This narrow way

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves… 2 Timothy 3:1,2

Not too long ago in a galaxy not too far away, aliens were sent to Earth to check out these strange creatures called humans and see what makes them tick. Their mission? Find out what these beings’ worship. So, they go hurtling through space and land right here in the good, old USA. What do they find?

Naturally, they would look for a place where people spend a good deal of their time. They see everyone walking around with these strange rectangular devices in their hands and wonder why humans are glued to these devices almost constantly. So, they discover social media. What do they see there? Selfies after selfie after selfie after selfie.

They know that humans go to this place called church in order to perform their worship rituals. But so many churches, where to go? Well, there must be a lot of people there to get a good sample size for their study. How about a place in the fourth largest city in the country, in an arena that was formerly used for basketball games and concerts. What do they find there? A smiling book salesman, I mean pastor, peddling books with titles like, Your Best Life Now, The Power of I Am, I Declare, It’s Your Time, and Become a Better You.

The aliens go to the spaceship and report back to their home planet immediately. We’ve seen enough, we know what Earthlings worship. Themselves.                                                                             

Is that not America 2023? Selfies, self-help, self-improvement, self-esteem, self-love, self-gratification, my truth. It’s all about me.

Why? You may sense a recurring theme here. Let’s look at the original Big “I.”

“How you have fallen from heaven,
    morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
    you who once laid low the nations!
 You said in your heart,
    “I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
    above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
    on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.”

Isaiah 14:12-14

Five x “I.” What does that equation equal? God doesn’t take long to add it up.  “But you are brought down to the realm of the dead to the depths of the pit.” V. 15.

If you’re looking for help and love and improvement and gratification and true happiness, you won’t find it in yourself or in the pages of any book written by man. You’ll find it in the Word of God and a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. THE Truth

 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14.