1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36 / Romans 1:18-32 / Psalm 10:1-15 / Proverbs 19:6-7
When you hear the word “idols” what is your first thought? Do you think of actual statues made of stone or wood? Or do you think of anything that we place ahead of God in our affection? Both are true. Here is the dictionary definition – an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. And another definition is – a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
Most Christians would probably say they don’t have wood or stone figures in their homes that they worship – unless they are unaware of the history of some of the artifacts they’ve collected. However, all of us struggle with placing things, thoughts, feelings, etc. ahead of and above our affection for God.
All through the Old Testament idols are mentioned many times. And almost every time I read about a wooden or stone statue; I think about how absurd it is that anyone would worship a created object as god. Wouldn’t God have been the One who did the creating? What can a statue do? Nothing. It can neither speak nor hear so there is no help offered when you’re in need.
The past two days I’ve come across a couple of verses that show the futility of holding these objects in high regard. Here are a couple of examples of the spiritual value of these items.
1 Chronicles 14:12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.
1 Chronicles 16:26 The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens!
Romans 1:23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
The Philistines abandoned their gods… so, the gods depend on men to carry them? And then they allowed themselves to be burned? Hmmm… that doesn’t sound like a god who could help me with anything!
The gods of other nations are mere idols or elil which means good for nothing or worthless. Again, what can these do to help me when I am in need?
And finally, why would anyone worship what has been created such as people, birds, animals, or reptiles? Would that person not consider that the Creator would be greater than the created?
The answer is that deception does not allow these thinkers to see that God is the Creator and the One to be worshiped instead of the things that He created being worshiped. Their eyes are blind, their ears are deaf and their understanding is darkened by the enemy. Mere logic will not allow one to understand Truth; only God’s Spirit can reveal Truth and open sight and hearing.
As for the things we place ahead of God – the opinions of others, our hurts and struggles, our views of Him that don’t match His true character – these are unseen idols that also need to be addressed. Maybe it’s easier to rid yourself of things that are seen. It is the unseen idols of the heart that are harder to discover and remove. But God is with us to enable us to do just that!
Anywhere you find yourself thinking in a way contrary to God and His Word, you have an idol to remove. And once removed, you must replace that idolatrous thinking with His Truth. Never leave an empty hole because something will attempt to fill it.
Today, I pray you are able to identify at least one area that needs to be uprooted and replaced both with God’s Truth and His Spirit. May you have Grace to walk in freedom!
