WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.700 Welcome again. For those of you who weren't here at the beginning, welcome to our new home, 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:14.419 the new space God's provided for Church of the Advent. We're so thankful for this church. They've 00:00:14.419 --> 00:00:22.140 been amazing hosts already, helping us problem solve before the service and seeming as eager 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:28.219 as we are to make sure everything goes well. So thank you and praise God for them. A lot of change. 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:32.759 I mean, there's a lot of change in the life of our church right now. We have two new people who have 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:38.679 just joined our team. They literally came in weeks before this major space change, and they got thrown 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:44.539 into the deep end. And we're so thankful that Amy and Kaylee have just stepped up to the challenge. 00:00:45.259 --> 00:00:51.320 Thankful for many of you who have showed up, who have worked hard to make this transition go as 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:57.039 smoothly as possible. But anytime there's a lot of change, I think it's important as a community like 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:03.179 ours to remember what all this is for. To come back and spend a little time remembering what this 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:08.879 is all about. Why are we going to all of this trouble? And at the core of this is a relationship. 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:15.960 It's a relationship that God desires to have with his people, with us. And then it's all of the 00:01:15.960 --> 00:01:21.579 relationships that flow out of that. The relationships that exist in this room and much more broadly 00:01:21.579 --> 00:01:26.319 beyond this room throughout the world. And so this morning, we're going to focus on that relationship, 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:33.340 the relationship between God and his people. And, you know, I know some of you are here, and maybe 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:37.959 you're visiting and you're not a Christian. I'm so glad that you're here. And this is actually a 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:42.079 fantastic week for you to be here, because this is the very heart and soul of the Christian faith. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:45.480 What we're talking about this morning is this is the essence. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:52.020 And if you're here and you are a Christian, this is the kind of thing that needs to come back 00:01:52.020 --> 00:01:57.200 into our minds. We need to remind ourselves of again and again and again and again. It's the very 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:04.840 fundamental core of our faith. Because, honestly, most of the time when Christians go off the rails, 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:10.640 it's because we've forgotten something of what we're going to be talking about this morning. 00:02:10.860 --> 00:02:15.240 We've lost sight of it. So we're going to be looking at the book of Revelation, which is the last 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:20.980 book in Scripture. We're going to be looking at chapter 19, verses 1 through 10. And the Apostle 00:02:20.980 --> 00:02:29.180 John is given here a vision that shows us the whole story. It shows us the whole, the whole, 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:36.660 all of the gospel is more or less summed up in these 10 verses. It's all here. And it shows us three 00:02:36.660 --> 00:02:42.219 things about our relationship with God. It shows us the relationship that we ought to have with God, 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:48.500 that we were intended to have. It shows us the relationship we actually have with God. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:52.719 And then it shows us the relationship that we can have, the relationship that's possible 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:55.599 through Jesus Christ. Let's pray. 00:02:56.740 --> 00:03:02.340 Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this space. We thank you for the myriad ways you 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:09.140 provide for us. Lord, some of which we've asked for, many of which you thought of without our help. 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:15.520 You are always the God who loves us, always the God who goes before us, always the God who provides 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:22.219 for us. And we know that your word is perhaps your greatest provision, because in your word we see 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:28.240 your truth revealed, and we come to know your living word, Jesus Christ. And it's in his name that we pray. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:38.460 Amen. So the relationship we ought to have with God. There's a lot of images in the Bible that try to 00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:45.180 capture metaphorically the kind of relationship that we are called to have with God. God is portrayed 00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:54.560 as a king, and we are his subjects. God is portrayed as a shepherd, and we are his sheep. God is portrayed 00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:01.759 as a father, and we are his children. And there's some truth to all of these images. They all are worth 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:09.840 our reflection and contemplation. But all through the scripture, the primary image we see, or the kind 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:18.000 of relationship that God made us for, is most like a marriage. And, you know, this was a big wedding 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:24.519 weekend. Some people in our church, Nate and Emily, got married. I, Lord, yes, give thanks to God 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:34.599 for that. And Laura and I had another wedding that we had to be a part of out in Northern 00:04:34.599 --> 00:04:39.560 Virginia. Shree Harder and Christopher got married. That was also a great, yeah, for those of you 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:44.479 who know them, praise the Lord. Great celebration. So a lot of weddings, and I was struck as I was 00:04:44.479 --> 00:04:49.819 sitting there yesterday, I was struck at the beauty, and I was struck at the significance 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:59.060 of the fact that God would take something like a wedding, and that God would say, in a place like 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:06.219 Revelation 19, here's how you're going to know that all has been put right in the world. Here's how 00:05:06.219 --> 00:05:09.800 you're going to know that all that is wrong has been dealt with. Here's how you're going to know 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.980 that everything that is broken has been restored. Here's how you're going to know that all of the 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:19.600 hopes that you never even dared hope, they've all come true. All of the dreams that you were afraid to 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:25.300 dream, they've come true, and guess what? It's gone way beyond that. The world is moving into a place 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:31.620 that no one ever dared imagine possible. Here's how you're going to know there's going to be a wedding, 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:40.760 and you are going to be presented to God like a bride is to a groom, and then there's going to be a 00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:48.700 great celebration. And that way, I was staggered by that. This is the culmination of human history, 00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:54.379 a great wedding celebration. And I want to think about what this is saying. You know, think about a 00:05:54.379 --> 00:06:03.319 king. You know, a king may have subjects who fear him. A shepherd may have sheep who depend on him. