WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:04.820 This morning's scripture reading comes from the book of Daniel, chapter 3, verses 1 through 30. 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:06.960 And you can follow along your bulletin as we read. 00:00:16.580 --> 00:00:23.600 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was 60 cubits, and its breadth 6 cubits. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.480 He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:46.079 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent together the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:59.519 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:03.200 And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:05.280 And the herald proclaimed aloud, 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:18.460 You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, backpipe, and every kind of music, 00:01:18.820 --> 00:01:24.079 you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:30.579 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:40.379 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, 00:01:40.759 --> 00:01:48.299 all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:01:49.219 --> 00:01:54.739 Therefore, at the time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:56.859 they declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, 00:01:56.859 --> 00:01:58.939 O king, live forever. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:10.580 You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:13.919 shall fall down and worship the golden image. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:20.860 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a fiery, burning furnace. 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:29.560 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.720 These men, O king, pay no attention to you. 00:02:34.220 --> 00:02:39.480 They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:02:40.320 --> 00:02:46.540 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:48.900 So they brought these men before the king. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:51.560 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, 00:02:52.579 --> 00:03:00.319 Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:10.180 Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:14.840 to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:21.379 But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. 00:03:21.979 --> 00:03:25.400 And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:30.360 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:35.659 O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 00:03:36.640 --> 00:03:42.020 If this be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace, 00:03:42.540 --> 00:03:45.520 and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:54.040 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:04:03.019 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:08.099 He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:13.840 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:16.860 and to cast them into the burning, fiery furnace. 00:04:17.659 --> 00:04:23.740 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:26.779 and they were thrown into the burning, fiery furnace. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:31.259 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:36.519 the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:43.339 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning, fiery furnace. 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:47.699 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. 00:04:48.159 --> 00:04:49.579 He declared to his counselors, 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.699 Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:54.980 They answered and said to the king, 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:56.439 True, O king. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:58.259 He answered and said, 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:05.060 But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:09.240 And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:14.180 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning, fiery furnace. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:15.680 He declared, 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:23.120 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:28.060 Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:34.079 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:39.319 and saw that fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:41.879 The hair of their heads was not singed, 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:43.819 their cloaks were not harmed, 00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:46.899 and no smell of fire had come upon them. 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:49.759 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:54.179 Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:57.759 who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.459 who trusted in him, 00:05:59.919 --> 00:06:03.399 and set aside the king's command and yielded up their bodies, 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:08.120 rather than serve and worship any god except their own god. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.500 Therefore I make a decree, 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:14.279 Any people, nation, or language 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:18.879 that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:21.220 shall be torn limb from limb, 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:23.579 and their houses laid in ruins, 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:27.920 for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way. 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:32.399 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:34.100 in the province of Babylon. 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:36.879 This is the reading of God's word. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:41.600 Good morning. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.279 If you don't know me, my name is Eric Scott. 00:06:45.420 --> 00:06:46.920 I'm the youth guy here at Watermark. 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:51.199 I am really excited to get to speak with you guys today. 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:53.600 Just a little background on me. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:57.040 I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere. 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:01.199 The tallest thing in my hometown was trees. 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:05.420 And one of the things that I loved to do as a kid 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:06.519 was climb these trees. 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:08.579 I would go out. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.839 My uncle and aunt had a great climbing tree in their backyard. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:12.560 It had nice low branches to the ground 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.439 so I could reach them even when I was a little kid. 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:16.560 It means I was only this tall instead of this tall. 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:19.879 And I would go out there and I would climb up these trees 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:22.339 and I would reach up for the next branch. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:23.079 I would climb up. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.779 And there was just something about being on top of a tree. 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:27.639 It felt like I was on top of the world. 00:07:27.719 --> 00:07:29.639 I felt this sense of freedom being up there. 00:07:29.719 --> 00:07:30.620 I was away from everything. 00:07:30.719 --> 00:07:31.860 I could see really far. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.100 It was awesome. 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:37.180 The problem was that as I was climbing these trees, 00:07:37.520 --> 00:07:40.460 I would reach up and grab really high branches 00:07:40.460 --> 00:07:43.260 and pull myself up and reach up again. 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:44.980 And I would get to the top. 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:46.939 I would enjoy the view for a while. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:48.580 I would enjoy being up there. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:50.600 And then it was time to go down. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:54.520 And I realized that the stretches that I made on the way up 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:57.439 were not anywhere near as easy to make on the way down. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:00.120 If you've ever climbed a tree, I'm sure you can relate to this. 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:04.939 And so there was this promise of freedom that lay at the top of the tree 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:08.480 that I climbed up there for and I reached for and I stretched for 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:09.360 and I got up there. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:12.939 And then I realized that I was trapped. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:17.280 And I would have to get down very, very, very creatively. 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:20.920 It would take a significantly longer time getting down. 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:25.439 And this freedom that I had been promised at the top of the tree 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.819 turned out to be a trap. 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:31.279 And it was only when I finally got back down to the ground 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.700 that I was actually free and able to live life 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:36.299 as it was meant to be lived. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:40.980 And today I want to share with you about a story of some men 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:45.159 who had this promise of something greater, something bigger 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:46.340 that they were reaching for. 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:52.439 But as they reached for this promise of freedom, of power, of control, 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:56.159 it trapped them and it made them slaves. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:09:02.860 And I want us to see that in this story of three men being thrown into the furnace, 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:08.980 the only truly free men in the entire story are the ones who are in chains. 00:09:10.819 --> 00:09:12.240 So you just heard the story. 00:09:12.339 --> 00:09:15.939 There was a king in the ancient country of Babylon named Nebuchadnezzar. 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:18.100 He built a huge statue and he said, 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:21.199 I want everyone to bow down to it when the music plays. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.560 If you don't bow, you burn. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:28.020 The music plays, everyone comes, they bow down, the music ends. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:32.420 And then these Chaldeans go straight up to the king and they say, 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.940 Oh king, you made this rule. 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:35.759 You said anyone who doesn't bow burns. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:37.860 Well, these three Jewish guys didn't bow. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:38.900 Throw them in the furnace. 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:43.140 And the king, it says, he was in a furious rage. 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:48.740 I don't ever, ever, ever in my life want to be in front of a king who is in a furious rage. 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:52.559 Especially if I'm the one who made him be in that furious rage. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.980 But he calls these three guys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:59.899 or Rakshak and Benny if you were raised on VeggieTales like me. 00:10:00.819 --> 00:10:05.159 And he calls them in to his throne room and he says, 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:06.620 What is this? 