A Stack of Wood

         This stack of wood sits beside a small house (reconstruction) on the Hoskins Homestead (ca 1778), which is part of the site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (1781) in Greensboro, NC, that we recently visited.

         No doubt, these pieces of wood are destined to be fed into the fireplace inside the house to keep the occupants warm and to cook their food.  But, there are times when wood is used for less worthy things.

         In ancient times, carvers would take a piece of wood and fashion it into an idol that people bowed down to and worshipped.  Perhaps, that still happens today in some cultures.  But, back in the day when the Bible was written, the custom was rampant and God was not pleased!  

         "My people inquire of a piece of wood and their walking staff gives them oracles," Hosea 4:12.  This verse would be almost laughable if it weren't true.  If you think about what the statement means, it's very disturbing if not downright horrifying!  

        How can a person expect to get an answer from a piece of wood or a walking stick?  And if they did receive something resembling an answer, where do you think it came from?  Certainly not from God!  That only leaves Satan and his host to whisper false answers in a person's ear.  It's called deception, something the enemy has honed to a sharp edge.

        "What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, the molded image, a teacher of lies..." Habakkuk 2:18.

        An excellent description of a carved idol is found in Isaiah 44:9-20.  It begins with a woodsman cutting down a tree.  He burns half of the wood, warming himself and roasting the meat and baking the bread he eats.  Verse 17, "And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, 'Deliver me, for you are my god!'"

        The prophet writes, "Shall I fall down before a block of wood?  He feeds on ashes."

        The Psalmist also talks about idols as being, "The work of men's hands.  They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths," 135:16-17.

        The very first and second commandments God gave to His people through Moses, read, "You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself a carved image...you shall not bow down to them nor serve them..."

        The prophet Samuel said, "Serve the Lord with all your heart.  And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing," 12:20-21.

        When we read these verses about idols, we usually stand a bit taller and smugly say, "Oh, those misguided people!  I would never worship a silly piece of wood or a statue of silver.  At least I'm not guilty of that sin!"

        Hmmm...  We might need to think about that one before we claim we don't worship idols.  Sure, it may not be a block of wood or stone, but just what is the spiritual definition of an idol?

        An idol can be anything that takes the place of God as the most important focus and priority in our life.  Author Jennifer Slattery writes about idolatry, calling it an "ancient yet modern sin."  Some of the idols she lists on her website are:  Self, Success, Relationships, Wealth, Health, Food, and Comfort.  I would add to that list, Entertainment (video games, TV and movies, cell phones).

        Hey, I'm guilty too.  How many times have I binge-watched an eight-episode show on Netflix?  Then I ask myself, how often do I spend such a chunk of time in Bible study, prayer and praise, or doing something for others in the name of Jesus?

        Consider how many "empty things, which cannot profit or deliver" we have in our lives.  Whatever we feed grows -- whatever we starve begins to die.

        Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."  We need to ask ourselves some serious questions and make sure that we are not "feeding on ashes."