What/Who Could Be or Is Your Idol?

 Dear Saints:

What/who could be or is my idol? What/who could be or is your idol? You may say what an insulting question. Well, if you don’t ask, and answer the question you will not know what and who is your idol and how deep you are worshiping this idol.

Today as we end the study of John's First Epistle, we are confronted with the issue of idols in our hearts. If idol worship isn't a possibility for Christians, why would Apostle John warn us? Let’s hear apostle John; 1 John 5:18-21 :

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. ¹⁹ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

 ²⁰ We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  ²¹ Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."

I grew up seeing carved images of idols worshiped by our ancestors and animists; seeing sacrifices made to these wooden images. It all looked so stupid to me even as a child. Well that generation has passed in my native culture and land but there are still millions of carved and molded idols in the Asian culture and other cultures all over the world.

Unfortunately, we now have more sophisticated idols and ideologies that are even more controlling than the carved idol images. Don't forget the idols we now hold in our hands, the smartphones could be worshiped and are being worshiped.

Based on our reading today, here is the definition of an idol. Anyone who is not born of God and whose heart is not controlled by the true God, Jesus Christ is worshiping an idol and a false god.

Any worship of anything other than Christ is an idol. Any desire and passion greater than the desire and passion for Christ, the only true God is an idol.

A sister who desired intimacy in her marriage confessed that her desire for a “good marriage” overtook her desire for Christ and it became an idol. She desired the relationship more than she desired intimacy with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Who and what are your idols? Often, the problem that confront you the most and the desire for a solution can become an idol for you. Is it  singleness and desire for marriage or children, good health or anything else?

What about the “American idols” of today? Even the desire for unity and peace at the expense of godly principles in these times of racial tensions and hatred have become idols to many. The presidential election and the desire to see a particular candidate win the white house have also become an idol to many.

Oh now let’s get to the number one idol of all time, money. Countless people in and outside the church are worshiping money. Listen to Jesus: “²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 says money is the answer to everything. That’s why it is the number one idol. When you don’t have much money (poor) and when you have too much money (rich) you can still worship money. It is a very easy, convenient and false god to look unto. Everyone is drawn to money. Please keep in mind that the money you have is not yours but belongs 100% to God; and likewise everything else you have all come from God. We are only custodians.

So where do you and I stand on this spectrum of idol worship? “Little children keep your selves from idols.” Idol worship is a heart issue. Jesus said, “²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21. 

Notice that Jesus did not say where your heart is but where your treasure is. Your heart will follow your treasure and never the other way round. Whatever is consuming you at the moment and your desire to see it happen or changed is your treasure.

We are to give our treasures to God in prayer and actually surrender to Him our money and everything we own and have including all our relationships. 

Even in this COVID-19 lock down and distance learning at home, am reviewing my own desires for my children to do well. My son is struggling seriously with the distance learning and it has become a thing of much concern for me and also his health and well-being.  Lord, I surrender my children to you and let them not become an idol in my heart and life. What is it and/or who is it for you?

Apostle John gave us the recipe in the previous verses on how to keep our hearts from idols by asking and praying God’s will. Let’s pray that God’s will not my will be done in every area and issues of my life and your life. Amen. 

We are also not alone in discerning the idols around us and to keep away from them.  “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.” (1 John 5:20). The Holy Spirit is constantly working with us to warn and give us understanding through the study and reading of God’s word and granting us the grace to obey God’s word.

Also, Jesus spelled how to keep away from idols by saying, “³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Can we do that today and tomorrow and forever? Yes.

We can also send our treasures to heaven ahead of us as we share and proclaim Christ and His gospel of grace to all. It helps when we have a good tool in our hands in the form of gospel tracts especially when you have said to someone all you can say or did not have much time to explain it all. I will encourage you to invest in good gospel tracts and carry them along with you and give out as prompted by the Holy Spirit. Many have put their faith and trust in Christ by reading a gospel tract. Here is a link for some good gospel tracts. www.Goodnewstracts.org

Be reassured, "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them." 1 John 5:18. We will trust and worship "Jesus Christ, the true God and eternal life".

Yes, Jesus Christ is God. Tell it to the Muslims, Mormons and the Jehovah Witness and etc. Amen.