Did You look in the Mirror?

Acts 8:9-24

Once upon a time there was a magician named Simon who lived in the city of Samaria, and he was very good at his trade, in fact he was so good that the people were amazed, and they said that he was somebody great.  In fact, from the least to the greatest said, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”  And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 

The above is not a bedtime story, in fact you may read doctor Luke’s account in Acts 8: 8-11, and I wonder does Simon desire to be special, to be considered “The power of God” and yet knowing that it was all in the ability to deceive; does that make somebodies name come into your mind?  I bet it does, and yet as we explore such men who seek to be more than they clearly understand to be true about themselves, we can trace the source back to another “not so bedtime” story found in Ezekiel and Isaiah.

Begin with the account of the first prideful creation of God, found in Ezekiel 28:14-17, “You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.”  And this is the prophet Isaiah’s account of the one referred to as the great deceiver or Satan: “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’  But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit. (Isaiah 14:13-15 ESV)

Now let’s return to doctor Luke’s account of Philip bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to Samaria.  When the Samaritans heard the gospel they believed and they were baptized both men and women.  In fact, even Simon believed and after he was baptized he hung out with Philip and was witness to both signs and great miracles, and he was amazed. 

The word got back to the apostles at Jerusalem that the Samaritans had received the word of God, and they sent Peter and John with the intent of laying hands on them and praying that they receive the Holy Spirit.  These new believers had only been baptized in the name of Jesus, and so the apostles laid hands on them and prayed that the Holy Spirit might come on them.  Now Simon has seen wonders and he has believed, but remember this man has been getting his needs met and has used schemes for years to be seen as someone he and God knew not to be true.  So what is this kind of flesh going to do when he sees that the apostles have the ability to pray and lay hands on a person and they receive the Spirit of God? 

This is the account: “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:18-24 ESV)

The above account is the backdrop for all who want to be more than both they and God know to be true, so who came into your mind; someone from what we call history, or someone who you know and must deal with?   Did you look in the mirror, I did, and what I saw was a man who has loved to be considered by others better than both myself and God know to be true.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice