How Does Someone Go So Far From God?

Have you ever wondered how a person, or even an entire nation, could get so far off track spiritually?

It’s easier than some think. And, it doesn’t start wide-open. So how does it happen?

I was reading 2 Kings 17:16, 17:

“The people rejected all the commands of the Lord their God. They molded statues of two calves, and they made an Asherah idol. They worshiped all the stars of the sky and served Baal. They made their sons and daughters pass through fire and tried to find out the future by magic and witchcraft. They always chose to do what the Lord said was wrong, which made him angry.”

I mean, this is crazy stuff!

I beleive when we begin to think too much and too deeply about what “we” want we drift. And when we feel we are most important, we begin to serve ourselves instead of God.

We even begin to value other people as less important.

I believe we forget God. We don’t think about Him being “GOD”. He is God and we are not.

He is the creator and we are the creation. He has the power, we don’t. He sees all and we can get busy trying to hide the stuff He can see.

God becomes less and we become more. And that leads us into a drift.

We also follow culture. A little R rated movie here and there. Colored jokes, drinking a bit too much and skipping a worship or two. It’s a slow erosion, and so easy to do.

Soon, this drift becomes our normal. And the sense of right and wrong fade.

And let’s face it. We love sin. The verse says they “always chose to do what the Lord said was wrong.” Some people don’t want truth. They want permission.

Some people are not looking for change. They are looking for validation.

But before we get too judgmental, we need to hold this passage up like a mirror. We may not build golden calves or burn sacrifices, but what idols have we built?

What voices are we listening to more than God's? What compromises have crept into our lives?

The drift doesn't start with full rebellion. It starts when we stop treasuring God’s voice. It happens when our hearts grow tired of truth and start craving something more convenient.

The best protection is to stay close to God’s Word. Keep remembering who He is. Surround yourself with people who speak truth and encourage you to stay grounded. Ask Him to give you a heart that loves what He loves.

“God, create a pure heart in me, and make my spirit right again.”

Psalm 51:10 (NCV)

That prayer might just be the first step back. GOD - help us stay close to you. IJNIP amen ♥️