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:09.740 I hear that you did not bow down to the statue like I commanded. 00:10:11.819 --> 00:10:13.399 I'm going to give you one more chance. 00:10:14.959 --> 00:10:21.459 The music's going to play and you had better bow or else I'm throwing you in this burning, fiery furnace. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.039 Not just a furnace, but a burning, fiery furnace. 00:10:24.459 --> 00:10:26.039 I guess it just sounds scarier that way. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:30.120 He says, I'm throwing you in this burning, fiery furnace. 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:35.539 And what God is there that can save you from my hand? 00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:40.940 Implying that there is no God that can save them from his hand. 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:46.080 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego don't even take any time to think about this offer. 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:48.519 They say, no need to play the music, king. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.919 We've already made up our minds. 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:50.779 We're not going to bow. 00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:56.000 Our God who we serve, he's able to deliver us from your hand. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:59.480 But even if he doesn't, we're still not going to bow. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.899 We are so confident in him. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:11.539 We are so sure that he is the one true God that we're willing to give our lives for worshiping him. 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:18.759 And the king who started out this conversation in a furious rage, now it says it's filled with fury. 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:23.080 And his face was changed because he got even more angry. 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:27.180 Again, not a situation I want to be in ever in my life. 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:29.580 In front of a super angry king. 00:11:31.100 --> 00:11:36.259 And so he commands that this furnace be heated up seven times as hot as it already was. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:41.100 So hot that when the guards go to throw these men in, the guards get burned up by the fire. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:45.519 They take the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:46.860 They throw them into the fire. 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:51.600 And the king sits back to enjoy watching these men die. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:57.000 Because he is angry enough that he is going to enjoy watching their death. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:00.639 But as he begins to watch, he is startled. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.279 Because they threw three men into the furnace. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.360 And now he sees four. 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:09.480 And the fourth looks like a son of the gods. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:17.379 And the men who had been bound when they were thrown in there, they were in chains, now are free. 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:19.740 Just walking around like normal. 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:22.800 He says, what's going on? 00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:24.740 He has the door to the furnace opened. 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.340 The three men come out. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:28.480 They don't even smell like smoke. 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:30.879 Their clothes haven't been burned at all. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:37.720 And the king realizes that there is a god who can save from this burning, fiery furnace. 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:40.780 That it is the god that these three men worshipped. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.120 And he commands a new command. 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:48.480 That no one is able to say anything against the god that these men serve. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:54.800 Because their god is the one who is able to save from this burning, fiery furnace. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:13:01.300 So I want to zoom in today on one specific scene from this story. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:04.759 The scene in front of the king where these men are on trial. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:08.580 But before we get there, I want to talk a little bit about idols. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.860 Because this story is all about idols. 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:16.700 I'm not talking about the statue that the king built and said you need to bow down to it. 00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:18.580 Yes, that is an idol. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:21.240 Yes, idols can be statues that we bow down to. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:27.620 But biblically, an idol is so much more than just a statue. 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:35.200 Biblically, an idol is anything that controls our hearts more than God does. 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:41.360 Anything that is more important to us than God. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:47.600 Anything that inspires our actions, inspires our thoughts more than God does. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.139 Biblically, that is an idol. 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:57.680 And because an idol is not necessarily a statue, it means anything can be an idol. 00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:00.120 Even good things in life. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:05.340 And actually, the better something is, the more likely we are to turn it into an idol. 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:06.879 So here's what I mean. 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.320 Money. 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:07.360 Money. 00:14:07.760 --> 00:14:10.860 You need money to be able to afford a place to live. 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.640 You need money to buy clothes. 00:14:12.760 --> 00:14:13.940 You need money to get around town. 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.680 You need money to be able to eat. 00:14:17.640 --> 00:14:21.260 And so we look at money, and there's a strong pull to say, 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.340 Hey, if I can get enough money, I'll just be set for life. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:27.460 If I can get enough money, I will be safe. 00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.379 I will be comfortable. 00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:29.780 I'll be set. 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:39.939 And so we take a good thing of money, and we trust in it to keep us safe and secure and comfortable for the rest of our lives, and we turn it into an idol. 00:14:41.459 --> 00:14:43.120 Or again, maybe a relationship. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:50.100 We say, you know, I like having people around me who know me, who get me, who love me. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:57.480 If I find a significant other that can complete me, then I'll be set. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:59.759 I'll be comfortable for life. 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:01.000 I'll be accepted for life. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:03.580 I'll have someone who's always there for me. 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:09.259 Or maybe we take something like being a good moral person. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:13.879 Obviously, being a good moral person is a very good thing. 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:21.620 But because being a good moral person is such a good thing, there's a tendency that we can look at where we say, 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:25.400 If I can just be good enough, then God has to accept me. 00:15:26.020 --> 00:15:28.940 If I can be good enough, then I can make God owe me. 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:36.320 And the Bible says that that is taking our good moral behavior and turning it into an idol. 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:40.440 It's placing that on the level where only God belongs. 00:15:43.280 --> 00:15:50.700 And with idols, the thing is, it's not just that we go out there for these things, but as we go for them, they enslave us. 00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:57.740 They spin out a new set of definitions of life that defines everything in terms of themselves. 00:15:58.940 --> 00:16:08.280 So the person who's seeking money, who wants more money in their bank account, in their checkbook so they can spend it all, 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:14.380 all of a sudden, everything in life becomes about the bottom line. 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.800 Will this make me more money? 00:16:18.040 --> 00:16:19.120 Will this cost me money? 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:24.140 That is the lens through which the person who idolizes money sees all of life. 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:33.080 Something that may be immoral or borderline illegal. 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:37.980 If it makes us more money, it's okay to do it as long as we don't get caught. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:45.100 because life is seen in terms of how much money is in the bank. 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:49.000 Or the person who idolizes relationships, 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:55.100 finding their identity in this significant other. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:17:00.360 You wake up in the morning and you feel that your life has meaning 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:02.800 because you're in this relationship. 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:06.500 You're a slave because you can't get out of it. 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.460 You're trapped by it. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:11.019 Even if it becomes a bad relationship, maybe it becomes abusive. 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.140 And it's not safe for the person to stay in this relationship, 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:17.759 but they find their meaning and definition in life 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.640 in the fact that they are with this other person. 00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:24.200 And so even though it's not safe for them to still be in this relationship, 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:27.500 they know that if they leave this relationship, 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:31.000 their whole sense of who they are as an individual will be lost. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:36.480 They're a slave to their desire for this relationship, 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.480 and they're trapped. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:41.299 Or being a good moral person. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:44.819 Again, like we said, being a good moral person is a very good thing, 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:47.400 but when we put it as the ultimate thing in our lives, 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:50.940 we begin to see all of life by the letter of the law. 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:57.720 And Jesus very clearly taught that the purpose that God gave us the law for 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.980 is so that we would love God and love others. 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:05.559 And if we're constantly focused on keeping the letter of the law 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:07.880 so that we can come across as a good moral person, 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:11.380 we'll overlook loving others. 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:15.600 We'll overlook loving God for the sake of doing the right thing 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.679 or what appears to be the right thing. 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:21.719 And Jesus very, very, very clearly taught 00:18:21.719 --> 00:18:25.379 that many people will be kept out of heaven 00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.719 because of this attitude 00:18:26.719 --> 00:18:30.679 that I need to constantly be a good moral person. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.459 Because he says, 00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:33.619 no matter how good you are, 00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:36.039 you can never be good enough for God's standards. 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:41.680 So idols can be anything. 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.240 Anything can be an idol. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:46.319 Good things are more likely to become idols 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.740 because the better something is, 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:51.920 the more likely we are to believe that it can save us, 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:55.180 that it can give us what we truly want in life. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.639 And when we start following an idol, 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:02.899 it spins out a new definition of life for us 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:05.399 that defines all of life in terms of itself, 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:07.480 and makes us its slave. 00:19:08.780 --> 00:19:09.800 Everyone with me so far? 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.380 Yeah? 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:12.180 All right. 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:14.460 So now, we're going to jump back into the story, 00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:15.940 having that background on idols. 00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:18.300 We're going to look at different characters in this scene 00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:20.860 and see how they have been enslaved. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.580 First up, we have the Chaldeans. 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.759 Now, if you remember, 00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:26.700 the Chaldeans were the ones who ran in and said, 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.940 oh, king, oh, king, oh, king, 00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.880 there's these men. 00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:29.920 They didn't listen to you. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.360 Kill them. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:34.000 A little backstory here. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.519 The Chaldeans are the locals. 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:37.160 In the country of Babylon, 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:40.400 their ethnic group is the one who rules the country. 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:44.339 And in the end of the previous chapter, 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.579 these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.480 had gotten promoted. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.059 They had gotten bumped over these Chaldeans 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:52.500 in the hierarchy of the kingdom. 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:57.079 Also, these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:57.980 are foreigners. 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:02.019 So these Chaldeans come into the king, 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:05.740 and it looks like they're just trying to report some people 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.980 who broke the king's command. 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.400 But in reality, what's going on 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:11.220 is these Chaldeans have an idol of power. 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:14.019 They want to be as powerful as possible. 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:16.000 They want to do whatever they can 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:19.079 to grab as much power as they can get their hands on. 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:22.839 And they see an opportunity right here 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.759 where these men have disobeyed the king, 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:27.220 these men who are more powerful than them, 00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:29.000 and they're coming to the king 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:31.980 to get these guys out of the way 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:34.579 so they can get bumped up higher in the nation. 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:41.460 These men have idolized power in their lives 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:44.099 to the extent that they will do anything 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:46.279 to get their hands on more power, 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:49.319 even if it means killing the men 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:51.079 who are higher up than them 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:54.199 and who are more powerful than them in the nation. 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:58.039 They are slaves to this idol of power. 00:20:58.159 --> 00:21:00.859 They will stop at nothing to be able to get it. 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:04.879 They appear to be coming to the king as free men, 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.959 but because of their desire for power, 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.659 the way that they see the world 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:11.959 is through a lens that means that they have to do this. 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.259 They have to do whatever they can 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:16.219 to get their hands on more and more and more power. 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:21.379 But these men aren't the only ones in the room 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:22.879 who are slaves to idols. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.920 If we spin and look at the king, 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:27.300 King Nebuchadnezzar, 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:30.100 he hears the report 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:34.560 that these three Jewish guys are not obeying. 00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:36.900 And how does he respond? 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:39.840 It says furious rage. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.500 Not just a little upset, 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.780 furious rage. 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:50.000 The king wants control. 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:53.460 The king wants to be able to say something 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.859 and have the people in his kingdom 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:56.720 do what he says. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.299 And that's not happening. 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.799 The king gave a command, 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:05.000 and these men blatantly disobeyed him. 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:07.359 These men who were in leadership positions 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:09.339 in his kingdom said, 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:11.359 no, king, we are not going to listen. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:14.219 When the king heard about it, 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.019 he lost control 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:18.079 because so much of his identity 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:20.099 was tied up in him having control 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.659 over the other people in the kingdom. 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:25.399 And he jumps into this furious rage. 00:22:25.479 --> 00:22:28.399 He starts making threats against these men 00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:31.419 because he needs to grab hold 00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:34.199 of this idol of control in his life. 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:36.859 And the way that he knows how to do that 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.799 is by threatening, 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.359 by getting angry. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:44.099 He overreacts to what they have done 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:46.159 because he is a slave 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.819 to this idol of control. 00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:51.039 Even though he is the most powerful man 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.319 in the most powerful position 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.779 in the entire kingdom, 00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:56.559 he is a lowly slave 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.240 to the idols that rule his heart. 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:04.879 And in the great irony of this story, 00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:06.719 the only men in this room 00:23:06.719 --> 00:23:07.839 who are truly free 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:10.779 are the ones who are in chains. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:14.139 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:17.379 they knew that their identity 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:19.359 lay in their relationship with God. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.379 Because of that, 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.699 when the king gave the command 00:23:22.699 --> 00:23:24.119 to bow to the statue, 00:23:24.459 --> 00:23:25.179 they didn't bow. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.500 Because they knew that their identity 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:30.279 lay in their relationship with God, 00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:31.979 when they were called in before the king 00:23:31.979 --> 00:23:34.479 and threatened with death for disobedience, 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:36.480 they didn't even have to think about it. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.900 They said, 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.519 okay, kill us. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.099 Throw us in the fire. 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.759 We know that our God 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:45.220 is big enough to save us from this fire. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.420 But even if he doesn't, 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:51.000 we still know 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:53.400 that our identity is found 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.940 in a relationship with him. 00:23:54.940 --> 00:24:00.200 And that we want to preserve this relationship. 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:02.059 And that bowing down to your statue 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.720 would break this relationship. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.059 So we're not going to bow, 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:07.120 even if it costs us our lives. 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:11.240 See, these men were so absolutely, 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.299 totally free. 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:14.240 There was no accusation 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.039 that these Chaldeans 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.920 could bring against them 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.500 that would shake their freedom. 