One of my favorite movies is the spy flick, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. In the movie, the characters are discussing foreign intelligence, when one of them says that the intelligence has been gold. Another character disagrees and says, “It’s just enough glitter amongst the chicken feed”. In other words, it was just good enough to convince them that it was good intelligence, when it was actually bad intelligence.
I believe that the preceding paragraph is a pretty good analogy for the world, but I have a better one. If I sprinkled gold glitter in a cow patty, that’s equivalent to the world. The world is full of death, disease, famine, and suffering. That’s a cow patty, my friend. The cow patty is sprinkled with money, fame, and power. That’s glitter. And the Bad Guy uses the glitter to his advantage. Firstly, he uses the glitter to keep us from focusing on the patty. If we chase money, fame, and power, we’re not interesting in doing anything about death, disease, famine, and suffering. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, if we chase glitter, it keeps us from building a relationship with God.
The Bible is very specific. The following are just a few verses that further explain the cow patty and the glitter:
Luke 4:5-6 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he (Devil) said to him (Jesus), “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me (because of sin), and I can give it to anyone I want to. Hence, why the world is a cow patty.
Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Hence, money and wealth are just glitter.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Hence, again, money is just glitter.
Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Hence, power and fame are glitter as well.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Hence, don’t conform to the cow patty, but seek God’s will.
There is hope, however. Jesus came and died so that we could ultimately be saved from death, disease, famine, and suffering. There is also hope in Revelations 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything (including heaven and earth) new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In other words, NO MORE COW PATTY.
I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.
Why do we like redemption stories? Who can really say that he/she doesn’t like a good redemption or comeback story? The first one that comes to my mind is Robert Downey Jr. He had success early in his career. Then he had drug issues, criminal charges, and rehab stints. He pretty much fell off the map for a few years. Then he came back. From 2012 to 2015 he was the highest paid actor in Hollywood.
