KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 02 May 2013

Hi all, 

Yesterday's Idols - Some still with us

According to Webster’s Dictionary an idol is:-

1.     An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold. - The gods of the nations are idols. Psalm 96.

2.     An image. - Nor ever idol seemed so much alive.

3.     A person loved and honoured to adoration. The prince was the idol of the people.

4.     Anything on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment. - Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21

5. A representation.

Yesterday's Golden Cow

Webster goes on to say, “An idol is anything which usurps the place of God in the hearts of his rational creatures”. It follows that many people, throughout the world are idolaters.

A National Deity

Think for a moment about the people of South Africa. Perhaps we don’t bow down to Baal, or worship Molech. Instead we worship our favourite rugby team. The Bulls, the Sharks, the Cheetahs, the Springboks. We have special places of worship for their followers. The Wanderers, Loftus, and Newlands qualify in this league. Our traditional rugby rivals, the All-Blacks, start every game with the “Hakka”; a traditional song of worship to one of their local deities. 

The Haka

We worship our cars, pastors, sports stars, cricket teams, bioscope (cinema) stars and TV programmes. Few of us will be unfamiliar with the TV programme “Dallas”. It had such a grip on the nation; few folk were available for other purposes. Normal life was suspended while people gazed in silent adoration of their TV gods. Even today the expression, “Who shot JR?” remains as a sort of “introit” to the worship of these “super-folk”.

Sacrifice Baby to Molech

We no longer throw our young babies into the fiery red outstretched hands of Molech to be consumed in the flames. Instead, we leave them to their own devices, to play games or chat on “Mix-it”. They to send messages and photographs to each other. Go for a drive with children. Their heads are all bowed in worship of the “gods” available on the cellular network. It seems the art of intelligent conversation has deserted us.

What has happened to the worship of our Creator? His name is peddled on radio and TV to attract the gullible. Genuine worship has been replaced by entertainment. Slick preachers strut across the stage encouraging people to pour their wealth into the hands of their respective “ministries”. The preachers are accompanied by talented musicians, who do what they can to “wind up” the congregation, to respond to the charm and guile of the big named speaker. 

Thd Golden Cow

Worship of the Golden Cow continues at a frenetic pace, with hundreds of people gathered round its udders to lap up “prosperity”. Frankly it’s obscene. The people are fleeced, so that the few may live a lifestyle contrary to that of Jesus. 

One Armed Bandit
Slot Machine

Looking at the faces of many of the worshipers, you can’t fail but to recognise the similarity to the faces of punters sitting at the “one armed bandits” (slot machines) of our legalised Casino’s!

We are forced to the conclusion that our world is as full of idolatry as it has always been. The “god” is the same. The only difference is the style and ways of worship. Today’s meditation takes another look at this.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 02 May 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS
The Apostle John made an interesting statement in his first epistle. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:21 KJV What is fascinating about the comment is what so many people had learned. They accepted that which was happening around them, as normal. History confirms that conditions in the Roman Empire were similar to what we see around us now. All that appears to have changed is “who?” and “why?” We are a strange people. We soon become adjusted to that which is happening where we are. We are told by holocaust survivors that life in the camps was terrible. But in order to survive, it was necessary to live in it and through it. We are told that the prison camp guards went home in the evening, to sing Christmas carols and play with their children. For them, their monstrous behaviour and lifestyle had become “normal”. One prisoner stated that Camp commanders we so convinced that the Jews were sub-human, they wanted the Allies to join them in their fight with the Russians. We find such behaviour so contradictory to the Christian way of life that we are repulsed by such stories. Standards usually deteriorate with the passing of time. Things which were unacceptable fifty years ago are seldom seen as wrong in society today. Biblical history describes the conditions in Judah during the prophet Habakkuk’s lifetime. He was horrified by what he saw. In many ways it was similar to what we see in and around us today. He took his complaint to God and asked for justice. God already knew about it. The people were following a god of their own imagination: a deity who permitted them to do anything they wanted. The book of Judges tells us; 25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25 NLT This attitude has been consistent throughout history. The Lord sees it as idolatry: worshipping our own god! There comes a day when he decides that enough is enough. That’s when He acts in ways we seldom like! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:21 KJV 26 O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways. Proverbs 23:26 NLT 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 ESV 3 "Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? Ezekiel 14:3 NLT 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 NIV 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:9-11 ESV 10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Psalms 62:10 ESV 19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! Proverbs 8:19 NLT 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21 NLT 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT	Idolatry; Idolatry, we see it everywhere. It seems to be so prevalent; it gives us quite a scare! We see it on the bill-boards; we see it on the news. We see it in our households. It permeates our views. Large screen television with a great big fancy screen; Watching our “soap operas” to see how “good” they’ve been. All those famous characters - we hunger after more. That’s whom we bow down to; to worship and adore. Murder and hijackings, corruption and deceit. Such enormous quantities, it clearly can’t be beat. Steal from the Receiver. Don’t pay income tax Schoolwork is impossible for discipline is lax. Undermine authority. It’s better to be free? Anything we think is right is how it has to be. This is what was happening in Israel that day. Habakkuk was watching. He didn’t like the way, People were behaving. Just as bad as us. “Lord what are You doing? Lord please cause a fuss! Change what is occurring!” “I’ve got it all in hand! Babylon is coming to sanitise the land. They will “gut” Jerusalem and tear the Temple down. The people go in slavery into a distant town. All that they’ve been doing is mere idolatry. That which I am planning is not prosperity! The people need to realise they’ll reap the things they sow. When My prophets speak to them, they do not want to know. They carry on regardless, no matter what I do. Babylon will conqueror them. Judgement is now due.” Habakkuk was mortified! Just what was He to say? The things he had been looking at were certainly that way, Rightly he described it. It couldn’t carry on. And just as God had stated, Jerusalem was gone. The only thing in question is what will happen here? Judgement is approaching; abundantly that’s clear. Will there be survivors? It’s clearly up to you. Worship God Almighty. No other “god” will do. Jim Strickland Written 2nd May 2012