I remember the first time I ever came face to face with real Idol worship. It was during my first mission trip in High school. We were in Bangkok Thailand and passed by some temples (which were actually everywhere) as we were sightseeing. (See the picture I took above!) I grew up reading Bible stories and hearing about people in ancient times that worshipped idols. And I grew up hearing about the people in foreign lands that bowed down and worshipped idols. But growing up hearing these things and then seeing it in reality with your own eyes is vastly different. The solemn reverence with which the worshipers approached the golden idols was amazing, and the devotion that was evident in their eyes was saddening. Many of them spent hours prostrate on their faces before the idols in worship, and many were probably pleading for forgiveness for past wrongs. I was astounded and heart broken."How can these people worship something made of stone? How can they pour their lives away before a lifeless statue? These people need Jesus!" I cried. No one answered, and my peers tried to console me gently. After all, it was my first glimpse of idol worship…and I was just a child.
Many years have come and gone since that first real life exposure to idol worship…and my heart still cries. But it's not just crying for the people in foreign lands anymore…it's crying for the people of our own land. We, the civilized religious citizens of the Western world live in a land of idol worship. In fact, sometimes, I am shocked to even discover idols in my own home…
Idols in our world come in various shapes and sizes…and they aren't usually images of stone like in old times. Sometimes they are giant, and sometimes they are quite small. Sometimes they even live and move and breath…things alive, yet very far from God.
We were just returning from our trip out West a few days ago when this gigantic structure loomed on the horizon. From a distance it looked like a large space-craft had landed. "What's that?" my little niece asked. Without even stopping to think, I replied… "It's an idol…a very large idol!" (It was actually the Phoenix Football Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals. And that thing was massive!) In fact, it was sooo impressive, I kinda had this mixture of awe and appalling sadness as we drove by. (See the YouTube: Idol Worship Then & Now to see what I mean)"Why do you say it's an idol?" asked my inquisitive little friend. And so I began to explain to her how an idol is anything that takes our time and focus away from God and the eternal priorities of heaven. She was somber and deep in thought as she listened. And I was somber and deep in thought as I spoke.
Lest we be too hard on others in our modern world , what about the idols of our own homes and the idols that we still cling to in our own hearts? Are there things in our lives that we don't think we could live without….things we have unknowingly come to worship?? The T.V. maybe, staying abreast on the latest talk radio or news, following a celebrity, Facebook, gaming, surfing the web (which by the way is one of the biggest sports American's play now days!). Maybe it's a certain style of life, a certain style or brand of clothes, certain food, trying to attain a certain career, a relationship, a status…or maybe we've made "ministry" our idol - since it strokes our ego and puts us on a self-righteous pedestal with others and God. Speaking of self-righteous, I think the biggest unchecked idol is often ourselves. This one is so often overlooked, yet unless God truly has control, we are naturally inclined to please our-SELVES and live for our-SELVES and worship our-SELVES!! It's not about God anymore but about us…and about us trying to get Him to endorse our actions with His stamp of approval! If that doesn't constitute the truest form of "I"-DOL worship - I'm not sure what does!
This past year, after an hour of united prayer at one of the conferences we were covering, someone brought us a expensive watch that had been left in the room. At first we thought someone had forgotten the watch by accident, but then we found a note that had been left with it. It went like this:
"This watch has not been forgotten but is being surrendered. I knew better and I should never have bought it. It has become an idol to me. There have been many layers in my heart between me and God, but now there is one layer less. Praise the Lord. Ezek 36:26"
The one who surrendered the watch back to God did not leave their name - why? Probably because they no longer needed a pat on the back from man. They were looking alone for the approval of God. And isn't that the way it should be for all of us? Too often we live for the approval of men (or those around us) rather than that of God! (I know this has been my own struggle…I get too concerned with what people think and forget to ask what God thinks! I forget that it's for His glory alone that I live.) What a testimony and quiet rebuke that "surrendered watch" has been to me and to countless others.
Since then, we've seen people so impacted in prayer that they've given up expensive cameras, jewelry, music, destructive relationships, their life savings…one young man even gave up his long hair...not because we (or anyone else) told him too, but because God convicted him to let go of his idol. Others I know have walked away from successful careers that fostered pride and power to careers that required sacrifice but reached others for eternity. And I could share testimony after testimony...
The official definition of an "idol" is actually: "Something that takes the place of God, Any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion."
In the scripture time and time again we are admonished, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) Inspiration goes on to tells us:
"Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god. Idolatry exists in the church-goers today as verily as in the days of Noah. But when His commands are obeyed, the human family will be elevated, ennobled, and exalted. O that you would search the Scriptures with prayerful hearts, and a spirit of surrender to God! O that you would search your hearts as with a lighted candle, and discover and break the finest thread that binds you to worldly habits, which divert the mind from God! Plead with God to show you every practice that draws your thoughts and affections from Him. God has given His holy law to man as His measure of character. By this law you may see and overcome every defect in your character. You may sever yourself from every idol, and link yourself to the throne of God by the golden chain of grace and truth." Maranatha, p. 48
It's easy to always point the finger at others. (I'm pretty good at it myself!) It's easy to excuse ourselves because of the day and age in which we live…after all, idols are accepted and applauded and celebrated in our culture. And if you've ever spent much time gazing at them, you have to admit they really are quite fascinating. Like Princess Diana, for example. I don't know of her being a follower of Christ, but her life was enchanting to follow….and millions did, as they have countless others. Is it any wonder the rich and famous celebrities of the world (and those striving for that status as represented by the picture above) have become an idol to so many around the world?!