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:19.839 There's no threat 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:21.559 that the king could make to them 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:23.460 that would make them second guess 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:26.019 what their relation was with God. 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.059 They were willing 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.359 to be brought before the king. 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:31.180 They were willing 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.680 to burn in the furnace 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.599 because they were absolutely free, 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.440 because they knew 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:37.180 that their identity 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:38.200 was found 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.039 in this relationship with God. 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:45.000 Now, I don't know about you guys, 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.220 but I think for me, 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.039 I want to live my life 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.779 with that type of freedom. 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.860 I'm guessing most of us do too. 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:54.279 If we were to look at ourselves 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.259 and say, 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.299 do you want to be a slave 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:57.299 or do you want to be free? 00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:59.000 I don't think that's something 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.600 most of us really need to think about, right? 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.259 Like, oh, 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.600 it's such a tough decision. 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:05.279 No, we want to live our lives free. 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.559 The problem is 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.759 that so many of us, 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.799 I would even say all of us, 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:12.660 have idols 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:14.579 that we worship in our lives 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.660 either consciously 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:17.240 or subconsciously. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.140 And if you don't believe 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.980 that you do, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.120 I want to throw some questions 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:23.540 out there 00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.400 for you to think about 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:26.519 to help us get our brains 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.720 moving in this direction. 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.000 First off, 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:32.460 what do I use 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.460 to comfort myself 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.920 when things go wrong? 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:39.740 when I feel like the world 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.380 around me 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:41.460 is just caving in? 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.039 What's my hope 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.380 that makes me feel like 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.140 things are going to be okay? 00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.779 What preoccupies me? 00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.880 What do I daydream about? 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.580 If I'm sitting there 00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:56.539 and I don't have my iPhone 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.500 out to distract me, 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.680 what does my brain jump to? 00:25:59.800 --> 00:26:00.860 And if I can't sit there 00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.640 without my iPhone 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.539 out to distract me, 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.899 that may be a good indicator 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.859 where our idols are. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.819 What just naturally 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.759 fills our minds 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:13.000 when there's nothing else there? 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.079 Early on, 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.279 when I meet new people, 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.299 what do I want 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.119 to make sure 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.159 they know about me? 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.940 What's that one thing 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.440 that I find my identity in 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.359 that I need to make sure 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.199 everyone knows 00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:30.240 as soon as they meet me? 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.099 Is it that I have 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.639 this much money 00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:36.379 in my bank account? 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.119 Is it that I make 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.099 these grades in school? 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.799 Is it that I have 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.519 this position 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.219 at this company? 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.939 Is it that I'm in 00:26:43.939 --> 00:26:44.439 a relationship 00:26:44.439 --> 00:26:45.259 with this person? 00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:47.659 Is it that I've accomplished 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:48.779 X, Y, and Z? 00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.899 What is it that I want 00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.619 to make sure 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.619 people know about me 00:26:52.619 --> 00:26:54.039 as soon as they meet me? 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:56.839 And finally, 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.460 what do I really want 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.700 and expect out of life? 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.759 What is that one thing 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.159 that I said, 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.859 if I had that, 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.720 I would be happy 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:05.240 even if I lost 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.879 everything else? 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:10.000 What is it 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.420 that I really want 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.119 and expect 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.899 out of life? 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.920 For me, 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.519 I've answered 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.619 these questions differently 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.319 at different points 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.819 in my life. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.019 One of the things 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.220 that's been a constant 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.119 theme throughout my life 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.819 is success. 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.599 And this translates 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:28.980 differently 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.700 at different stages 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.079 in life. 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.940 So when I was a student, 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.960 I wanted to be successful, 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:35.379 so I always worked hard 00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:36.480 to get the best grades. 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.099 And I believed 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:39.579 that if I could be successful, 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.539 then that would mean 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.359 that I was somebody. 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.240 If I could be successful, 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:43.700 that would mean 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.279 that I made it. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.519 So I would work hard, 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.240 and every term, 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.259 I would get my report card 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.079 and I would look at it 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:50.859 straight A's. 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.319 Yes! 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:56.200 But that happiness, 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.139 it didn't last. 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.220 Because I knew 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.759 that tomorrow, 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.819 a new term starts. 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.220 And if I don't work 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.759 just as hard 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.379 this next term 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.240 as I did the last term, 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.379 maybe even a little harder, 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.259 the grades are going 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.779 to just drop. 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:11.099 And then my identity 00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:11.519 is gone. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.759 And so I worked, 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.720 and I worked, 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.519 and I worked, 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.440 and I got A 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.220 after A 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.200 after A+, 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.940 after A, 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.720 after A, 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:24.339 straight through high school. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.200 I got to university 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.100 and went for my first 00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:27.940 year and a half, 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.279 still straight A's. 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.120 Then, 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.360 my sophomore year, 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.680 I got my first B+. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:35.860 and I was amazed 00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.539 because the world 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.039 didn't end 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.120 when I got a B+. 