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:09.839 A father may have children who love him. And all of those things are appropriate when it comes to our 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:16.879 relationship with God. Fear and dependence and love. But the thing that sets marriage apart 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:23.539 is intimacy. It's vulnerability. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:33.459 There's a kind of intimacy, a kind of openness, a kind of mutual indwelling that's only possible 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:41.779 in marriage. It's only appropriate for marriage. And we look at scripture, and this is how it portrays 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:49.079 the relationship that we were created to have with God. If you look at the Song of Songs in the Old 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:54.719 Testament, the Song of Songs is a book of erotic poetry. And for those of you who were a part of that 00:06:54.719 --> 00:07:01.319 series a little while ago when we walked through it, we saw undeniably this is about erotic love. And yet, 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:07.259 what we recognized is that from the earliest days of the church, the churches understood that this 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:14.240 was not just about human love, that it was actually also pointing to the love that exists between Jesus 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:20.779 Christ and his people, between God and his people. Listen to what the bride says of the groom. She says 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:27.439 in chapter 1, verse 2, let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:35.540 The groom says in chapter 4 to the bride, your lips drip nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:43.079 tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. Only lovers talk to each other 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:50.100 this way. I hope you don't talk to your dad this way. I hope you don't talk to your boss this way. I hope 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:57.939 that if our president ever were to visit, you would not talk to him that way. It's only the kind of 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:06.260 language that lovers use. And it may sound odd to you to think of God in these terms, but the thing 00:08:06.260 --> 00:08:13.300 that we need to understand is that this is the language of intimacy. It's the language of intimacy. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:19.800 You know, you and I were made for intimacy with God, not just to know him, not just to fear him, 00:08:20.020 --> 00:08:29.080 not even just to love him, but to be naked and unashamed in his presence. To be laid bare, 00:08:30.280 --> 00:08:40.860 to be fully known and fully loved by our maker, and likewise to fully know and fully love our maker. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:46.240 The kind of intimacy that outside of that relationship you only see in marriage. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:55.100 And I think this is why we feel a kind of restlessness in life. You know, I think that's 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:59.820 why even when you have a really great, meaningful job, and even if you're able to find somebody that 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:06.899 you really love and you marry them, even when you're able to have kids and you love your kids and your 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:13.299 family is healthy, even when all of the pieces seem to be in place, there's still something missing. 00:09:14.579 --> 00:09:18.559 You sort of realize, I'm kind of where I want to be in my career, I'm where I want to be 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:25.480 in my family life, and everything seems good, and I should be happy, and yet there's something missing. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:33.080 I think deep down under that restlessness is that sense that ultimately the intimacy that I was made for, 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:34.879 I have not fully realized yet. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:43.320 There's something more that I was created to experience, and that's this intimacy with God. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:47.420 Now, there may be some people who say, yeah, I've never felt that longing, I've never felt that restlessness, 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:51.240 I've just never felt that. People talk about the God-shaped hole, I've never felt that, 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:54.680 I don't know what you're talking about. And maybe we have friends or people in this room who say that, 00:09:54.679 --> 00:10:00.139 and here's what I would say, maybe you don't feel that, but here's what I want you to consider doing. 00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:12.759 Take an hour and remove all the tech, all of the distractions, all of the booze, all of the diversions, 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:22.039 remove all of that, all the noise, and just sit in a room by yourself in quiet solitude for an hour, 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.339 and just see what happens. 00:10:25.099 --> 00:10:26.019 You might be surprised. 00:10:27.099 --> 00:10:29.919 But this is the kind of relationship that we were meant to have. 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:34.459 Now, there's a problem. You know, the story doesn't end there, because there's a problem. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:36.860 There's a reason why we can't just step into this intimacy. 00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:40.519 And this brings us to the relationship we actually have. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:45.120 What's fascinating about this passage, and you also see this back in chapter 18, 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:49.019 is the way it summarizes all of the problems of the world. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.899 You know, you ask people, what's wrong with the world? 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.379 And people talk about, you know, systemic injustice. 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:55.539 People talk about corrupt governments. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:57.460 People talk about economic injustice. 00:10:57.700 --> 00:11:01.840 People talk about racism, and division, and hatred, and violence, and exploitation, 00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:03.120 and environmental degradation. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.539 People list all kinds of things. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:07.360 And if you ask in this room, what's the biggest problem of the world? 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:10.659 You probably have a lot of different answers of what's the number one problem. 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:16.600 But it's interesting how the Bible summarizes what's wrong with the world. 00:11:17.819 --> 00:11:22.759 The entire way of life apart from God is summarized in chapter 19, verse 2. 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:27.299 The great prostitute, that's the world apart from God. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.959 It's an image, metaphor. 