I think it's interesting that another definition of an "idol" is: "A mere image or semblance of something, visible but without substance, as a phantom, a figment of the mind; fantasy."
You see, all the idols of the world are only passing semblances of something, but they have no substance in and of themselves. Just like phantom pain is indeed real for an amputee (and yet it's only a figment of the mind), the idols we embrace in our day and culture do give the semblance of real joy…but they are without lasting substance. They are a phantom that brings pleasure, but in light of eternity they are chaff in the wind.
The real One deserving of our worship and adoration is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The One that stretched out the Heavens by His great power and breathed the stars into place. (Jer 32) The One that gave up His life to rescue ours - the ultimate love story. The One whose abiding presence is no phantom, but brings joy everlasting and peace eternal! Once you've experienced what Jesus Christ is, how could you settle for anything less? And once you've experienced what Jesus Christ has to offer, how could you keep it to yourself??
Let me share some profound thoughts a friend just wrote in regards to idols:
Recently, God led me to surrender an idol in my life. It was not something evil or something condemned in God’s Word and so for the longest time I didn’t even realize it was an idol. I always thought idols were things that were wrong – like an ungodly relationship, an addictive habit, a TV or sports icon, or the like. But the thing God was convicting me about was a deeply spiritual friendship that was a huge blessing in my life. I considered it to be a gift from God. But even God’s gifts can become idols in our lives when we 1) allow them to fulfill needs in our heart meant to be filled only by God, 2) when we allow them to distract us from Him, or 3) when we refuse to give the gift back to God. This last form of idolatry is described by Oswald Chambers - “Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.” So even good gifts that have been given to you must be offered back to God in open hands. If we hold tightly to the gift, it is an idol. God wants us to hold it in open hands saying, “God, here is the gift. Take it if you choose.” And often it is not until God asks us to take our gift to the altar of sacrifice – like Abraham took the gift of Isaac to Mount Moriah – and we offer it there that God proves that the gift is not an idol to us.
The real One deserving of our worship and adoration is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The One that stretched out the Heavens by His great power and breathed the stars into place. (Jer 32) The One that gave up His life to rescue ours - the ultimate love story. The One whose abiding presence is no phantom, but brings joy everlasting and peace eternal! Once you've experienced what Jesus Christ is, how could you settle for anything less? And once you've experienced what Jesus Christ has to offer, how could you keep it to yourself??
Let me share some profound thoughts a friend just wrote in regards to idols:
Recently, God led me to surrender an idol in my life. It was not something evil or something condemned in God’s Word and so for the longest time I didn’t even realize it was an idol. I always thought idols were things that were wrong – like an ungodly relationship, an addictive habit, a TV or sports icon, or the like. But the thing God was convicting me about was a deeply spiritual friendship that was a huge blessing in my life. I considered it to be a gift from God. But even God’s gifts can become idols in our lives when we 1) allow them to fulfill needs in our heart meant to be filled only by God, 2) when we allow them to distract us from Him, or 3) when we refuse to give the gift back to God. This last form of idolatry is described by Oswald Chambers - “Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.” So even good gifts that have been given to you must be offered back to God in open hands. If we hold tightly to the gift, it is an idol. God wants us to hold it in open hands saying, “God, here is the gift. Take it if you choose.” And often it is not until God asks us to take our gift to the altar of sacrifice – like Abraham took the gift of Isaac to Mount Moriah – and we offer it there that God proves that the gift is not an idol to us.
Thanks Staci, for sharing the thoughts above! In closing, let me share one of my favorite verses.
"And this is Life Eternal, that they might know THEE, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
"And this is Life Eternal, that they might know THEE, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
As we stand on the edge of eternity, let us ask God to put the search-light on our heart and life and show us what idols we may be still holding on to, what things we have put in place of Him…for we want nothing to keep back the blessings that He is just waiting to give. We want nothing to keep us from Him!!!
"Beware of procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss. I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger—a danger not sufficiently understood—in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God’s Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is. Sin, howeversmall it may be esteemed, can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction." Steps to Christ, p. 32
"Beware of procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss. I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger—a danger not sufficiently understood—in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God’s Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is. Sin, howeversmall it may be esteemed, can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction." Steps to Christ, p. 32
"Lord, teach us how to worship YOU and only YOU! Amen…"
2 comments:
I'm going to expand your definition of an idol.
Recently, God led me to surrender an idol in my life. It was not something evil or something condemned in God’s Word and so for the longest time I didn’t even realize it was an idol. I always thought idols were things that were wrong – like an ungodly relationship, an addictive habit, a TV or sports icon, or the like. But the thing God was convicting me about was a deeply spiritual friendship that was a huge blessing in my life. I considered it to be a gift from God. But even God’s gifts can become idols in our lives when we
1) allow them to fulfill needs in our heart meant to be filled only by God,
2) when we allow them to distract us from Him, or
3) when we refuse to give the gift back to God.
This last form of idolatry is described by Oswald Chambers -
“Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.”
So even good gifts that have been given to you must be offered back to God in open hands. If we hold tightly to the gift, it is an idol. God wants us to hold it in open hands saying, “God, here is the gift. Take it if you choose.” And often it is not until God asks us to take our gift to the altar of sacrifice – like Abraham took the gift of Isaac to Mount Moriah – and we offer it there that God proves that the gift is not an idol to us.
Thanks Staci! That was powerful thoughts and I really resonated, as I've experienced the same. I hope you don't mind, but I put these thoughts into my blog posts itself as I think it is so fitting!
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