00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:40.500 I know, 00:28:40.580 --> 00:28:41.460 it may sound silly, 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.160 but I'm in an Asian country, 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.019 so I think a lot of you 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.000 can probably relate to that, 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.220 right? 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.720 I was amazed. 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:50.460 I got a B+, 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.060 and the world 00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:52.100 did not end. 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:54.419 I found so much 00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:55.119 of my identity 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:56.579 in my grades. 00:28:58.199 --> 00:28:59.459 And then I graduated, 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.819 and I moved on to working. 00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:02.240 And all of a sudden, 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.480 my desire for success 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.099 in grades 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.679 that I had been searching for 00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:07.119 became a desire 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:08.019 for success 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.819 in my job 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.559 because I realized 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.959 that all those years 00:29:10.959 --> 00:29:11.799 of straight A's 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:13.919 meant nothing 00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:15.119 because I hadn't done 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.779 anything with it. 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.799 So I had to go out now 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:19.019 and use what I had learned 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.759 and apply it 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.579 so I could be successful 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.099 in a job 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.480 because, 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.099 you know, 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.299 the years of straight A's 00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.120 hadn't really brought me 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:24.779 the satisfaction 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.819 that I had longed for, 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.200 so it must be 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.799 that getting success 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.779 in my job 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.779 would be where 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:32.220 it would come from. 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.380 So I came out. 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.200 I started working 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.019 really, 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.319 really hard. 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.759 And here's the thing 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.259 I realized. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:42.860 Yeah, 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:44.400 my job has its ups and downs, 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:47.539 but no successful moment 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.140 in my job 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:49.819 has ever satisfied me 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.599 for more than, 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:50.879 like, 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:52.000 two days. 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.219 You have a really awesome, 00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:55.719 you know, 00:29:55.719 --> 00:29:56.219 youth event, 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.019 kids come out, 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:57.799 kids get saved, 00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:58.359 you're like, 00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:58.539 yeah, 00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.159 that's awesome, 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.299 and then you wake up 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.819 the next morning, 00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.279 you're like, 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:02.719 I gotta keep going, 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.679 something else is next. 00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.559 There's never a point 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.459 where I've made it. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.799 And actually, 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.839 the points where it seems 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.959 closest to me making it 00:30:10.959 --> 00:30:12.159 are the scariest moments 00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:12.799 because I know 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.639 that next time 00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.359 the bar will be set 00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:14.859 even higher, 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.579 so I need to work 00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.039 even harder. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.819 It's a trap. 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.719 I chase this thing 00:30:19.719 --> 00:30:21.399 that I want in success 00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:22.119 that I think 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.759 will give me 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.539 this happiness, 00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.599 this satisfaction, 00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:26.399 and I realize 00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:27.159 it's just a trap. 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.719 It's like being 00:30:27.719 --> 00:30:28.659 on top of that tree. 00:30:28.979 --> 00:30:29.779 I work so hard 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.359 to get up there, 00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:31.699 and then I can't get down again. 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.659 I'm stuck. 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.719 Another thing 00:30:35.719 --> 00:30:36.259 that I seek 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.039 my identity in 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.819 is just having 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.519 people like me. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:41.200 And so I change 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.839 the way that I act 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.299 around people 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:43.059 so that they'll 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:44.019 approve of me. 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.220 I may not speak 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.160 my mind in front of them 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.720 because I'm afraid 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.420 of offending them. 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.119 The problem is 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:52.079 no matter how many people 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:53.319 I get to like me today, 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.799 I have to keep 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.680 that up tomorrow 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.279 so that they'll 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.059 keep liking me. 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.779 It's this vicious cycle 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.839 that never, 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.379 ever, 00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:04.379 ever ends. 00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.599 But for some reason 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.920 I keep convincing myself 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.920 that maybe someday 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.680 I will make it. 00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.519 And it's not 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.019 going to happen. 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.279 That's the thing 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.880 that idols do. 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.880 They hold out 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.420 this carrot 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.060 in front of us, 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:15.759 and we keep 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.440 running for it. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.779 And it's just tied 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.220 to our head 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.060 on a string out there 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:21.740 so that we can't 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.380 ever reach it. 00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:25.300 And the longer 00:31:25.300 --> 00:31:25.800 that we spend 00:31:25.800 --> 00:31:26.340 chasing them, 00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.019 the more we begin 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.620 to see life 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:29.100 in terms of the way 00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:30.400 that they define life, 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.200 and the more 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.140 we become slaves 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.080 to these idols 00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:33.800 that we chase. 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:38.019 So, 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.960 functionally, 00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:40.000 I'm going to 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.859 throw this out there. 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:42.059 If you disagree with me, 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.659 you can come 00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:44.119 tell me why 00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.919 after the service. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.460 But I'm going to say 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.039 functionally, 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.700 all of us 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.220 seek something 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.000 other than God 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.599 as ultimate 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:52.399 at least a decent 00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:53.220 amount of time 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.919 in our lives. 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.279 It could be things 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:56.940 like acceptance, 00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.259 power, 00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.500 control, 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.399 comfort, 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.539 money, 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.559 happiness, 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.720 success, 00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:05.079 whatever it is, 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.159 it's usually 00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:06.700 a good thing. 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.339 But our problem 00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:08.879 is that we take 00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:09.399 this good thing 00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:10.099 and we make it 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:10.619 ultimate. 