IDOL

While going through Facebook a few days ago I stumbled upon a picture that shows an image of Jesus with an outreached arm. The caption above said, Focus on me, not the storm. Someone called out idolatry because it depicted Jesus. If you look beyond the picture and pay attention to the words, a true believer would not see the picture and focus of God because those were His words. I was accused of worshipping the picture and called an idolater.

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Those who know me know otherwise and he was blind to the truth which said a couple sentences back. So I exclaimed, “He who accuses another of idol worship without looking into his own heart and seeing the truth of what is spoken is himself seeking something other than God.” I said this because he was throwing accusations around like water and it was clear this individual was seeking an argument. As much as I like a good theological discussion I was left with him sharing a tear emoji.    
This brings me to today’s topic: Have we Forgotten the Warnings of Idol Worship?
So many things are happening in the world today that many of humanity’s true colors are being revealed. We have seen the hatred, jealousy, greed, and bigotry that is running rampant at a seemingly uncontrollable rate. If you pray for discernment you will begin to recognize that many things happening are not of people’s individual thoughts but the actions of a few who have evil intentions. They have forgotten the truth of the Scriptures and have given themselves over to false idols taking many with them. 
Idolatry Takes Many Forms
In Jonah we hear these words: 
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. Jonah 2:8
Idolatry can take the form of many things made by human hands. Everything made by humans is there for the eyes to see and understand the past, present, and possibly future but we are not to dwell on these things. There are sculptures and paintings of persons past and present but we are not to kneel before them. This includes effigies of persons from biblical times since those are false representations of the truth. This may sound blasphemous but even depictions of the cross can be considered idols. Is it the cross that is being worshiped? Is it the statue of Mary? No, but if you kneel before those things then yes that is what you are doing.
Jesus said that He is not to be worshiped but only the Father. He foresaw what has become the norm for us. We sing songs about Jesus being the savior but it was God who saved us because of what He told Jesus to do. We focus too much on the physical and not nearly enough on what matters most, the Spirit. If we put the name of Jesus above God’s then are we not doing exactly what He told us not to?    
What about the celebrity? The original meaning was to celebrate the deeds of a person without idolizing him or her. With so many “famous” people out there many have become the focus of worship. People make sacrifices of things they need to survive just to see the person or group. Instead of buying food or clothes for themselves or their family, they will go out and get something related to the individual or group to which they belong. Some even begin to dress and act like them and lose themselves. They are running after something they are not and will not be protected by.  
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Psalms 16:4
Physical and Spiritual Unhealthy Behaviors
Without knowing what is happening, those who take on idol worship return to ways that some would never dream of doing.
And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God! Galatians 5:19-21
Have we not seen this in the last 50 years if not longer? If you cannot see it then you are blind. Adults have corrupted the minds of other adults and children. People are indiscriminate in their destructive behavior. They choose lawlessness over justice and are envious of power that some have over others. They seek painful discord over grace and healing. The behaviors that have resurfaced is what has been described as what was happening before God destroyed the world by flood. We have become so involved with selfish desires that we have literally put God away in a box. The choices have been made that will cause God to return and set things right. But this time it won’t be water.  
We Have Been Warned
 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood- idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Revelation 9:20 
We have entered the time of the final plagues. It is said in Hebrew history that the plagues of Egypt will happen again on a world wide scale before the coming of the Messiah. They did not realize that they were talking about the second coming of Christ and the return of God into the world. How much longer will we sit idly by while these things happen to our family, friends, and neighbors? We must correct ourselves first and remove the log out of our hearts before we take the stye from theirs.
Brothers and Sisters, take heed and take action before it becomes too late. Do not sit back and watch the world crumble before you and laugh while it does or you will be a victim of your own undoing. Stay in the Word and Keep it on and in your heart, sharing it with all you come into contact with. Finally, Love each other with God’s Love no matter how much it hurts them. 
In God’s Arms,
Rob Servant of God