"If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell."
— C.S. Lewis (The Great Divorce)

In an age of relevance and political correctness, people are looking for an easier road to God. In my last blog, The Case of the Jealous Lover, I exposed a side of God’s nature that tends to be overlooked—His jealousy. The truth is, God is a jealous God who demands singleness of heart towards Him, obedience, holy living, and death to self.

The Apostolic awakening that is needed today is not going to happen until we adjust our lifestyle and return to our jealous Lover. True revival will evade us unless we give up our worldly affections. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Yet so many Christians have accrued affections that turn their hearts away from God.

Before returning to Bethel (which means, “house of God”), Jacob told his family, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.” (Genesis 35:2). What many people fail to realize is that idols and gods are not mere objects, but affections of the heart.

I wondered how all these idols got into Jacob’s house. Then I read Genesis 31:19, “…Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s”. It all started with some items that Rachel couldn’t live without, some small attachments. The bible doesn’t say where she stashed them, but something in Rachel felt she needed them. Perhaps she saw herself in those little images. Regardless of why she kept them, Rachel’s little idols, little souvenirs, opened the door to other ungodly lifestyle changes. It started as just a few objects of affection, but over time it affected the entire family and delayed the purposes of God.  

The apostle Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God…” (2 Cor. 5:17-18a). However, many believers still hold on to little souvenirs from their past. It could be an old girlfriend, boyfriend, or someone who was interested in you. Perhaps you think “What if…”, and you imagine what life might be like with that person today. “What if we stayed together?” “What if I hadn’t moved away?”

These are the idols we don’t talk much about. It’s easier to throw out some bad DVD’s or install Internet blockers, then to remove the idols in the heart.

Your soul souvenirs may be more like trophies, thoughts of reliving your “glory days” at an old company, school or stage in your life. Pentecostals have their church souvenirs and trophies too. Sometimes we enshrine an experience we had at youth camp or during a revival. And whenever we go through a dry spell, we reach back for a sip instead of digging new wells. Even “holy” trophies are still trophies. This doesn’t mean we forget what God has done, but we cannot let memories rob us of fresh experiences.

Perhaps your souvenirs are all the “fun” things you did before you got saved, or during that season away from Church. Christians rarely admit that they still “love” or have a “warm spot” for certain things in the world. We’re afraid to admit that we have some trinkets, some experiences, or guilty pleasures that still captivate us. Soul souvenirs are not simply shiny things you buy in a gift shop, but they are the things you collect in your heart, the places you’ve been in life. They evoke emotion and command attention.

Paul said, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5). Secret souvenirs of the heart are not just memories, per se, but those untouchable thoughts that gradually pull your devotion and steal your worship. They seem insignificant, harmless or even playful. But, the enemy uses little things to establish a pattern of access into our lives. If David allowed the lion or bear to take just one sheep, his resistance would have been weakened. When Goliath came against him, he already had a proven track record.

The issue behind soul souvenirs (or idolatry) is not “stuff”, but “self”. The whole reason man invented idols was to become his own god. Theoretically, only gods can “make” gods. Man creates a god in his own image and likeness. This means that our “idols”—things, people, thoughts we worship other or more than God—are mere reflections of who we are.

Historically, man’s greatest love affair has been with himself. No wonder Paul said, “I die daily.” Because no matter how many times you kill or remove the idol you’re struggling with, you can’t overcome it until it’s uprooted from your heart. If not, all you’re doing is taking a vacation from it. Every souvenir of the soul must melt on an altar of repentance and a burning desire for God.

2 Corinthians 11:2-3 says, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

God is a jealous lover. The term “jealousy” usually carries a negative connotation in today’s culture. We are disturbed to hear of a jealous husband who distrusts his wife and watches every move she makes with suspicion. We frown upon people who are jealous of their neighbor’s success. Even scripture adds fuel to the topic when Paul says to “put off jealousy” (Romans 13:13). We’re explicitly told that “love is not jealous” (1 Cor. 13:4).

However the word “jealous” is a neutral term that may be expressed both negatively and positively. In the Old Testament, the word “jealous” is translated from the Hebrew word qin’ah. In the New Testament, it derives from the Greek word zelos. The original idea behind both words is that of “warmth” or “heat”. Paul’s passion was for Christians to live in the heat of God’s love. Therefore, he used appropriate language to persuade the bride of Christ to be clean and committed.

