Shiny objects appeal to us all! It's inherited for we all are a composite of all who came before us. Since Adam's blood still flows in each of our veins, we have genes which predispose us to shiny objects. For Adam the "shiny object" was the forbidden fruit. He wanted to know what God knew and as such the devil proclaimed "you shall be as gods". His shiny object was god-hood. A major Christian heretical sect offers the promise of being God on ones own planet is the shiny object of some.
Shiny objects are anything which attracts the eye of a person and distracts from the things which appear to have less luster. Shiny objects glow from the surface of superficial things with what's ugly still inside. Many objects are dull until they're polished and then shine gloriously! It takes wisdom and insight to identify what is truly shiny inside while ignoring the shallow layer of brilliance on the outside. The ability to shield oneself from shiny objects is called "discernment".
"Discernment"is in a practical sense, having the ability to quit gazing at what's shiny and look at things from a less jaundiced viewpoint. In Christianity, it's looking for rightness and truth hidden behind the things the flesh desires.
For some beauty is the shiny object. Man's kryptonite has always been desire for sexual gratification. Usually it's proportional to the person whose beauty is most radiant. For normal men women are the "shiny object" and the more beauty she has the more shiny the object and the stronger the longing to be satiated with her radiance. A discerning person looks beyond what's outward to the beauty within. Sure, she can still be shiny on the exterior, but for that shine to be radiant, she must have inner beauty. The chore is to ignore the outward shine and look at the whole "diamond". It may sparkle, but have carbon inside which dulls is translucence. The suitor is best advised to get close and with a loupe look within that beautiful diamond of a woman and see what's inside!
To be truthful, when I first met her my wife, she was a mere shiny object. She matched the mental image of my desire which my mind created. I found my shiny object when I wasn't even looking. "I found her!" I thought. What if it had been her evil twin sister we now joke about? I would have ended up with a rock with foil wrapped around it. I sometimes refer to myself as "shallow", but I'm actually insightful. Before I married my mate I looked deeply within. She was beautiful throughout. Sure there is some "carbon" in there because we all have it, but that minor darkness was obliviated by the superb indices a true diamond has! I got not only beauty, but it was not her evil twin sister. She was my soulmate!
Adultery is looking too long at the shiny object. The devil puts those shiny objects everywhere. The entertainment industry is full of them and many women who we encounter every day are splinters from those shiny object. Satan wants them to be aplenty so that we stare constantly at what's shiny. Sometimes people look at the shiny objects so intensely that their own mate seems to lose her shine. It's still there, even when the dazzle leaves the surface! If we look at our mates with the will of God in our eyes, we still see the luster from within. God polishes that woman with scripture and for the woman to remain lustrous inside, a daily polishing is needed!
What I say for women applies to men as well. However, men shine differently than women on the outside, but the sparkle inside is the same. When we see a beautiful woman with an uncomely man, we don' see a shiny object there, but she is looking more closely at the sparkle within!
Satan uses money to be shiny objects. He uses power and prestige; even job opportunities and promotions. They can all be shiny objects. In GM my shiny object at one time was "promotion". Most of us desired that. I was offered eleven promotions all of which I turned down because I looked beyond the brilliance and saw the darkness inside. Promotion would take me to places I didn't want to be such as Detroit. Not only that, but God and family were my priorities, and promotions would pale them in comparison! I turned my head from the shiny object and things turned out well! God provides for those who quit staring at shiny things.
Shiny things are doctrines too! It seems to be the easy routes to heaven. There is a gate for the pilgrim to walk. It''s a plain and narrow gate. It's simple and uncomplicated. It's by grace that we enter that gate because of the blood on it's posts. It's not attractive at all and persecution is assured. On the other hand, there is a wide gate. It's the "shiny object" which attracts most people!
Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat..."Jesus (who said this) was pointing at the gate without the shiny object. It's the wide gate and the broad path which most people take. The "shine" is the deception that the wide gate is the easy route; the one without obedience and perseverance. The shiny object is on the wide gate of disobedience and pleasure. The shine which attracts is to believe whatever it is you choose to believe and you can enter the gate. The shine is to wait until the last minute to submit, knowing that the last minute will never come. The shiny object is also that God overlooks sins even when you're not sorry. The shiny object is that God is only love and never punishment. The shiny object is that Christianity is all prosperity, and on and on!
That wide gate with the shiny object doesn't lead to heaven. It's the path of destruction!
Temptation is when the devil scatters his shiny objects so that they get your attention. When one shiny object is taken, he just scatters more until you live for shiny objects!
Shiny objects are deceptions. They are things which you believe will make you happy or provide pleasure. Inside these shiny objects is bitter gall. You pick them up, dine on them and then the taste is not very satisfying. You look for more shiny objects, hoping to get satisfied. In fact the devil scatters them around prolifically! The path is made wide by shiny objects strewn all around. That path is the way to destruction, but the foolish go there anyway!
Discernment is using a sword to test these shiny objects before they are picked up and taken with you. It's the word of God which is the sword and it's to test everything!
1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."When you see that shiny object it offers something for your pleasure. Pick it up, bite on it to test it, but never chew. It may kill you! Shiny things are most often hazardous to your health and are put in your way for you to self-destruct. Sure, it may be a drug or something of that nature, but usually the shiny object is more subdued. It may be wrong doctrine or even the type of music which shines forth at you! You must test it with scripture!
Scripture does offer one shining object. It's Light which shines forth truth. The Light is Jesus Christ and he outshines even the brightest shiny object. However, other shiny objects are seen with the eyes even closed, but to see this shiny object you must open your eyes to see the Light! Open those eyes; look around; it's Jesus who is the brightest "shiny object" and he encloses truth. There is no darkness in him!
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