SOGGY-CAKE FAITH
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Heb. 12:2, N.I.V.
Few things are more unpalatable than cake that is not thoroughly cooked. Though tempting-looking on the outside, the inner sogginess can gag you. No amount of frosting will suffice; one bite and the rest is for the dog (if even he'll eat it!).
At one point in Israelite history God referred to Ephraim as "a cake half-baked" (Hosea 7:8, N.E.B.). In verses 13 and 14 He says, "I long to deliver them, but they tell lies about me. There is no sincerity in their cry to me; for all their howling...they are turning away from me."
Insincerity. Can it be cured? It depends, of course, on the root cause. Some insincerity stems from having been backed into a corner with a decision that one isn't ready to make. In that case the only remedy is to be allowed to remake the decision while being given sufficient information to do so. Of course, if a person thinks he already knows enough, the problem becomes immensely complicated. Such was the case with Israel.
God saw that the root cause of the problem was Israel's lack of faith in Him. That was the source of their "lies" about Him. In chapter 14:4, He outlines His plan for their restoration: "I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely" (R.S.V.). They were only half convinced about God's goodness. He would love them to wholeness. But first He would have to persuade them that though "they cry to me for help: 'We know thee, God of Israel,' " they were, in fact "utterly loathsome" (chap. 8:2, 3, N.E.B.). Like soggy cake.
God's methodology hasn't changed. He desires to love us to wholeness, too. So He gave us Jesus. In Jesus we see the Father's love in action; we see forgiveness, acceptance, salvation. Faith springs up in our hearts. We believe! But this is only the beginning. If we stop there, however wonderful the experience, we will end up living in a half-truth. And only half the truth about God can be as harmful as an outright lie.
The answer to this potential dilemma is found in Hebrews 12:2--we need to keep our "eyes fixed on Jesus" (N.E.B.)! Because our understanding of who God is not only began in Jesus; it will also be made complete as we behold the whole truth in Him.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Heb. 12:2, N.I.V.
Few things are more unpalatable than cake that is not thoroughly cooked. Though tempting-looking on the outside, the inner sogginess can gag you. No amount of frosting will suffice; one bite and the rest is for the dog (if even he'll eat it!).
At one point in Israelite history God referred to Ephraim as "a cake half-baked" (Hosea 7:8, N.E.B.). In verses 13 and 14 He says, "I long to deliver them, but they tell lies about me. There is no sincerity in their cry to me; for all their howling...they are turning away from me."
Insincerity. Can it be cured? It depends, of course, on the root cause. Some insincerity stems from having been backed into a corner with a decision that one isn't ready to make. In that case the only remedy is to be allowed to remake the decision while being given sufficient information to do so. Of course, if a person thinks he already knows enough, the problem becomes immensely complicated. Such was the case with Israel.
God saw that the root cause of the problem was Israel's lack of faith in Him. That was the source of their "lies" about Him. In chapter 14:4, He outlines His plan for their restoration: "I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely" (R.S.V.). They were only half convinced about God's goodness. He would love them to wholeness. But first He would have to persuade them that though "they cry to me for help: 'We know thee, God of Israel,' " they were, in fact "utterly loathsome" (chap. 8:2, 3, N.E.B.). Like soggy cake.
God's methodology hasn't changed. He desires to love us to wholeness, too. So He gave us Jesus. In Jesus we see the Father's love in action; we see forgiveness, acceptance, salvation. Faith springs up in our hearts. We believe! But this is only the beginning. If we stop there, however wonderful the experience, we will end up living in a half-truth. And only half the truth about God can be as harmful as an outright lie.
The answer to this potential dilemma is found in Hebrews 12:2--we need to keep our "eyes fixed on Jesus" (N.E.B.)! Because our understanding of who God is not only began in Jesus; it will also be made complete as we behold the whole truth in Him.
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