“If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.” – Joshua 23:16
In an article entitled “Idolatry Is Alive Today: Why Modern Church Leaders Still Fight an Old Battle,” Ed Stetzer writes the following: “Idolatry is not just a pagan issue. It is not just an Old Testament or Jewish issue. It is a human issue.”
Is it that a 12-inch tall piece of wood or bronze can do something bad to us? Or is it that we do something awful to ourselves when we place adoration and attention that should go to God in other things?
When it comes to idolatry, the danger is not in an item… it is in us.
It was John Calvin who said our heart is an idol factory. In a fallen world, people constantly seek things they can worship, even though the Creator is before us in plain view.
We are all looking for something to worship and serve. Idols come easy, but go hard.
There is a consistent theme about idolatry throughout the Scriptures—and in our lives as well.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, the Bible describes our new life, our new birth in Christ in this way: “You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Of course, in comparison to a dead and false idol, serving a living God seems like a no-brainer.
Does becoming a worshiper of the one true God mean we no longer have to contend with the issue of idolatry? I wish it were that simple.
Everything that is not of God raises itself up against God, even in the life of a Christian. So we constantly have idol pop-ups in our lives. We have to cast them down, but they will be there as long as we live here on earth.”
Don’t let any idolatry slip into your life. Let the living God be the God of your life.
Today in prayer, thank Jesus that He is worthy of our worship and confess and repent from any sin of idolatry.
“Idolatry is an attempt to use God for man’s purposes, rather than to give oneself to God’s service.” – C.F.D. Moule.
God’s Word: “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” – 1 Corinthians 10:14.