00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.440 We climb that tree, 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.079 we reach for the 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.639 higher branches, 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.579 we get up as high 00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.099 as we can, 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.119 we're stuck, 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.379 we can't get down. 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.179 Aristotle 00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:23.559 said, 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.379 we fear 00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.419 whatever we feel 00:32:26.419 --> 00:32:27.460 has great power 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.639 of destroying us 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:30.279 or of harming us 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.339 in ways that tend 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:31.959 to cause us 00:32:31.959 --> 00:32:32.759 great pain. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.099 We fear 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:36.199 whatever we feel 00:32:36.199 --> 00:32:37.220 has great power 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.379 of destroying us 00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:39.720 or of harming us 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:41.059 in ways that lead 00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:42.119 to great pain. 00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:43.899 When we give 00:32:43.899 --> 00:32:44.459 these idols 00:32:44.459 --> 00:32:45.819 this power 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:46.419 in our lives, 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.459 it leads to fear 00:32:47.459 --> 00:32:49.819 because the more 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.579 power it has 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.139 in our lives, 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.939 the more power 00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:53.079 it has to destroy us, 00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:53.639 the more power 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.879 it has to cause us 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.599 this great pain, 00:32:55.679 --> 00:32:56.319 the more hope 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.379 that we place 00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:57.919 in something 00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.919 that can fail us, 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:00.279 the more we're 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.000 going to be hurt 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.820 when that idol 00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:03.400 fails. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:07.340 And so I want 00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:08.779 to go through 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:10.019 five steps 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:11.160 to finding freedom 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:11.820 from our idols. 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:13.740 The first one 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.720 is simply 00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.640 to recognize 00:33:15.640 --> 00:33:16.880 that we all 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.340 worship 00:33:17.340 --> 00:33:18.660 all the time. 00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:20.960 I have a quote 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.120 from a man named 00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:23.140 David Foster Wallace. 00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:23.840 He was an American 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.360 novelist, 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.100 not a Christian 00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:26.000 by any stretch 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.700 of the imagination. 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:29.140 And it's a long quote, 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.400 but it's really good, 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.319 so I'm going to read it, 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.559 and I hope 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:33.440 that you can follow along. 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.859 He says, 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:36.839 in the day-to-day 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.279 trenches 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.460 of adult life, 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.400 there is actually 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.319 no such thing 00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:42.240 as atheism. 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.859 There's no such thing 00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:46.119 as not worshiping. 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.259 Everybody worships. 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.039 The only choice 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.500 we get 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.619 is what to worship. 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.460 And the compelling 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.259 reason for maybe 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.160 choosing some sort 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:55.640 of God 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.960 or spiritual-type 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.720 thing to worship 00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:59.440 is that pretty much 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.840 anything else you worship 00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:02.040 will eat you alive. 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:04.240 If you worship 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.140 money and things, 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.420 if they're where 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.540 you tap real meaning 00:34:07.540 --> 00:34:08.139 in life, 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.099 then you will never 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.639 have enough, 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:10.880 never feel 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.900 you have enough. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.980 It's the truth. 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.800 Worship your body 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:15.860 and beauty 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:17.440 and sexual allure, 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.599 and you will always 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.400 feel ugly. 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.220 And when the time 00:34:21.220 --> 00:34:22.480 and age start showing, 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.599 you will die 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.720 a million deaths 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.879 before they finally 00:34:25.879 --> 00:34:26.439 grieve you. 00:34:27.319 --> 00:34:28.359 On one level, 00:34:28.439 --> 00:34:29.079 we all know 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.059 this stuff already. 00:34:30.859 --> 00:34:31.679 The whole trick 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.599 is keeping the truth 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:33.099 up front 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.319 in our daily consciousness. 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.239 Worship power. 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.579 You'll end up 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.099 feeling weak 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:38.579 and afraid, 00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.919 and you will need 00:34:39.919 --> 00:34:40.879 ever more power 00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:41.480 over others 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.139 to numb you 00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:43.139 to your own fear. 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.219 Worship your intellect. 00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.759 Being seen as smart, 00:34:48.399 --> 00:34:48.919 you'll end up 00:34:48.919 --> 00:34:49.679 feeling stupid, 00:34:50.259 --> 00:34:50.699 a fraud, 00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:52.539 always on the verge 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.599 of being found out. 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.960 But the insidious thing 00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.820 about these forms 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.199 of worship 00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:57.900 is that they're 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.400 unconscious. 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:00.900 They're default settings. 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.480 They're the kind 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:02.820 of worship 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.599 you just gradually 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.320 slip into 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:05.179 day after day, 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.119 getting more 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.139 and more selective 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:08.940 about what you see 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.480 and how you measure value 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:12.000 without ever being 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.659 fully aware 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:13.860 that's what you're doing. 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.300 See, 00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.719 that's one of the 00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:16.599 greatest dangers 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.320 about idols 00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:18.039 in our lives, 00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.420 is that we worship them 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.240 and follow them 00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:21.380 unconsciously. 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.920 I think for most of us 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.820 it's not that we stop 00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:25.539 and we make this 00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.860 conscious decision 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:28.280 that I'm going to find 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:28.800 my identity 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:30.099 in wealth. 00:35:30.720 --> 00:35:31.619 I'm going to find 00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.119 my identity 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:33.360 in a relationship. 00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:34.619 Maybe for some of us 00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:35.720 we do this consciously. 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:38.380 But for so many of us, 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.539 it's just the air 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.039 we breathe. 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.559 We live in a city 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:43.380 that throws 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:44.800 so many definitions 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.400 of where to find worth 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.119 in our faces. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.259 businesses. 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:49.039 We're surrounded 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.839 by malls 00:35:49.839 --> 00:35:50.639 that are filled 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.779 with all of the top 00:35:51.779 --> 00:35:52.279 brands 00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:53.380 that send us 00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:53.980 this message, 00:35:54.319 --> 00:35:55.339 if you don't 00:35:55.339 --> 00:35:56.599 own these brands 00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.940 you are not 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.799 worth anything 00:35:58.799 --> 00:35:59.500 as a person. 00:36:00.779 --> 00:36:02.039 And we subconsciously 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:03.139 breathe in 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:03.859 these messages 00:36:03.859 --> 00:36:04.940 without even realizing 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.719 that's what we're doing. 00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:08.079 You know, 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:09.239 we have politicians 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:10.679 running for chief executive 00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:11.500 who get up in front 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.659 of groups of high schoolers 00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.159 and say, 00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.960 there is no reason 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.839 that when you grow up 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:17.180 you can't be the next 00:36:17.180 --> 00:36:17.960 Li Ka-Sheng. 00:36:19.120 --> 00:36:20.100 There's an actual quote 00:36:20.100 --> 00:36:21.440 from Henry Ting 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.240 when he was running 00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:23.260 for chief executive. 00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:24.800 The city 00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:26.780 breathes this life 00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:27.880 into us. 00:36:28.620 --> 00:36:30.000 This message 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.039 that you need 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:31.600 this money 00:36:31.600 --> 00:36:33.140 to be worth something 00:36:33.140 --> 00:36:33.760 as an individual. 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.860 You need this power 00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:36.079 to be worth something 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.800 as an individual. 00:36:37.180 --> 00:36:38.380 You need this comfort 00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:39.320 to be worth something 00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:39.960 as an individual. 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:41.659 and we unconsciously 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:42.300 breathe it in. 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:44.139 It becomes our default setting. 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.880 And so the first step 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.920 to freedom from our idols 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.960 is just recognizing 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.139 that we worship 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:51.800 all the time 00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:52.740 whether we're aware 00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.740 of it or not. 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.139 The second step 00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:57.500 is to identify 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:59.159 the idols that we worship. 00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:00.820 Not just recognizing 00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.320 in general 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:02.099 that we do worship 00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:03.699 but see what is it 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.960 that we do worship. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:08.019 becoming conscious 00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:09.039 of what it is 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.900 that we're actually 00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.460 worshiping. 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.679 Because if we're not aware 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.119 what it is 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:13.760 that we're worshiping 00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:14.159 we're going to have 00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:14.820 a hard time 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:16.559 switching to something else. 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:19.119 And step three 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:19.900 is not just 00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.579 to identify 00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:22.380 the idols 00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:23.320 but identify 00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:24.139 the idols 00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:24.960 behind the idols. 00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:26.500 Here's what I mean. 00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:29.780 It's really easy 00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:30.460 to look at someone 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:30.860 and say 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.960 oh, this person 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.780 idolizes money. 00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:33.679 They live their life 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:34.079 for money. 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:36.679 But a lot of times 00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:37.940 people who are seeking money 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:39.380 are actually seeking money 00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:40.400 because of what 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:41.380 it can lead them to 00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:42.460 not just for the sake 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.039 of having money. 00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:45.699 Money promises us security 00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:46.760 because I'll never 00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:47.500 have to worry 00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:48.599 about whether I can 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:49.460 put food on my 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.300 family's plates again. 00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:53.220 Money promises comfort 00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:54.179 because when I have 00:37:54.179 --> 00:37:54.559 more money 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.619 I can buy a bigger flat 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.500 and put more 00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.500 awesome stuff in it 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.699 and I can be more comfortable. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:02.019 And if we identify 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:03.000 this idol of money 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:04.320 but don't identify 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:05.480 the deeper idols 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.300 below it 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.100 that are inspiring 00:38:07.100 --> 00:38:07.880 us to seek it 00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:08.960 we can deal 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:09.519 with the idol 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.440 on the surface level 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:13.740 but the thing 00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:14.220 that's really 00:38:14.220 --> 00:38:14.960 motivating our heart 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.660 never goes away 00:38:15.660 --> 00:38:16.300 and so it'll just 00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:17.059 manifest itself 00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:18.100 in another way. 00:38:19.100 --> 00:38:19.860 Someone who's 00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:20.400 using money 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:21.200 as a way 00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:22.160 of seeking security 00:38:22.160 --> 00:38:24.240 and control 00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:25.100 of their circumstances 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:26.340 who recognizes 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:26.940 that desire 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:27.380 for money 00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:28.740 and gives it up 00:38:28.739 --> 00:38:29.719 but still has 00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:30.279 this desire 00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:30.939 for security 00:38:30.939 --> 00:38:31.459 and control 00:38:31.459 --> 00:38:34.199 will manifest 00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:35.019 that in a different way 00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:35.739 maybe they'll become 00:38:35.739 --> 00:38:36.359 domineering 00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:37.199 in their relationships 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:38.219 because they feel 00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:39.059 like if they can be 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.679 the dominant one 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:40.359 in their relationships 00:38:40.359 --> 00:38:41.059 they can have 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:42.019 security and control 00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:42.939 by controlling 00:38:42.939 --> 00:38:43.619 everyone else 00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:44.279 in their lives. 00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:47.039 If we just identify 00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:48.079 the stuff on the surface 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:50.639 it's not going to lead 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:51.899 to a lasting deep change. 00:38:52.399 --> 00:38:53.339 We have to identify 00:38:53.340 --> 00:38:54.340 the idol 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:55.579 behind the idol 00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.820 in our lives. 00:38:59.100 --> 00:38:59.640 Fourth, 00:39:00.760 --> 00:39:01.780 dismantle our idols. 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:04.780 Like David Foster Wallace said 00:39:04.780 --> 00:39:05.840 we all know 00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:07.460 to a certain extent 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:08.579 that the idols 00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:09.180 that we worship 00:39:09.180 --> 00:39:09.660 and serve 00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:10.559 are not going 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:11.640 to satisfy us. 00:39:12.860 --> 00:39:13.900 On some level 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.539 we know this 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:15.780 but we don't live 00:39:15.780 --> 00:39:16.260 our lives 00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.640 with this 00:39:16.640 --> 00:39:17.100 in the front 00:39:17.100 --> 00:39:17.840 of our consciousness. 00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:20.300 We forget about it 00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:21.720 because we'd rather 00:39:21.720 --> 00:39:22.400 not have to think 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:22.860 about it 00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:27.099 but we need 00:39:27.099 --> 00:39:27.900 to become aware 00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.440 of the fact 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.039 that these things 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:30.200 will not satisfy us. 