Who's Your Idol?

When God said “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” He meant it. “You may worship no other god than me,” says The Living Bible.

In the next verse, Exodus 20:4 God tells us: “You shall not make for yourselves a carved image. . .you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.“ (NKJV).

But haven’t we done that, spiritually speaking? We may not have carved an image out of wood and covered it in gold (as in Isaiah 40 :19) - but we have our idols - we try to serve two masters. It doesn’t work. (See Luke 16:13.)

So what is a modern-day idol? It can be anything that dictates our moves, around which we plan our days, but most of all that dwells in our minds. It can be a person, a job, an activity, a drug, a thing, a TV personality - even a family member, a friend.

Are you more interested in who’s going to be the next “American Idol” or who God wants you to talk to today?

What are you looking forward to? The next episode of ”Lost”? Your next payday?

Is your paycheck your idol? The answer to all your problems? It often does not even pay the bills - in which case - they are what occupies your mind.

God said,
“They will say, ‘Arise and save us’
But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves.
Let them arise,
If they can save you in time of trouble” (Jeremiah 2: 27-28)

So many times God warns us against idols. He says we are harlots when we stray from him and flaunt our attention elsewhere. (See Jeremiah 2:20 - Go ahead, read the whole chapter.)

I am in hope that readers will realize that the Old Testament is as alive and relevant as the New Testament to us in these times. Maybe more so. It supports the age-old story, the good news, the gospel. God never changes. He still wants to rescue us from our slavery.

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth"
(Isaiah 40:21-22a)

It has been said that Isaiah 40 -55 contain the real gospel. I will be reading and studying and sharing those chapters here.

Let God reign in your heart today,
Elizabeth