Crowding God Out by Llyod W. Cary
Have you ever been “crowded out,” cut off in traffic, bullied, ignored, or pushed aside in a line? Annoying, isn’t it? Sometimes we feel hurt or angry. Brethren, God feels the same way! Christ was literally crowded out when He came to earth in the flesh— “No room in the inn.” (Luke 2:7). He is still being crowded out today. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28). God is no longer welcome today in our schoolrooms, courtrooms, or public forums.
Sometimes even WE crowd Him out, don’t we? Turn to 1 Timothy 3:1–5: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves [egoism], covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Do we see these thing in the world today? Revelation 2:8 adds, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Yes, as the world crowds in on us, we can forget our Lord God. We can allow the cares of this world to crowd God out, causing us to forget all His benefits (Psalm 13:2). We can easily put Him out of mind. We can live as though He were dead. “My people have forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32). Of course, we never deliberately forget our Lord; we just get “too busy” and carelessly drift into it. “Take heed” (1 Corinthians 10:12). The EFFECT of ALL the above is “crowding God out.”
We live in a busy pressure–mad world.
�� There are Social Pressures: Holidays, parties, children. “the old friends and our old ways.” (“What will my friends/family think?”)
�� Secular Pressures: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).
�� Worldly pressures: Work, school, various obligations, offences.
�� Sensual Pressures: TV, movies, compromise, lowering our standards, cursing, dress, tattoos, temptations, illicit sex in thought or deed.
�� Selfish Pursuits: Using our time for wrong things instead of for God. Sometimes our needs seem more important than God. “!, me, mine!” Ego reigns supreme! He becomes last on our list of priorities rather than first (Matthew 6:33). “EGO” can stand for either, EDGING GOD OUT… or EXALTING GOD ONLY! ANTIDOTES: We “make room” for Christ through PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, and MEDITATION. Our “alone time” with God needs to be precious.
FAITH—believing what God SAYS—“crowds out” doubts, evil thoughts, and temptations. We can only think of ONE thing at a time! We seldom find time for God…we must MAKE time! Let us make a conscious effort to “make room” for Him in our inn—in our minds. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Talk ABOUT God, talk TO Him and WITH Him, and WALK with Him all your days—and you will be crowding Satan out—and inviting God in.”
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