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:33.480 So think through 00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:34.519 why it is 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.980 that we believe 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.519 these idols 00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:37.599 can satisfy us. 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:40.680 Remember that 00:39:40.680 --> 00:39:41.400 none of them 00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:42.640 are giving us 00:39:42.640 --> 00:39:43.340 the satisfaction 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.039 that they promise 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.700 and none of them 00:39:44.700 --> 00:39:45.740 ever can or will 00:39:45.740 --> 00:39:46.760 give us 00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:47.700 the satisfaction 00:39:47.700 --> 00:39:48.640 that they promise. 00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:50.720 In this step 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:51.420 it's not just something 00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.000 that we're going to 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:53.199 do once 00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:53.679 and then be done 00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:53.980 with it. 00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:54.280 No, 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:55.940 it's worshipping 00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:56.460 these idols 00:39:56.460 --> 00:39:57.500 becomes the default 00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.380 setting in our hearts 00:39:58.380 --> 00:40:01.239 and we unconsciously 00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:02.039 if we are not 00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:02.639 putting this 00:40:02.639 --> 00:40:03.219 at the forefront 00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.980 of our attention 00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:05.340 we go back 00:40:05.340 --> 00:40:06.139 into default mode. 00:40:07.219 --> 00:40:07.699 The idols 00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:08.159 that we've been 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:09.000 serving for years 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:10.539 it's not just like 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:11.440 you sit down one time 00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:12.179 write out why 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:12.659 they're no good 00:40:12.659 --> 00:40:14.059 and then you move 00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.500 on from them. 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:14.719 No, 00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:15.619 you've been dealing 00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.119 with these things 00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:16.659 for years. 00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:17.420 I've been dealing 00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.340 with stuff for years. 00:40:18.340 --> 00:40:20.039 it takes time 00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:22.180 constantly reminding 00:40:22.180 --> 00:40:25.600 success is not 00:40:25.600 --> 00:40:26.480 going to satisfy 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:26.940 you, Eric. 00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:29.280 Having people 00:40:29.280 --> 00:40:29.720 like you 00:40:29.720 --> 00:40:30.320 is not going 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:31.420 to satisfy you, Eric. 00:40:32.140 --> 00:40:33.220 I need to repeat 00:40:33.220 --> 00:40:34.120 these things to myself 00:40:34.120 --> 00:40:35.320 over and over 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:35.960 and over again 00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:36.960 and we need to repeat 00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.579 these truths 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.180 to ourselves 00:40:38.180 --> 00:40:40.000 over and over again 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.300 so we can remember 00:40:41.300 --> 00:40:42.620 don't slip 00:40:42.620 --> 00:40:43.700 into default mode. 00:40:43.699 --> 00:40:46.299 the final step 00:40:46.299 --> 00:40:47.559 is to replace 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:49.219 our worship of idols 00:40:49.219 --> 00:40:50.719 with worship 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:51.500 of the true God. 00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:53.659 See, 00:40:53.739 --> 00:40:54.599 like David Foster Wallace 00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:54.879 said, 00:40:55.239 --> 00:40:56.139 everyone worships 00:40:56.139 --> 00:40:56.799 all the time. 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:57.980 If we recognize 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:59.419 a faulty source 00:40:59.419 --> 00:40:59.799 of worship 00:40:59.799 --> 00:41:00.339 in our hearts 00:41:00.339 --> 00:41:01.460 and we take that out 00:41:01.460 --> 00:41:02.980 it creates 00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:03.659 what we'll call 00:41:03.659 --> 00:41:04.579 a worship vacuum 00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:05.960 in our hearts. 00:41:06.679 --> 00:41:07.739 We need something 00:41:07.739 --> 00:41:08.239 to worship 00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:10.579 and so if we take out 00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:10.980 the big thing 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.679 that we're worshiping 00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:12.619 but aren't conscious 00:41:12.619 --> 00:41:13.339 about putting something 00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:14.140 else in its place 00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:15.340 something else 00:41:15.340 --> 00:41:16.019 will just come in. 00:41:16.200 --> 00:41:17.059 It's our default mode. 00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:20.680 So the trick 00:41:20.680 --> 00:41:21.860 to replacing 00:41:21.860 --> 00:41:23.120 an idol in your heart 00:41:23.120 --> 00:41:24.000 or removing it 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:24.460 is actually 00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:25.360 by replacing it. 00:41:28.100 --> 00:41:29.539 When we look at God 00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.720 the God of the Bible 00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:31.880 the God who loved us 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:32.360 enough 00:41:32.360 --> 00:41:34.200 to send his son 00:41:34.200 --> 00:41:34.480 to earth 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:35.320 to die for us 00:41:35.320 --> 00:41:35.760 the one 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:37.120 who created us 00:41:37.120 --> 00:41:38.340 who loves us 00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:39.340 despite our rebellion 00:41:39.340 --> 00:41:40.200 against him 00:41:40.200 --> 00:41:43.000 who forgives us 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:43.659 when we turn away 00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:44.119 from him 00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:45.619 when we see 00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.219 how awesome 00:41:46.219 --> 00:41:46.820 he is 00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:47.219 when we see 00:41:47.219 --> 00:41:47.780 how strong 00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:48.199 he is 00:41:48.199 --> 00:41:48.579 when we see 00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:49.179 how beautiful 00:41:49.179 --> 00:41:50.340 he is 00:41:50.340 --> 00:41:53.139 that's the only way 00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.599 that we're ever 00:41:53.599 --> 00:41:54.420 going to replace 00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:54.860 the idols 00:41:54.860 --> 00:41:55.500 in our hearts 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:57.780 is by looking 00:41:57.780 --> 00:41:58.219 at him 00:41:58.219 --> 00:41:59.820 and by reminding 00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:00.219 ourselves 00:42:00.219 --> 00:42:01.000 that all the things 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:01.639 that these idols 00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.219 promise 00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:03.860 they can't give us 00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:04.420 but he can. 00:42:04.420 --> 00:42:08.380 all these things 00:42:08.380 --> 00:42:09.380 that we've been 00:42:09.380 --> 00:42:10.099 striving for 00:42:10.099 --> 00:42:10.860 and reaching for 00:42:10.860 --> 00:42:11.599 we're never 00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:12.340 going to reach them 00:42:12.340 --> 00:42:13.139 but he 00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:13.780 has already 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.659 reached out to us 00:42:14.659 --> 00:42:15.280 and welcomed 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:17.139 and accepted us. 00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:20.000 There's a pastor 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:20.420 in New York 00:42:20.420 --> 00:42:21.139 named Tim Keller 00:42:21.139 --> 00:42:21.860 and he says 00:42:21.860 --> 00:42:22.780 worship 00:42:22.780 --> 00:42:25.579 is the final way 00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:27.260 to replace 00:42:27.260 --> 00:42:28.300 the idols 00:42:28.300 --> 00:42:29.240 in our hearts. 00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.619 Let's pray. 00:42:31.619 --> 00:42:34.559 Father we thank you 00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:36.000 that you are good. 00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:37.299 We thank you 00:42:37.299 --> 00:42:38.659 for these men 00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:39.500 Shadrach, Meshach 00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:39.960 and Abednego 00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:41.420 and for the way 00:42:41.420 --> 00:42:42.099 that they stood up 00:42:42.099 --> 00:42:42.639 to the king 00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:44.000 for the way 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:45.000 that you rescued them 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:45.859 when they stood up 00:42:45.859 --> 00:42:47.400 for the freedom 00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:48.279 that you gave them 00:42:48.279 --> 00:42:49.599 even before you 00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:50.179 rescued them 00:42:50.179 --> 00:42:51.099 to trust in you 00:42:51.099 --> 00:42:54.239 above all the idols 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:55.019 that their culture 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:55.699 was telling them 00:42:55.699 --> 00:42:56.659 they needed to bow to. 00:42:58.779 --> 00:43:00.139 We pray for ourselves 00:43:00.139 --> 00:43:01.039 right now 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:02.860 as we go out of here 00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:03.920 and into our weeks 00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:07.059 that we would be aware 00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:07.579 of the idols 00:43:07.579 --> 00:43:08.460 that we're worshiping 00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:11.079 that we would 00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:12.500 consciously seek 00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:14.000 to replace them 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:15.900 with worship of you 00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:16.659 the true God. 00:43:18.820 --> 00:43:19.880 We pray that we would 00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:20.480 see you 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:21.779 as more beautiful 00:43:21.779 --> 00:43:22.539 than we see you 00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:23.179 as right now 00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:25.179 that we would love you 00:43:25.179 --> 00:43:25.940 more than we love you 00:43:25.940 --> 00:43:26.380 right now 00:43:26.380 --> 00:43:28.059 in Jesus name 00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:28.719 Amen. 00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:28.820 Amen.