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:34.139 The great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. 00:11:35.339 --> 00:11:40.179 Now, I want to be sensitive to the plight of people who are actually prostitutes in our society. 00:11:40.179 --> 00:11:49.159 This is not a way of heaping unneeded shame on the plight of anyone who actually has to experience this in their lives. 00:11:49.239 --> 00:11:58.699 The point is, the point is, this is giving us a way to understand why things have gone so wrong in our world. 00:11:59.739 --> 00:12:00.919 It says, here's the problem. 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:02.699 The world has become like a prostitute. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.159 And the world has been corrupted by immorality. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:10.860 The word there is pornea, which means sex outside of a married relationship. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.879 Something like adultery. 00:12:14.199 --> 00:12:15.439 So this is the problem. 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.500 This is the diagnosis. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.559 And so this begins to give us insight. 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:21.679 This is why God cares so much about sin. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:24.399 This is why sin matters to God. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:27.299 It's not simply because God wants a bunch of rule followers. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:32.919 It's not like God is sitting there saying, oh, I want you to do the right things, and you're doing the wrong things, and you need to get your act together. 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:37.879 You know, God doesn't just want a bunch of obedient sheep. 00:12:37.979 --> 00:12:40.019 He doesn't want a bunch of loyal subjects. 00:12:40.199 --> 00:12:43.179 He doesn't want a bunch of sort of fearful children. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.379 Ultimately, God wants a faithful spouse. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:49.240 He wants a faithful spouse. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.759 Yes, you're his child. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:52.799 Yes, we're his sheep. 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:53.919 But we're more than that. 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:57.980 He doesn't just want our fealty. 00:12:59.579 --> 00:13:00.819 He wants our affection. 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:02.840 He wants our heart. 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.640 He wants our love. 00:13:04.760 --> 00:13:05.620 He wants our devotion. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:09.660 You know, God created us to be his bride. 00:13:09.760 --> 00:13:14.140 And this is saying that instead, we've become more like a prostitute. 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:20.080 One of the great love stories in Scripture is the story of Hosea and Gomer. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.960 And if you've never read this in the Old Testament, it's worth your time. 00:13:24.780 --> 00:13:28.920 God comes to the prophet Hosea and calls Hosea to marry Gomer. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:34.979 And Hosea and most other people have heard about Gomer. 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:38.979 And they've heard that Gomer is a bit promiscuous. 00:13:39.979 --> 00:13:42.319 And she has this reputation. 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:47.399 And Hosea knows, because he's a prophet, he knows that she's going to break his heart. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:50.259 But he marries her anyway. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.100 And he hopes for the best. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:14:02.500 And then not long after, he begins to hear rumors and more rumors and more rumors that Gomer is going and sleeping with other men. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.419 She's not coming home at night. 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.899 She's out and about. 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:08.720 And he begins to realize this is happening. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:14.360 It actually gets so bad that he begins to wonder if his children are even really his biological children. 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.579 And then the unthinkable happens. 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:21.039 Gomer is continuing to sleep with these men. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.340 And then eventually, she falls in with the wrong crowd. 00:14:23.699 --> 00:14:25.379 And she is captured. 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:28.740 And Hosea hears that she's going to be sold as a slave. 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:34.460 And, you know, this is a, it's a tragic story. 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:40.759 But it's actually a pretty appropriate illustration of our own spiritual predicament. 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:47.120 The Bible says that my main problem and your main problem, whatever you think it is, 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:50.720 it says that your actual real problem is that we're a lot like Gomer. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:59.879 That instead of loving God as a faithful spouse and being committed to God as a faithful spouse, 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:03.680 spiritually speaking, we sleep around. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:07.700 And maybe it's a different person every night. 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.639 And we give ourselves to other gods. 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.840 We give ourselves to other lovers. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:19.240 And the Bible uses the word idol to talk about these other competing lovers. 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:25.279 This is why the word porneia is not only used to describe sex outside of marriage or adultery. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.919 It's also used to describe idolatry. 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.480 Because in the Bible, it's the same thing. 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:39.980 And as a result of this kind of spiritual adultery, we, like Gomer, become slaves to these lovers. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.560 We get sold into slavery. 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:42.820 We don't even realize it's happening. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.340 And if you want to know what an idol is, 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:49.759 an idol can really be anything that we look to to give us things that only God can give us. 00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:50.440 It can be anything. 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:55.080 A lot of times it's a good thing that we just start to allow to become too important, 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.360 too ultimate in our lives. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:59.879 A great book on this is by Tim Keller called Counterfeit Gods. 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:02.800 And he lays out different categories of idols. 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.040 There can be sexual idols. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:09.300 You know, like a pornography addiction that promises satisfaction, 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:14.620 but leaves you empty and loathing yourself. 