Allergic to God?

2 Timothy 3: 1 Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people. 6 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself "truth." 7 They get exploited every time and never really learn. 8 These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. 9 But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax. (The Message)

It's hard living with allergies. The process for discovering allergies was uncomfortable and one you did not wish on your worst enemy. When we moved to San Antonio we discovered that one of our daughters was allergic to something. It became so bad we were referred to an allergist, who, needle by needle, pricked our daughter's back. I did not count nor did I want to look at this uncomfortable thing. It did allow the doctor to discover what she was allergic to and to come up with a serum that she had to receive every Friday first thing. It fell to Dad to take her there and wait until it was her turn to receive the injection that helped her breath and carry on for the rest of the week. Imagine being allergic to God. It was Paul's way, at least in this version, of saying you can't stand to be around God or the things of God. In his warnings to young Timothy, he shares a list he believes sums up this behavior that is contrary to the things of God: "self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God." (vss. 2-4). This sounds like the new fall lineup on most networks. Or the latest movie showing at the closest cinema. Or, it may sound like those secrets we like to think we're keeping well-hidden. The list is long, but think of the opposite of each: selfless, generous giver, caring for others, sincere, humble, loves and honors parents, thoughtful, genuine, lends a helping hand, flexible and open to compromise, positive enforcer, respectful, optimistic, compassionate, passionate listener, respectful of others, and loves God and the things of God. No allergies there, just the things that reflect a deep and committed love to God and the things of God. Paul's list continues with examples of those who are allergic to God; they are the ones who cause trouble, take advantage of others, and convince themselves that they're doing good. People see through these people eventually, when they compare them to the teachings and reality of God.

The good news is that we don't have to stay in that camp that is allergic to God. If we possess even one of the negative characteristics, we have in Jesus Christ the freedom to be liberated from that thing. Jesus provides the antidote to allergies against God.

Re-read the list of the things that please God and make that your desire for your life: selfless, generous giver, caring for others, sincere, humble, loves and honors parents, thoughtful, genuine, lends a helping hand, flexible and open to compromise, positive enforcer, respectful, optimistic, compassionate, passionate listener, respectful of others, and loves God and the things of God.

PRAYER: Loving God whos knows all things about us and about me, remove me from the list that shows an allergy against You. I want to breathe fully the breath of life and life in abundance that comes through knowing, loving, and serving You. May it be so I pray, in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde