Identifying the "other gods"

Scripture: But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Observation: In this two sentences, Paul states the problem that some people do not believe the message of salvation, and then directly identifies the reason. The reason is that "the god of this age has blinded the minds" of people. Due to the influences of that unnamed god, a veil prevents people from seeing the light and understanding message of Christ.

And who is this god of this age? We know this from Jesus himself. Other gods are worldly influences that prevent our right attention, reception, and understanding of God's love. They are thoughts, things, and experiences that have taken the place of love within hard hearts - the place where God should dwell - and become the priorities of life. In the days of first century, in Corinth, the god of that age would have been ... sexual pleasure, pursuing riches, respect for philosophical logic, and power within the Roman society hierarchy. And today ...

Application: ... nothing has changed. In the 21st century, the gods of this age are sexual permissiveness, riches, political power, and corporate position. We would probably add to that mind-altering drugs, athletic prowess, leisure time, and social popularity.

How many of these do I invest time into, at the detriment of my relationship with God? I care about my position and my comfort, and I drink alcohol often. These are stumbling blocks - other gods placed in my path by Satan to sabotage our relationship with God and distract us from worship and prayer. It is worse when the pursuit of these things stands in contradiction to the teaching of Jesus, and thus creates a choice in my daily walk. A choice I fail ... not always, but too often.

However, it is by identifying these other gods that I can rightly prioritize my faith as well. When I actively do God's will in the face of temporary praise at work, or when I spend time at night in prayer instead of vegetating in front of a screen, or when I love my family instead of being engrossed in sports. These are ways I can prioritize my faith in Jesus and avoid the blinding veil of the gods of this age.

Prayer: Lord, again I say it, I wish to walk humbly with you this day. Please forgive my sins, and protect me from the other gods that are of this world and would be used to destroy my relationship with you, my father. I seek your hand to guide and protect me. Amen.