00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:18.019 It could be a political idol. 00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:22.559 A political idol on the left or the right or libertarian, 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:27.559 where you take some aspect of the political order and you absolutize it. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.620 And you say, this is the ultimate problem. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.599 Or this is the ultimate solution. 00:16:32.699 --> 00:16:34.039 This is what people do with free market. 00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:36.279 This is what's wrong with the world. 00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.819 This is what will fix the world, right? 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:43.640 There can be, you know, racial idols or national idols, 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.520 where you take ethnic pride, 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:48.879 and ethnic pride starts to become bitter, 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:52.920 or it starts to become oppressive to some other people group. 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:55.280 You can have relational idols, 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:58.580 people who put all of their hopes in the person that they're dating. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:01.400 And this relationship is worth anything, 00:17:01.520 --> 00:17:04.440 so I'm going to change myself, do whatever I have to do. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.519 I'm going to compromise all my values 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.740 to make sure this person doesn't leave me. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:13.019 Or parents, it's easy to cross that line between loving our kids 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:15.759 and starting to find all of our worth in our kids. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.259 And if our kids don't do well, 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.680 if they're not succeeding at school, 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.599 if they don't have friends, 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.480 if they have issues that they have to deal with, 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.359 then somehow we feel like we're failing. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.200 We feel like our worth is diminished. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:31.600 There are religious idols, like moralism, legalism. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:35.580 There are cultural idols, like individualism or consumerism. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:38.940 And then there are the deeper idols, the motivational idols, 00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:42.039 those really insidious things. 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:49.740 Like when we come to believe that unless we are approved of and respected, 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:51.319 our life is not worth living. 00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:55.119 Unless I'm able to live in a certain kind of house 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.480 or have a certain quality of life, 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.819 life is not worth living. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:59.759 Unless I get that position, 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.420 life is not worth living. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.799 Unless I have that thing, 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.980 you know, a lot of us, I think, 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.559 struggle with the need for control. 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.879 Unless I have a sense of control over my life, 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:12.740 unless I can see the future and know what's coming, 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.960 I can't cope. 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:16.160 I can't live with that. 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:22.380 So the Bible says there's all these lovers out there, 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:24.420 and they catch our eye, 00:18:24.520 --> 00:18:26.080 and we leave God, 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.400 and we go after these lovers. 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:30.820 And this is what's wrong with the world. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:35.160 This is why we have sin and brokenness and injustice, right? 00:18:35.560 --> 00:18:37.340 So you say, what's the connection? 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:41.619 I'll just give you one example for the sake of time. 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.500 If I were to ask you, 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:47.179 if you wake up in the morning sometimes and say, 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:49.179 I'm going to tell some really great lies today, 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:51.279 you'd probably say, 00:18:51.459 --> 00:18:52.819 no, I don't connect with that. 00:18:53.139 --> 00:18:55.000 Most of us think of ourselves as honest people. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.419 And yet, if you look at our lives, 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:59.559 if somebody were to put up a transcript of our daily interactions, 00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:01.079 you would hear all kinds of lies. 00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:02.500 I mean, just to be totally honest. 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:05.240 I mean, if you heard a transcript of my day in, day out, 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.539 you'd be like, whoa, that's not true. 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:08.039 I definitely know that's not true. 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.599 And the question is, why do we do that? 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.779 Well, a lot of reasons. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.539 Say you're late to work, 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:17.019 and you really want to impress your boss. 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.039 Your boss kind of looks up and says, 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.799 weren't you supposed to be in here 30 minutes ago? 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.039 What do you say? 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.119 I was out late last night. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.639 I drank way too much, and I slept in. 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.539 No. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.119 No. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:30.099 You don't tell them about your small group. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.459 You say... 00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:34.419 See, I know. 00:19:39.179 --> 00:19:40.939 You say the traffic was horrible. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.379 The metro was late. 00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:45.619 I missed my bus, right? 00:19:45.719 --> 00:19:46.519 That's what you say. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.699 It's totally not true. 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.500 But you say it, right? 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:53.380 Or, you know, maybe somebody hurts your feelings, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.099 and you say, oh, it's no big deal. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:58.880 It's no big deal. 00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.200 I'm fine. 00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.940 Don't worry about it. 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:02.380 And then you just marinate on it for the next week, 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:04.920 and you think of all the things that you want to say to them. 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.640 But you don't dare say it because you don't want to rock the boat. 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:08.940 You know? 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.160 So that's a lie, right? 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.039 You're not fine. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:12.619 You're angry. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.759 Why don't you admit it? 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:14.880 You're lying, right? 00:20:15.520 --> 00:20:19.380 Or maybe there's a group of people that are talking about a book that they've all read 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:22.640 or some article, and they're like, and then one of them looks at you, 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.780 and they say, you read it, right? 00:20:23.820 --> 00:20:24.480 And you're like, yeah. 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:26.880 You don't even know the title. 00:20:28.280 --> 00:20:29.580 But you say you read it. 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:29.800 Why? 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:31.420 Because you want them to respect you. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:34.780 And you see, you tell these lies, and you ask, well, why are you lying? 00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:37.600 It's not because you woke up and said, I want to lie today. 00:20:37.600 --> 00:20:39.620 I'm a liar, and I'm proud of it. 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.059 Why? 00:20:40.239 --> 00:20:45.159 It's because in that moment, you're lying because deep down, 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:47.939 you've made an idol out of other people's approval. 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:52.639 I want my boss to like me and respect me, right? 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:58.239 I want to keep the peace so that there's no conflict because I hate conflict, right? 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:00.559 I want these people to think I'm smart. 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.219 It's an idol. 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:08.380 In that moment, you've said, God, you're great, but that's what I want, 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:12.579 and I'm going to go here, and I'm going to spend the night here, 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:16.860 but I'll be back in the morning, and surely things will be okay. 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.579 That's how we think. 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:26.360 And just like Gomer, these idols end up enslaving us. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:28.620 You know, Becky Pippert wrote this great book years ago, 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:32.299 Out of the Salt Shaker, and she says, if you live, and this is paraphrasing, 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:36.240 if you live for control, then you will be enslaved to control. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.899 And guess what? 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:38.319 You'll always feel out of control. 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.440 You'll always feel powerless. 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:43.119 You know, if you live for approval, 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:46.240 then you will be enslaved by the people that you're trying to please, 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:48.480 and you'll always worry about their disapproval. 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:54.319 You'll analyze your interactions with them again and again and again, 00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.579 and I can't believe I said that. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.319 I was so stupid. 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.279 Because you've made an idol out of their approval. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:07.599 You know, no one, she says, no one controls himself or herself. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:11.259 Whatever you live for is your master. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.119 So let me summarize where we are. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.119 Here's kind of where we are so far. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:21.039 The relationship that we ought to have with God is like a marriage. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.960 It is intimate. 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.339 It is vulnerable. 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:28.500 We are naked and unashamed with the one who made us. 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.279 Mutually indwelling. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:35.539 The problem is human beings are not faithful spouses. 00:22:36.179 --> 00:22:38.240 We are spiritually adulterous. 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:42.679 And we've been duped into thinking that our lives will go better 00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:45.319 if we give our love to other things, 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:48.339 that somehow my needs are not going to be met with this spouse. 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:52.939 I have to go and I have to get those needs met with all these other lovers. 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:58.399 And so our relationship with God is broken. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:00.439 We're alienated from God. 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.000 You cannot have intimacy if you have adultery. 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.240 It's not possible. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:10.599 And this is why the gospel is such good and unique news. 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:13.019 This is the kind of relationship that's possible. 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:15.379 Here and now with Jesus. 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:19.800 Maybe the most important verse in this passage comes in verse 8. 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.860 And it's about the bride. 00:23:22.020 --> 00:23:22.360 It says, 00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:29.260 It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure. 00:23:29.520 --> 00:23:31.980 Listen, it doesn't say she clothed herself. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.820 And a lot of times when people quote this passage, 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:35.520 they say, you know, she clothed herself. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:38.020 They imagine a bride getting ready and clothing herself. 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:40.700 But this tells us something about where the dress came from. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.360 It was granted her. 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.780 It was given her. 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:47.200 To clothe herself. 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:49.320 In other words, the wedding dress is a gift. 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:56.080 And what it represents, the purity, the holiness, the faithfulness, that's a gift. 00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:01.320 So going back to the love story of Hosea and Gomer, 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.580 Hosea is a faithful husband. 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:05.080 He loves his bride. 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:09.679 And even though Gomer had committed adultery again and again and again, 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:13.339 she had flown in the face of their marriage a thousand times maybe. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.679 Nevertheless, 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.679 he goes, 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.199 he finds the slaver, 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:25.699 he pays the price to purchase her, 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:29.920 and then he brings her home to be his bride again. 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.059 He didn't have to. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.120 He wasn't obligated to. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.920 He did it. 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:38.779 Because even though she was unfaithful to him, 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.759 he was faithful to her. 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:43.460 Even though she broke her promises to him, 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:47.059 he kept his promises to her. 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:49.779 And as great as that story is, 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:53.679 it's nothing compared to the greatest love story of all time, 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.899 which is the story of Jesus Christ, 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.639 who is a faithful husband. 00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:02.679 And even though his people have been unfaithful to him again and again and again, 00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:04.299 even though we mocked him, 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.980 and even though we tortured him, 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.259 and even though we killed him, 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:11.140 when Jesus looks at us in the world 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:15.019 and he recognizes that our adultery has led to slavery, 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:18.420 he doesn't bat an eye. 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.519 He comes, 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.539 he finds the slaver, 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.079 sin and death. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.579 He pays the price owed, 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.579 which is his own death. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:32.379 He purchases us, 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:35.279 and he brings us home to be his bride again. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:37.359 And this is the great, 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:39.720 amazing news of the gospel. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:43.819 And he does this so that we can be his bride once again, 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.960 so that it can be given to us 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:48.899 to make ourselves ready for the great wedding feast. 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:52.299 And this is what sets Christianity apart. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.879 You know, all other religions say, 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.139 here's the God, 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.299 you're the servant, 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.559 follow the rules, 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.500 keep your promises, 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:02.079 and it'll go well for you. 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.160 Break the rules, 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.359 break your vows, 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:06.279 and you will be judged. 00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:08.279 You will be punished. 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.199 You will be condemned. 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.839 Christianity says, 00:26:14.179 --> 00:26:15.759 not only are you not a servant, 00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:17.740 you're a spouse. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:22.039 But no matter how many times you break your promises, 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:24.559 no matter how many times you break your vows, 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:28.319 God will forgive you. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.899 Because ultimately, 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.359 the strength of the marriage 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.679 is not based on your ability 00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:33.799 to keep your vow to God. 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:36.139 It's based on his willingness 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:38.419 to keep his vow to us. 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.819 It's based on the fact that God 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:42.039 never breaks his promises. 00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:43.359 And as we say every week, 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:45.599 his eternal nature is to have mercy. 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.759 So this is the God, 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:50.200 this is the only lover, 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:53.640 that if you give yourself to this lover, 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.960 if you give yourself fully to him, 00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:03.380 if you allow yourself to be taken up 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:05.400 into this great love story, 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:08.700 then even when you fail, 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:11.500 you know that you will be forgiven and restored. 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:13.460 So I just, 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.700 what I would like to do 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.819 is just this week, 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.960 take some time 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:20.779 and reflect on your life and your heart. 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:25.240 Are there idols, 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.339 other lovers, 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.700 to whom you have given your heart 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:34.259 for an hour or a day or a week or longer? 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:37.119 Are there things you're living for 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:39.059 that you can't live without 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.900 that have replaced God? 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:44.799 Are there things that have a vice grip 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.880 on your heart? 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:49.720 Places you're going in search of meaning 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:52.900 or wholeness or satisfaction. 