A few years ago, my wife Suzy and I were with some friends on our annual bike trip. The weather did not cooperate, so we ended up playing some games. In one of those games, a word came up with which I was not familiar, but now I will never forget: ersatz. According to dictionary.com, it means “serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial”. The game we were playing defined it as “a bad substitute for something.”
On that trip, when a good friend (who shall remain nameless) suggested we have donuts for lunch, I felt that the term ersatz was quite apt. Seriously though, how many people 1) settle for a bad substitute over the genuine article; 2) spend their whole lives pursuing something that pales in comparison to that of true value; 3) give up so much that they can never get back to fulfill a desire or for a moment of pleasure?
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears” (Heb. 12:15-17).
I believe ersatz applies to our spiritual pursuits as well. How many “religious” people are accepting a poor substitute for the true gospel? They seek something that appeases their desires rather than submit their desires to God and His will.
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Tim. 4:3).
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (Gal. 1:6-9).
May ersatz never be an apt description of our spiritual walk.
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