Idols come in various shapes, forms, and sizes, but they have one thing in common: they always remove God from his rightful place. Out of the world’s population, God chose Abraham for a special purpose. God promised to bless him and to give him a son through whom the whole world would be blessed. After a few missteps by him and his wife, Abraham finally realized that special son. Thousands of progeny followed. God eventually delivered his descendants from 400 years of Egyptian slavery and gave them commandments to follow so they wouldn’t fall into the lifestyle of their pagan neighbors. One of the commands forbade them to make an image representing God.
Hundreds of years later, Jeremiah the prophet was forced to rebuke Abraham’s offspring for doing that very thing. To an image carved from a piece of wood they say, “You are my father.” To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say, “You are my mother.” (Jeremiah 2:27 NLT)
By definition, an idol is anything that displaces God from his rightful place. As the one who allowed his Son to give his life for my sins, God deserves the supreme position in my life. Anything that removes him becomes an idol—whether this particular thing or person is inherently evil or not. Things that aren’t sins in and of themselves can become sin for me.
Idols have several things in common. They will always disappoint. Idols never deliver—at least not permanently, what they claim they can. Their satisfaction is only temporary. Letting idols pilfer my attention entails them also embezzling my focus from the areas God wants me to concentrate on. Manufacturing of idols occurs because I’ve believed Satan’s lies and allowed him to plant his influence in my life.
What idols have you carved that are displacing God and his plans and purposes for your life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us wisdom and strength to cast away whatever is displacing You in our life.
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