and God. I am not going to judge someone because of what they listen to or watch. I am also not saying to necessarily get rid of all that stuff, though that may be a good idea. Throwing your TV out a window, if your heart issue had not been taken care of will not accomplish anything. As David said this morning, if a man addicted to porn throws away his computer but his heart issue is not resolved he will just find another way. The computer is only an instrument, it is not actually wrong in and of itself. It is not the problem.

God does not condemn you for the music you listen to or the movies you watch. He simply, quite strongly desires you whole heart. He wants to be the only god in your life. Does He have your whole heart?