Psalm 97

Psalm 97
English Standard Version (ESV)

  My son has a number of stuffed bears.  Imagine that you are playing with a stuffed bear, unaware of the fact that it might be an image of a real bear, and the real thing is infinitely more lifelike and amazing and awesome than the stuffed image, but because you can't really fathom the real thing and because you haven't actually seen it, you content yourself with the fact that the stuffed animal is as real as it gets.
  You'd be in for a big surprise when the real bear showed up, right?
  In the same way, we content ourselves by playing with imitations of God, things that promise to fulfill our deepest desires without having the ability to do so, but if we don't recognize how short they fall, we will be in for a big surprise when the mountains melt at the presence of the Lord.  We will cower in fear out of our folly.
  So the pleasures of this earth are not bad--they just need to remain in their place, and we need to not forget that God is all-powerful and mighty and victorious, and He (and he alone!) is worthy of our ultimate praise.

  May we have discerning hearts today