Dishonoring God Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. (Galatians 6:7, niv) The first book I wrote only has one copy in print, and I’m the one who printed it. It sits on the shelf behind me in a spiral binding. It’s a good book and probably would have done well had it been published. In fact, it has gone through two publishing contracts with two separate publishers yet still never made it into print. The reason for this is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I’m willing to tell it in order to make a point. Finishing the manuscript was a great feeling, but before sending it into the publisher I decided to write a brief acknowledgement page, thanking everyone I could think of for their help during the process. I thanked my mom and dad, my wife and kids, the editor, the publisher … my dog, my fish. Then on the last line I wrote a few words thanking my Savior, Jesus. The exact words I wrote were: Even now, as I lay the final garnishing on this labor of love, your leather-bound blueprints for life lay open on the desk beside me … I stopped and reread the words, impressed with my creative use of the language. Then suddenly I got a catch in my spirit. I realized that the sentence wasn’t true. I looked on my desk, and the Bible wasn’t lying open on top of it. It was a simple thing, and I wondered if it really mattered. I chalked it up to creative license and sent in the manuscript. For no apparent reason, the publisher cancelled my contract at the last minute. My editor apologized profusely, explaining that she had never seen this happen before. She encouraged me to seek another publisher, which I did, and within a few months I had another publishing contract. Again the manuscript went through editing and typesetting and cover design. Then a few weeks before it was to go to print, I received word that the publishing house had gone bankrupt. As I was voicing my anger and frustration to God over my misfortune, I pleaded, Why are you doing this to me, Lord? At that very instant God brought a vivid picture to my mind of that day months earlier when I had penned a complete lie on the acknowledgment page of my manuscript. It seemed like such a little thing at the time, but God didn’t see it that way. I will not be mocked, God said to me in my spirit. That day I gave the manuscript to God and promised that I would never dishonor him with my writing that way again. The book sits on my shelf as a reminder of that promise—to make sure I don’t forget this simple but critical principle. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked” (Galatians 6:7, niv).
Today’s Reading Galatians 6:7-8 Reflection Has God ever disciplined you for dishonoring him? How did you respond? How do you make sure that you will remember his lesson?
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