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.720 Who are those other lovers? 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.680 And wherever you're going, 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.700 recognize this. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:03.839 You cannot have intimacy and adultery. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.180 If you want intimacy with God, 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:09.359 you have to leave those lovers behind. 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:11.319 You have to close the door. 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.559 You have to end the relationship 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:14.980 and you have to come back to your spouse. 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.659 And you have to ask his forgiveness 00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:18.839 and we know he will forgive. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:21.359 And we know you will immediately be welcomed home. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.079 But that's the only way 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.460 to have any intimacy with God. 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.859 You can come to church, 00:28:25.939 --> 00:28:26.559 you can be baptized, 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:28.000 you can do all of the things. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.579 But if you're having an affair, 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.819 there's going to be no intimacy. 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:36.019 So think about the things 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:38.379 that you need to turn away from. 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.399 Think about the things 00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.619 that may be robbing you 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.659 of intimacy with God. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.980 And then look to Jesus Christ. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.839 Because he's the one 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:48.399 who has come to win you back. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.720 And he'll do it again 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.240 and again and again. 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.240 And that relationship with Jesus, 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.399 the one who fulfills you, 00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:00.099 the one who forgives you, 00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:01.619 you know, the most meaningful job 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.399 can't do that. 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.459 The most amazing marriage 00:29:04.459 --> 00:29:05.219 can't do that. 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.539 The most incredible kids 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.240 can't do that. 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.659 Only Jesus can do that. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:12.359 And one day the Bible says 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.319 Jesus will come to us 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.519 and he will say to quote 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.019 the Song of Songs, 00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:18.719 to each of us he will say this, 00:29:19.439 --> 00:29:20.679 arise my love, 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.919 my beautiful one, 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.879 and come away. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:26.939 For behold, the winter is past, 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:29.460 the rain is over and gone, 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:31.740 the flowers appear on the earth, 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.360 the time of singing has come. 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.340 Let's pray. 00:29:39.820 --> 00:29:41.820 Lord, even as I say this, 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.779 I confess it. 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:46.680 I know my sermon is a confession. 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:49.759 That there are many ways 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.259 that I have strayed. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:54.700 Many lovers I have sought out 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.420 other than you. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:57.200 Many idols I put my hope in 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.220 other than you. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:01.380 Lord, my desire to be loved 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:03.019 and respected. 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:06.380 Lord, my desire to avoid conflict. 00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.840 Lord, I could go on and on and on. 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:14.080 And I desire more than anything 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:14.920 to be yours 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:17.560 and to know my worth 00:30:17.560 --> 00:30:19.460 when I see it in your eyes. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.140 And so Lord, 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.900 I pray for the strength for myself, 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.980 but also for all those gathered here, 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.640 or maybe some 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:28.059 for the first time, 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:31.980 to leave those idols behind 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:34.319 and to come running to you, 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.200 even as you run down the road 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:37.099 to embrace us. 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:39.720 I pray that as we step together 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.740 toward this table 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:43.019 and receive the bread and the wine, 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:43.940 we would recognize 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.200 that we're receiving you 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.380 into ourselves, 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.779 that this is the sacrament 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.380 of marital intimacy. 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:52.540 and I pray that through the bread 00:30:52.540 --> 00:30:53.120 and the wine, 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.260 your body and blood, 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.420 we would know 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.380 and experience 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:58.260 the one who has always loved us. 00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.520 And we would rest in your arms. 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:02.000 And we pray this 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.020 not only because we need it, 00:31:03.060 --> 00:31:04.600 but because it glorifies you. 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.480 It glorifies you. 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.500 In your son's name. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:09.000 Amen.