Once upon a time, there was a kingdom. In the kingdom was a castle. Inside the castle was one large room. Inside the room was a throne. Sitting on the throne was a man, very much like every other man only more gentle, more peaceable, more thoughtful, and more humble than other men. The people called him Adonai. The man didn’t say much, but people were assured by his quiet presence. They felt his protection and care as a shepherd has for his sheep. The days went by and the people lived simply, yet with great peace in their hearts and peace with one another.
One morning a man wandered into town. His name was Mister Control. He had long fingers and beady eyes. He was very strong willed and independent. He wouldn’t even ask for directions though everyone knew he was lost. He finally found his way to the steps of the castle and said to the people, “How can you live your life with so much trust in Adonai. What does he do that you really can’t do for yourself? On top of that, he doesn’t respect your timetable. His solutions are not the same solutions that you want. You need to trust yourself more and Adonai less. Adonai needs my help. Put me on the throne and I will help you gain control over your life.”
The people said one to the other. “He’s right. Circumstances don’t unfold on my timetable or even sometimes to my liking. We need to be more independent.” So they invited Mister Control to take a seat in the throne room. Mister Control entered the throne room, looked at Adonai, and said, “Move over.” Adonai sighed.
Later that morning, a woman wandered into town. She was dressed to the nines, accessorized perfectly, flashing money and jewels. She was carrying behind her two wagon loads of possessions. Her name was Miss Wealth. She saw what the people had and asked, “Don’t you want more?”
The people responded, “We have enough food to eat, clothing to wear, a house to live in.”
She countered, “Wouldn’t it be nice to eat more than ‘just enough’, to have seconds (especially chocolate covered strawberries). Wouldn’t it be nice to have two pairs of shoes (or twenty) instead of just one? To have a getaway cottage when your family gets on your nerves? Wouldn’t it be nice to buy new jewelry, a phone or a designer purse and make your friends turn green with jealousy?”
The people nodded in agreement. Someone shouted out, “Put another throne in the throne room! We need to make a place for our new friend, Miss Wealth.” So Miss Wealth was seated in the throne room along with Mister Control. She said to Adonai, “Don’t you like my pearls?” Adonai sighed.
Later that afternoon, another man walked into town. He was very tall. His arms were filled with tattoos and bulging muscles. On his way to the town square, he pushed people out of the way, some he even knocked down. His name was Pure T. Power. He ascended the steps in front of the throne room and shouted, “Greetings losers! I’ve come to make this kingdom great again. Put me on the throne and you will never be pushed around again. Instead of losers, you will become winners.”
Partly out of fear, partly out of a desire to ‘be respected’, the people acclaimed, “Let’s put Pure T. Power on the throne, too.” Power muscled his way into the throne room, walked straight up to Adonai, and said, “You’re sitting in my chair.” Adonai sighed.
That evening, another lady walked into town. She was singing and dancing. Even though it was early in the evening, she was carrying a goblet of wine. She shouted to the people, “Why so sad? Doesn’t anyone in this town like to have fun? I have arrived. Let the party begin!” Her name was Polly Pleasure.
Before long, the people started to dance throughout the rest of the day and into all hours of the night. It was wearing them out, but they couldn’t stop seeking greater and greater thrills. Finally, one shouted, “Let’s make room for Polly Pleasure in the throne room. In a drunken revelry, all shouted in agreement.
So Polly Pleasure took a seat along with Mister Control, Miss Wealth, and Pure T. Power. Polly decorated the throne room with a mirror ball and colorful strobe light and started playing disco music from the 80’s. Adonai, now shoved off in a dusty corner, closed his eyes, held his hands over his ears, and let out a long, suffering sigh.
The people thought life was complete. They figured that if these people could not fix what was wrong with their life and bring them true happiness, they always could fall back on Adonai, now the smallest and least of the persons in the throne room.
But what once was a peaceful village became filled with strife. There were petty power struggles, jealous neighbors, cheating spouses, and rehab centers everywhere. Children were nagged, the elderly were ignored, and the politicians made endless promises they couldn’t keep.
The next day, a man came into town. His name was Jeremiah. He had a long beard and a gruff personality. He didn’t quite fit in. He smelled like camel hair. He went to the steps of the castle and said to the people who had put so many people on the throne:
Cursed is the one who trusts in people,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from [Adonai].
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
but stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Some of the people did not like being called a barren bush or having their life described as a lava waste. They picked up rocks to throw at this dour messenger. Some others, however, listened to these powerful words. They felt that their life was a little out of kilter. Something was wrong. Planted deep within their heart they knew things could be better, should be better. They had a feeling that they were putting too much trust in the peole they had put on the throne and this was making life more difficult, not less. They said to the others holding the rocks, “Let him speak.” The bearded man continued:
Blessed is the one who trusts in [Adonai],
whose hope is [Adonai].
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
it fears not the heat when it comes;
its leaves stay green;
in the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit. (see Jer 17:5-8)
The words cut to the heart and they knew them to be true. One by one, they emptied the throne room. They cast out Mister Control, they cast out Miss Wealth, they cast out Pure T. Power, and they cast out Polly Pleasure. Only Adonai remained. The people in one voice sang,
“Blessed are we who trust in the Lord.”
The question, “Who’s in your throne room?”
Isn’t it about time to clear out your throne room all the little gods placed on an equal footing as the one God? These could be the four mentioned, or a whole host of other gods: self-esteem, relationships, ego, even cell phones, social media, and cable news… anything that competes for space with the one true God. If we try to draw life from these other gods, we are trying to draw life from “a lava waste, a salt path, and an empty earth.”
Great sermon and reflection
Well done and timely.