Idols

A definition for idol is as follows: 1. an object or image used as an object of worship, or 2. a person or thing that is greatly loved, admired, or revered.

“You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” (Exodus 20: 3-5 NLT)

I have been reading the Old Testament prophets lately. God, through His prophets, warned the Jewish nation over and over to repent and return to Him. They had adopted the ways of the people who had lived in their land before they arrived from Egypt. They were worshipping idols and had left God. They were practicing other religions. What really makes this sad is that all God required in order to richly bless the Israelites was for them to obey and follow His decrees. They didn’t obey God and turned away from God which eventually led to destruction of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish people were sent into exile.

You may be thinking, “That will never happen to me. I could never worship a statue.” You may not worship a statue, but you may have other gods you pay homage to.

What about money? Do you work and slave in order to amass a lot of money? Do you neglect your family? Or even worse, do you neglect God? Many succumb to the lure of money. Do you care more about making money and what it can buy than about obeying God?

Do you idolize a celebrity or sports figure? Do you care more about a person, and what he/she says or does, than you care about what God says and does?

How about partying and spending time with your friends? Do your friends get more of your time than God? Do you spend more time listening to secular music, watching TV or movies, or reading novels, than you do with God?

One thing I really struggle with is spending too much money, and spending it on things I don’t really need. I know that I mostly spend money on my children and grandchildren. I can’t promise that I’ll completely change that habit. It gives me pleasure to buy things for my grandchildren and children. I’m sure God gets great pleasure giving gifts and blessings to His children. I’m the first to admit that I’ve been blessed far more than I deserve. I’m going to try to do better.

I believe that God wants us to keep our focus on HIM and not on worldly things. He also wants us to obey HIM and not be distracted by the world.

I believe that the rapture of the church is eminent. I want to be ready. Part of being ready is to shed love of this world and to long for our Heavenly home. Remember Lot’s wife. She turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back. She obviously was longing for the life she was leaving.

Do you have idols other than God? Start now to shed those idols. Yearn for Heaven.