Here An Idol...There An Idol...

"Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols."      - John Calvin

According to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of idolatry is, "the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing." If you stop and think about it, this covers a pretty wide area of our general society.

This means that we can be idolaters and not even be conscious of it! Think about some "idols" we revere in our own lives, such as our smart phones, television, video games, social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), online shopping, and so forth.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't enjoy these and some of the other marvelous things available to us. What I am suggesting is that when they become top priority in your life above all else, then we are seriously looking at idolatry.

Idols, in the biblical sense, were usually representations of some deity, or supreme being other than God. The Egyptian god Amon, who was usually depicted with a human body and the head of a ram (Jeremiah 46:25).

Moloch, was the national god of the Ammonites, to whom children were sacrificed by fire (Jeremiah 32:35). Dagan, the fish-god of the Philistines (Judges 16:23). And of course, the gold calf forged by the idolatrous Israelites at Sinai (Exodus 32:20).

In both cases, ours today, and those of biblical times, an "idol" is anything that replaces the one, true God. Materialism, or the obsessive acquisition of "stuff" that is bigger and better is a form of idolatry (Luke 12:15).

Personal accomplishments to feed one's ego, self-esteem, or impress others at the sacrifice of all else is idolatry. And when drugs, alcohol, pornography, and food rules over all else, at the cost of job, home, friends, and family, this is destructive idolatry (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

What can we do to avoid falling into idolatry? Foremost, we must place our focus on God. We must make Him the focal point of our lives. We must, as Jesus directed in Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Not surprisingly, Satan is the great director of idolatry and will stop at nothing to ensnare us in it. And though many are able to shake free from idolatry, a good number end up going back. This is due to our own weakness of the flesh (Galatians 5:17).

Freeing ourselves from, or rejecting idolatry is not impossible. But, we have to admit that it is pervasive in our lives. Then we can rebuff or deny it in all forms. Just remember, God is the key that unlocks the shackles of idolatry (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Scripture: Colossians 2:8; Exodus 20:5; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 4:10; 1 Colossians 3:5

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You paid the ultimate price for my salvation; the very least that I can do is to honor You by putting You first always in my heart and mind, amen.

God bless you,

Lauren