The Gospel & Idols

CONSIDER THIS

Growing up we’ve all had our idols. We know of a family who painted their son’s room bright yellow and green with a wallpaper border featuring the Green Bay Packers — and named their pomeranian Reggie the White dog. Nothing wrong with having childhood heroes. What does matter is who/what is number one in our life.

Isaiah paints a grand picture of the folly of idols. A man cuts down a tree, uses part of it to bake some bread and uses the rest to carve a god to worship — and then bows down to it, crying out, “O my god, rescue me!” It’s just a block of wood. Who but a fool would make his own worthless god? He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” (See Isaiah 44:9-20) 

And yet we still create our own idols today. 

Martin Luther once said, “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god.” The list is endless — money, power,  prestige, your iphone, success, even that person you see looking back at you in the mirror — whatever comes first in your life.

The good news is we can turn to the living God who was not made with human hands. In fact, His hands created us and holds us, protects us and rescues us. He is our Hope, our Security, our Identity and Redeemer. Put God first. Love Him more than anything. You might be thinking: that seems abstract, how do I do that practically? Look at Jesus. Look at Him dying for you. Look at His love for you. Recognize Him. Rejoice in Him. Be melted by Him. Really embrace everything He has done for you until your heart goes out to God and focuses on Him alone. Everything else will just become stuff. Because of Jesus, we are set free.