False Pretenders
A.W. Tozer's sermon 'False Pretenders' explores the deceptive nature of human success and the necessity of true faith in Christ for genuine fulfillment.
A.W. Tozer addresses the deception faced by those alienated from God, emphasizing that true peace and happiness cannot be found in worldly success, wealth, or morality. He highlights the futility of relying on external factors for inner fulfillment, citing the rich young ruler's quest for eternal life as a reflection of this emptiness. Tozer asserts that the human pursuit of success is fundamentally flawed, as it is based on false pretenses. He reminds us that every individual must confront their own spiritual condition and make a choice regarding their relationship with God.
Text
All persons who are alienated from God and outside of Christ are part and parcel of a mighty deception! They are called upon to pretend that they can have peace of mind within and that they can be relatively happy and make a big success of their human lives if they have youth and wealth and morality and high position. In that sense of what is going on all around us, David never had to apologize for writing that "every man is a liar!" The whole human concept of success and happiness and inner peace, based upon who we are and what we have, is completely false.
The rich young ruler who came to question Jesus had wealth, morality, position and youth.
But his very first question gave the clue to his own inner emptiness of life: "What good thing should I do, that I may have eternal life?" He knew very well that there is not a person alive who has eternal youth or eternal position or eternal righteousness. So, like every other man, he had to make a choice!
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Deception of Alienation from God - The False Peace of Mind - The Illusion of Happiness
- II points: - The Nature of True Success - The Role of Wealth and Morality - The Limitations of Human Achievements
- III points: - The Example of the Rich Young Ruler - The Quest for Eternal Life - The Choice Every Individual Must Make
- IV points: - The Reality of Inner Emptiness - The Importance of Authentic Faith - The Call to Genuine Transformation
Key Quotes
“All persons who are alienated from God and outside of Christ are part and parcel of a mighty deception!” — A.W. Tozer
“The whole human concept of success and happiness and inner peace, based upon who we are and what we have, is completely false.” — A.W. Tozer
“What good thing should I do, that I may have eternal life?” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Reflect on what true success means in your life beyond material wealth.
- Consider the areas where you may be pretending to have peace while feeling empty inside.
- Make a conscious choice to seek a deeper relationship with God for true fulfillment.