What's Your Idol?

 

"What's Your Idol"
Mixed Media: Digital/AI

A Christian thought to ponder…

Do you have idols in your life? Do you obsess over things? Do you have something in your life that occupies your heart and mind constantly? What’s your idol?

Idols and Obsessions of the Heart

What is an idol? An idol is something that you worship daily. Idols in the Bible were false gods made of silver, gold, wood, stone, or other materials; they were inanimate objects made by human hands (Psalm 115:4–8). People would trust, elevate, and worship these objects, made with their own hands, above God, the Creator of all things. And just as Lucifer did, you can also elevate yourself to be like God. As written in Isaiah 14, it testifies to the prideful fall of Lucifer and how he was cast down.

Isaiah 14:13-14 (ESV)

You said in your heart,  ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God, I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will make myself like the Most High.’

An obsession is considered an idol if it has led to an unhealthy fixation on something that leads to neglecting other areas in your life and has been elevated above God. It is something that constantly plagues your mind, consumes your time, and you rely on it for comfort. For example, constantly playing video games, being constantly on your cell phone, constantly browsing social media or watching television; an unhealthy fixation over your past regrets, food, money, power, work, hobbies, gambling, drugs, or alcohol; and as seen in the world today people can be obsessed over people, celebrities, pop stars, or political leaders. If  you have become so dependent, addicted, and intoxicated over something that it is the only thing that you think about or want in your life, and it has become the star in your life, instead of God, it has become an idol.

God Warns Us

The word "idols" occurs 101 times in the King James Bible. There are warnings throughout Scripture about worshipping idols. In Deuteronomy 8:19, God warns the Israelites not to worship other gods and serve them, or they will perish.

Deuteronomy 8:19 (ESV)

And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.

Time and time again, the Israelites were warned not to worship idols and other gods. The punishments they received from God is an example for us as to what can happen to you if you do not heed God’s warnings (1 Corinthians 10:11). Idols are an abomination to the Lord (Deuteronomy 27:15). God warns us to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). In Jonah 2 we are told that if you hold devotion and attention to vain idols, you forsake your hope of steadfast love (Jonah 2:8 ). Idol worshipping will only bring you misery.

Can Idols Make You Truly Happy

Do you think your idol can save you or make you genuinely happy? Worshipping idols can lead to physical ruin – brokenness, pain, suffering, death, and judgment. Idols will not set you free, nor will they save you. But what they will do is drop you to your knees and entrap you into a life that is chained to lies, deceit, and manipulation. They masterfully convince you that you cannot live your life without them and give you false hope. They persuade you into thinking that they will give you everything you need and your heart’s desire. They deceive  your heart and mind, convincing you that without them in your life, your life will be empty, broken, unfulfilled, and hopeless.

So, are you placing your hope in human hands, worldly things, or in Jesus Christ? Are there idols in your life that rule your heart? Ask the Lord to help set you free from these idols that rule your heart, mind, and soul, and as we are instructed in 1 John 5, keep yourselves from idols.

 1 John 5:21 (ESV)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols

Heavenly Father,

We come before you to confess we have allowed things to rule our hearts, minds, and souls, and have elevated these things above you. Please give us the strength to turn away and flee from these idols that rule our hearts and to live a life that is devoted to you alone. Your greatest commandment that you have given us is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” help us to be obedient to this command and seek you for our comfort and hope and not to rely on the things of this world.

Amen.

Have a Blessed Weekend!

Carol Moore