Avowed |02/23/2025| Rev. Elation's Sunday Service

The Modern Sodom: A Call to Purity in the Digital Age

Heavenly Father, we come before You today seeking wisdom and strength. Open our hearts to Your Word, that we might see the temptations of this world for what they are and choose the path of faithfulness over fleeting gain. Speak to us now, Lord, through Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today, I want to talk about a story that’s been stirring up a lot of conversation lately—not from the pages of Scripture, but from the world of video games. Some of you may have heard of Avowed, a game developed by Obsidian Entertainment. It’s set in a fantastical world called Eora, where players navigate a land filled with magic, mystery, and moral choices. But what’s got people buzzing isn’t just the gameplay—it’s the drama behind it. Rumors swirl about delays, creative disputes, and corporate pressures from powerful merchants—big companies like Microsoft, which acquired Obsidian a few years back. Fans feel betrayed, wondering if the soul of the game has been sold out for profit, if the vision of the creators has been forsaken for the sake of a bigger paycheck.
Now, I’m not here to judge a video game or its makers. But this saga got me thinking about a deeper truth—a truth that echoes through the pages of God’s Word. It’s the story of forsaking your own for the "devil’s coin," betraying those who trust you in the hope of gaining favor with the powerful. It’s a story as old as Judas Iscariot, and it’s one we’re all tempted to live out in our own way. So let’s turn to Scripture and see what God has to say about it.

"Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over."

Judas had walked with Jesus for years. He’d seen the miracles, heard the teachings, broken bread with the Savior. He was one of the trusted Twelve, the treasurer of the group. But somewhere along the way, his heart turned. John 12:6 tells us Judas was skimming from the money bag—he’d already started chasing the devil’s coin. And when the chance came to cash in big, he didn’t hesitate. Thirty pieces of silver—about four months’ wages for a laborer—was all it took to sell out the Son of God. He forsook his Lord, his friends, his calling, all for a handful of metal.
That’s the devil’s coin, folks. It’s not always literal money. Sometimes it’s power, status, or the approval of the "powerful merchants" of this world—those who hold influence and promise rewards if we just play their game. In the drama of Avowed, we see whispers of this: creators under pressure to please corporate overlords, fans fearing the game’s heart might be traded for broader appeal. It’s a microcosm of a bigger temptation we all face—to trade what’s true and good for what glitters.

But it’s not just about what Judas gave up—it’s who he betrayed. The disciples weren’t just Jesus’ followers; they were his family. They trusted Judas. When he dipped his hand in the dish with Jesus at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:23), it was a sign of intimacy, of loyalty. And yet, Luke 22:47-48 tells us he betrayed Jesus with a kiss—the ultimate stab in the back. Imagine the shock, the hurt, the confusion in the disciples’ eyes as their brother handed their Lord over to death.
When we chase the devil’s coin, we don’t just forsake our own values—we betray those who depend on us. Think about the fans of Avowed, waiting years for a game they hoped would reflect the gritty, soulful storytelling Obsidian’s known for. If those hopes are dashed for the sake of profit, it’s not just a game that’s lost—it’s a trust broken. In our lives, it might be a spouse we let down, a child we neglect, a friend we abandon, all because we’re chasing something shiny that the world dangles before us.

Judas didn’t act alone. He went to the chief priests—the powerful merchants of his day. They had the clout, the connections, the cash. Proverbs 11:6 warns us, "The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires." Judas thought he’d win their favor, secure his future. But what did he gain? Thirty pieces of silver and a legacy of shame. Matthew 27:5 says he threw the money back and hanged himself, realizing too late that the merchants’ favor was a hollow prize.
The merchants of this world—whether they’re bosses, influencers, or systems of power—will always promise more than they deliver. Amos 8:5-6 paints a vivid picture of this: merchants who say, “When will the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?—skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales.” They don’t care about you; they care about what you can do for them. Judas learned that the hard way. Will we?

So what do we do? How do we resist the devil’s coin and stay true to our calling? Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” We’ve got to choose. Will we forsake the fleeting treasures of this world for the eternal riches of Christ?
The drama around Avowed might just be a game, but it’s a mirror. It asks us: What are we willing to trade away? Our integrity? Our relationships? Our faith? Galatians 6:7-8 reminds us, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Judas sowed betrayal and reaped despair. But we can sow faithfulness and reap life.

Let us not sell out. Let us not betray the ones who trust us or chase the favor of those who’ll never satisfy. Instead, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who forsook the devil’s coin and gave everything for us. He didn’t betray us—He bore the cross for us. And He calls us to follow Him, not the merchants of this world.
So today, examine your heart. Where are you tempted to take the devil’s coin? Who might you be betraying to grab it? Lay it down at the feet of Jesus. Choose loyalty over greed, trust over treachery, and God over gold. The world’s merchants will fade, but His kingdom stands forever.
In closing…
Lord Jesus, forgive us for the times we’ve chased the devil’s coin. Search our hearts and show us where we’ve betrayed Your trust or the trust of others. Give us the courage to forsake the world’s empty promises and cling to You, our true treasure. May we live faithfully for Your glory, now and forever. Amen.