Exodus 20:5 says, “You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me”

Deuteronomy 4:24 says, “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

God expressed His love for Israel by declaring Himself “a jealous God”. He is jealous for fidelity, priority and preeminence in our lives. Throughout history, however, God’s people constantly struggled with staying monogamous. She was convinced she was missing out on the fun and enjoyment of having other lovers, so she flirted, smooched, and eventually cheated with false gods. The Lord’s fervent wooing was never enough. This love triangle was graphically portrayed and illustrated in the book of Hosea.

Paul reminds us to “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). Earthly things are temporary things. It’s anything with an expiration date, anything seasonal, and anything that cannot love you in return. And since man was created from the dust of the earth, it also represents the flesh—the carnal man. As Christians, we have to resist the urge to fall in love with worldly things. American culture is riddled, hypnotized with the glimmer and shine of new stuff. Anything that’s fresh out-of-box, off the rack, on the lot or just released has way of luring us in. It’s intoxicating.

Beware, the devil plays cupid with our flesh by getting us tangled up with false lovers.

These false lovers could also include people, sports, fashion, technology, and even Christian stuff (i.e. books, music, and clothes). I’m not totally against these things. I enjoy certain sports and technology. However, I’m against what I consider “spiritual adultery”. The way I see it, these are “other lovers” that can betray our passion for God and steal precious time, energy and resources that can otherwise be used to advance the Kingdom of God. Even religion has its lovers, usually in the form of traditions and doctrinal creeds. It’s sad to see some are more in love with their religious history and heroes then Jesus Himself.

Remember the covenant you cut with God, the vow you made to be His. Shred, burn, delete or remove anything that violates your covenant. Basically, it’s time to break up with those other lovers. God has a mad case of jealously concerning His love for you. I think it’s time to return the favor.

Lately, I’ve been in a hot pursuit to know God. I don’t want a recycled experience or a fleeting moment in His presence that fades the moment I dismiss from church, or conclude my morning prayer. This God-hunt of mine really began to surge about two years ago. After being raised in the church, sleeping under the pews and attending service after service, I had always brushed the glory of God. Throughout my lifetime I’ve had significant encounters with God that changed my heart, caused deep conviction and shaped my faith. However, a deeper desire for His presence has emerged, and I simply can’t ignore it.

God created man to know Him. Sadly what many consider a relationship is nothing more than religion, and ceremonial duty. Pentecostals are not exempt. Our doctrine or creeds don’t give us a license to become dry or stagnant. When we turn encounters into monuments, instead of a lifestyle, we forfeit God’s true desire—intimacy.

Remember what Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Mat. 7:22-23). Praying, healing the sick, and prophesying does not equal relationship. The word "knew" Jesus uses literally means to “recognize” or “become fully acquainted with”. When these people come to Jesus, He says, "I don't recognize you or have any acquaintance with you."

Everything we do should flow from our relationship with God. Our fruit should be a byproduct of knowing Him. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). In other words, “If you know me intimately, you’ll know what I like and don’t like. You’ll be in tune with my heart.” My greatest desire is not to become a better preacher, a better writer or a better leader—but to become a better friend. I want to feel the heartbeat of God. I want what He wants.

I can’t let the ink dry on this writing until I recall Philippians 3:10. This scripture has become my anthem. “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” The word "know" that Paul uses (Greek, ginōskō) means to be aware of, to feel, to perceive, to be resolved in, to speak with, and to understand. The issue I see is that the modern church, directly or indirectly, makes the corporate gathering of worship (Sundays, conferences, camps, revivals, etc) the pinnacle of their walk with God. However, it really should be a launching pad to something more extraordinary in your daily life. The reason it’s so hard for people to take home what they experience at church, is because we pump in so many additives that what we have these days are supercharged, entertainment-based services.

A contemporary or cool worship service can be comprised of: velvet-voiced worship leaders, stage lights, ambient lighting, smoke machines, amplifiers, jumbo screens, praise dancers, flag teams, choreographed platforms, video arts, and much more. Then we say, “Take this experience home with you”. Really?

I don’t have a problem with using technology and creative methods. I simply have a problem when we make this the summit of the Christian experience. The reality is, knowing God requires that I get unplugged, and stripped down of everything that embellishes my own tastes more than God. The reason many people struggle to know God everyday is that we’ve taught them that a church event is the coolest thing in the world. Whereas God thinks the coolest thing is when you’re in your car (or wherever), with no music or production, and you’re worshipping Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit.

The true pinnacle of our walk with God, is not in a corporate setting of worship, but knowing God in the privacy of your life. That’s where God marks you. That’s where He whispers. Paul’s craving to know God was an intimate pursuit. My hope is you and I share the same passion.

God forbid we become like the generation in Judges Chapter 2, which says, “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals” (Judges 2:10-11).

Let’s awaken this generation with a passion for God!