The only thing that will keep us from becoming entrapped by media addiction is to become entranced by Jesus. That’s why Christian growth is only sustainable as we “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) and as we remember we have been cleansed from our past sins at the cross (2 Peter 1:9). This is indeed the value of the cross of Jesus Christ. It can cause us to become thoroughly “entranced” with Him and entirely consumed in Him.
Question 4. What do you see when you look at the cross of Jesus Christ? Look closely. Please share your thoughts:
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Charlene writes: "I see eyes that were filled with love, grace and mercy. I see arms outstretched while He hung there, but welcomed me willingly. I see His body on display, having been bruised, battered and beaten for my sins as He became the Lamb of God who took away my sins. I see His pierced side, gushing the life giving water of the Holy Spirit who fills my cup and replaces my empty cups of media and all the things I used before to quench my thirst."
What we should see when we look at the cross is not just a man hanging there in agony and bloody sweat. What we should see are the lengths to which Jesus went to give us His love. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16a).
When we see that we have broken God’s holy law, that we have disobeyed every command He has given us (when we break one we’ve broken them all—James 2:10), and we acknowledge that we are deserving of God’s wrath which is eternal death and punishment, then we are filled with terror and horror at the thought of our destiny. This terror and horror are very real for all who reject Christ, God’s only way of salvation (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
But when we turn, look at the cross, and we see Jesus taking our eternal death and punishment, enduring that same terror and horror that we would have had to endure, and He did it not only to obey His Father completely but also because He loves us dearly, our hearts are relieved and find rest in the finished work of our Savior.
tells us that our guilt was removed because Jesus assumed our sins and our guilt.
tells us that there is absolutely no wrath from God left for us, as Jesus drank the cup of His wrath in its entirety.
tells us that we are accepted by God because Jesus was rejected.
- tells us that we will live forever because Jesus died in our place.
- This, and so much more, is what the cross tells us.
- And it can all be summed up in one word: LOVE!
Galatians 2:20 NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And so it is at the foot of the cross that we become “entranced by Jesus”, captivated by His beauty, and in doing so media addiction literally loses all its shiny appeal. Like the old song says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace
Let’s close our lesson today with the final quote from Sam Storms:
“Why spend time and energy on the character and beauty of God and Jesus? The answer is easy. It is so that you will walk around spiritually dazed, with your mouth wide open and your eyes bulging from your head. Why? Because spiritually stunned people are not easily seduced by sin. People in awe of God find sin less appealing. When you are dazzled by God it is hard to be duped by sin. When you are enthralled by His beauty it is hard to become enslaved by unrighteousness. People whose attention has been captured by the beauty of Christ find little appeal in the glamour of this world. People whose hearts are enthralled with the revelation of God's greatness turn a deaf ear to the sounds of Sirens. They've heard a sweeter song.” Pleasures Evermore, Sam Storms, p. 111
Question 5. Based on the above quote from Sam Storms, what will becoming captured by the beauty of Christ do for you? Please state your answer in relation to media addiction.
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Dear friend, there are eternal pleasures in Jesus Christ.
By seeking Him in His Word, you will discover one thing today that can thrill your heart, yet tomorrow’s discovery will be better than today’s, and the next day will outdo them both, and this will be happening clear throughout all eternity.
Jesus “saves the best for last” (see John 2:10), so that what we’re seeing of Him now is only just the beginning.
There is no one like Jesus! As we finish for today, would you spend a few minutes worshipping with me:
In tomorrow’s lesson, you will have a chance to share something very important for other people, your own story with media addiction and what Jesus is coming to mean to you now.