Idols and Idolatry

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Have you picked up on our culture’s view of idols? The word “idol” has been completely disassociated from the word “idolatry.” Christ followers cringe at the mention of idolatry. It reminds us of golden calves or other created things that are worshipped by heathens. We think idolatry is sinful because our worship is to be directed to God alone. But let me ask you an important question: Do you feel the same way about idols?

We have a lot of idols in our culture, don’t we? Hollywood stars, beauty queens, sports figures, radio and television personalities all vying for our attention. So, in return for all their “hard work,” we give them exactly what they want — our attention.

We’ll sit for hours in front of the “boob-tube” [that's what one of my former pastors called the television] to watch anything that features our favorite personality. We follow their every Tweet and FaceBook post. Back in the 1950’s, we had a term that characterized that mindset: a “teen idol.”

We need to be reminded just what an idol is. It isn’t merely a false god to whom we bow down in worship. An idol is anything we value more than the Lord Jesus Christ. By its nature, an idol is a distraction; whatever lures our eyes away from God. Of course, when we turn our eyes away from the true and living God, our lives begin to spiral out of control. 

Stop the distractions! Repent and forsake them. Pray that you won’t be blind sided by idols that deter you from joyful communion with our holy God, His dear Son Jesus, and the powerful, eternal Holy Spirit. 

You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;  you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.  Exodus 20:3-6