Friday, April 24, 2020

Idols




IDOLS

The picture above shows the goddess Artemis, a cult figure in ancient Ephesus, and the ruins of one of the temples where she was worshiped.  Artemis is just one of many false gods/idols that have been worshiped over the ages.  Sadly, idol worship is still happening today.  The Bible has much to say about idol worship.

The very first command in the Ten Commandments is, "You shall have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3.  Because it is so important, the second command follows suit:  "You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them."

What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” Habakkuk 2:18-20

Idol worship does not only consist of worshiping a false god.  We are to be very careful not to put love of anything before our love for God.  The song writer William Cowper captured that timeless message in his song, “Oh, For a Closer Walk with Thee,” (in 1772).

        The dearest idol I have known,
        whate'er that idol be,
        help me to tear it from Thy throne
        and worship only Thee.

You and I are not likely to bow down to a statue of Artemis or Buddha, or any such carved image, but how often do we put people, activities or even dreams before our worship and obedience to God?  We need to always remember to place God on the throne of our hearts.

"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" Revelation 4:11.



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