Sunshine.
Beaches.
Mountains.
Wealth.
Pleasure.
Leisure.
Image obsession.
World class cities and attractions.

What do all these have in common? These are some of the hallmarks of the physical and cultural landscape of where I live.

Lately, I have been thinking about the culture here in Southern California.

The weather is nice most of the year, we are surrounded by natural beauty and (for the most part) economic, cultural, artistic and social opportunities that much of the country and the world do not have. While some would disagree, we are a region with unparalleled wealth. And this wealth defines the culture.

When it comes down to it — the average person in our area, is pursuing pleasure.

New experiences
Comfortable living
Entertainment
Fitness
Financial wealth
Good times

Because these are cultural norms in our society here, it’s really easy to make life about pursuing pleasure and comfort and good times. It’s pretty normal. No one would think twice about it. In a land that is full of the wealth of opportunity — why wouldn’t you be pursuing pleasure and comfort and good times?

The beautiful thing about the Word of God is that it speaks into every culture, at every time in history, to every one who is willing to listen.

I Timothy 6 talks about what happens to people who pursue riches

“(9)…those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which DROWN men in destruction and perdition.

(10)For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

While there is nothing wrong with being rich — or living in a beautiful, comfortable place, full of opportunity — there is a warning for those who pursue, or chase after riches.

Those who chase after riches or other things fall into two kinds of traps:

Foolish lusts:

We can lust for, or desire things that are not necessarily bad, just dumb.
Some people define their lives by the kingdom they are building on Minecraft;
Or the number of pounds they have lost, or the weight they have lifted at the gym. Or the number of followers they have on Twitter.

These dumb desires can so infect us, that can we make things that do not count —
the only thing that matters.

What was only a game, has become our obsession. Our main pursuit in life.

Harmful lusts:

In addition to foolish lusts, we can be overtaken by harmful lusts.

The lust for sexual encounters outside of Biblical marriage.
The lust for the euphoria or the comfort of intoxication through alcohol or drugs.
The lust for financial gain (or it’s dishonest cousin, financial security).
The lust for conquest, position, power and the pride it brings.

These are harmful lusts — that can easily become the pursuit of our lives.

Here is the scary thought — whether you are pursuing something that is actually harmful, or just dumb — the result can be the same: These pursuits can destroy us.

Why? Because if we are pursuing something other than Christ — that thing is our god.

That thing that you are pursuing, whether it be success, sex, a relationship, your children, a career, or something stupid and frivolous — if it is the idol of your life, has the potential to destroy you as it separates your heart from Christ.

Because if Jesus Christ is God, and we are serving another, we have no place in His kingdom.

Here is a good way to find out where your heart is: Ask a friend, someone who will be honest with you — “What is my life about? What do I give my time, energy, thought life to? What is the over-arching theme of my life goals? Pleasure? Wealth? Comfort?”

Whatever your life is about, is what you worship. If you are worshipping something other than Christ, it will not go well for you in eternity.

So what are we supposed to do?

(11)But you, O man of God — FLEE from these things and PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness.

The picture here isn’t one of running away in terror.
It’s instead chasing violently after the things of the Kingdom of God. We are called to chase after and pursue the things of God — just as intently as a cheetah would chase down it’s prey. Like a hunter in pursuit.

Hunters get up early.
Stay out all night.
Crouch in hiding in inconvenient, uncomfortable places for hours at a time.
Invest time and money.
Are generally obsessed with their task.

Instead of pursuing and chasing after foolish or harmful things — we are to chase after and relentlessly pursue the Kingdom of God.

Jacob was a man who knew what it meant to be relentless.

Genesis 32 tells the story.

One night a man attacked Jacob
They wrestled all night long
The man touched Jacob’s hip and put it out of joint — but Jacob wrestled on.
As light began to dawn the man said: “Let me go”.

Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me”.

“What is your name?” the man said.

“Jacob”.

The man said: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Jacob didn’t realize that he was really wrestling with God that night. He had taken hold of God Himself, and received the blessing.

The blessing Jacob received was a new name, and a new walk.

Jacob’s name meant “heel catcher” or “deceiver” or “crafty fellow”.
From that day though he would be called “Israel” which means “Prince with God”.
And after that fight, Jacob would walk with a limp for the rest of his life.

Here is how we win : We take hold of Christ.

We fight the good fight of faith by clinging to Christ. By pursuing Him.
As we lay hold of Him, He changes the way we walk.
He changes our nature, and our name.

Maybe your name, what you are known for is foolish or harmful.
But in Christ that can all be changed.
Instead of “fool” He can change your name to “Man of God” or “Woman of God”.

Maybe you are walking confidently, yet foolishly toward destruction.
As you encounter Jesus, he will forever change the way you walk.
You might walk with a “limp” in humility and dependence on Him, but it’s the only way to walk in victory.

What are you pursuing, what is your life about?

Take hold of your inheritance, of the things that God has called you to.
Talk hold of Christ Himself.
As you do, your name and the way you walk will be forever altered.