Me, Myself & I agree… I am my own divinity!
Adam and Eve tried to avoid God by hiding in the woods (Gen. 3:8). The wandering Hebrews tried to replace God by making an idol (Exod. 32:2-4). The Corinthians began to deviate from God by following personages (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4). Some even opted to make sacrifices to demons (1 Cor. 10:20-22). And, as we have been warned, in these last days many will seek to avoid God by becoming a lover of “self,” a lover of personal pleasures, more than a lover of God. (2 Tim. 3:1-4)
New Age thinking says that beyond the “self” there is a “higher self,” a godlike extension of the worldly self. They say that by a relationship with the higher self, you will become able to make your desires become reality… your own little reality.
Love of self will ultimately lead to this. Once we turn our gaze inward we will begin to assess reality only from within that very small, personal world. Scripture is very clear about those who choose this path: “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Cor. 10:12b). When a person becomes “self”-focussed they begin to set their own rules (see Judg. 21:25). They begin to make their own ‘truth.’
“Personal truth”… “Higher self”… all of this leads only to one thing: A belief that one is one’s own “god.” Me, myself, and I – one’s own little trinity… divinity.
Now a person caught in the trap of such selfism may not see this at all. When the only pictures you take are “selfies” you will never discover among them an image of God. When you fill your library only with books you have written you will never encounter the true Word of God.
Many religions and philosophies touch on the idea of inward journey. But God will not be found within us. We can try to avoid Him by looking away, looking to demons, looking at others, or looking within but it is not until we look up and acknowledge Him as Lord, not ourselves, that we will find Truth.
And, as Jesus taught, “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32).
More tomorrow…
To hear Pastor John’s complete message, go to the Lincoln Baptist Church website and look under ‘Sermons Online’ for the Feb. 16 message.
thebrokenrunner 
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