Check Yourself For Idols

A Christian sister, Adrienne Stearns gave me the main idea for this article. She was troubled that people try to attach so many of the attributes of God to people and things. That is idolatry. When men do that, they create idols for themselves and for others. The powers that we attribute to our idols are a figment of our imagination. Many individuals actually want us to trust in them rather than God.

Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; . . .

Jesus wants to replace every idol first in our hearts and then in our lives. In fact, He wants to be the replacement.

Every mortal man has had a multitude of idols. We have created multitudes more of idols than God has created of people. He is a jealous God. Christians need to examine themselves to see if we have permitted idols to remain in our lives in spite of receiving Christ into our hearts. Many are in denial about their idols. We need to search out anything or anyone that we believe can do for us what God alone can do. We need to turn from our idols and destroy ALL of them. If we are going to turn from them and destroy them we need to recognize our idols for what they are, beggarly and powerless substitutes for God Himself.

I Thessalonians 1:7-9: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Whenever we put anything or anyone ahead of God in importance, even for a moment, we have an idol. We have all been idolaters. If you believe that you have not, you are self-deceived. Unbelievers are full-time idolaters and believers are part-time idolaters. Our flesh is an idolater.

People who believe in evolution are grateful to no one for their existence. They should be grateful to God for their existence. People who believe in astrology believe that the stars are in control of their destiny and not God. People who believe in Mother Earth instead of Father God are idolaters. They believe in a creature rather than the Creator. People who depend upon government to support them ignore the Bible admonitions that we are to work and they ignore the provision of The True Provider. Children who believe in Santa Claus begin early to have faith in people who have not loved them and provided for them. When children believe in super heroes like superman they misplace faith that should be in God alone. Children who believe in genies assign great power to imaginary beings rather than the true and living God.

I think of the dreamy song: Three coins in the fountain, which one will the fountain bless? Fountains don*t bless. God does. For many people money is an idol. TV itself is an idol for many and it can provide many other idols. Even blessings can become idols. Food can be an idol. Exercise can be an idol. Doctors and medications can be idols. Careers and hobbies can be idols. Even Christian service can become an idol. We often put faith in men rather than in God. Believing in ourselves is pride and it is idolatry.

What idols have I clung to? What idols have you clung to?

Care to discuss Check Yourself For Idols with Ron?

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