Dethrone the Idols

More than likely you know the story: the Israelites in the desert, waiting on Moses to come back down from the mountain. They get impatient, and they create for themselves a golden calf to worship. 

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, 'Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” - Exodus 32:7-8

It is easy for us in modern day America to read this and think it’s crazy. To think, “we would never do such a thing.” To think, “how silly it would be to worship a golden cow.” But the reality is that we all worship idols at times; we all have put something other than God on the throne.

Most of the time we don’t realize we have done this; it is not a conscious choice to make an idol, it probably isn’t even one singular choice. It is decisions made each day, decisions to worship God or to worship yourself, your time, your money, your family, your entertainment, your status, and the list could go on and on.

An idol is anything you turn to that is not God. Anything you run to first. Anything that takes up your time and your focus more than God. 

I am going to go out on a limb here and say I think a big one for our society today is our phones. For most people, it is the first thing they touch when they wake up and the last thing they touch before going to bed. 

I also believe that most people, especially adults, realize this is a problem; They realize this is not profiting them, and yet, they can’t quit it. This item has power over us and we would be foolish not to realize it is a tool of the enemy.

I read a quote recently that said, “if your hands won’t release it, your heart might be worshipping it.”

Anything in our lives we turn to for security, comfort, identity or purpose instead of the Lord is an idol. Most of the time these things are not inherently bad, and because of that it is easy for us not to recognize them as idols. Even your family or your ministry can become an idol. This is why it is so important to stay connected to the Lord, to seek Him in all areas of your life. 

1 John 5:20-21 says, “And we know 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, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”

When we know Him who is true, when we know who we are in Him, and stay connected to the vine, we can guard ourselves from idols. The Word tells us to guard ourselves, so we must be aware and vigilant to not form idols in our lives.

If there are things in your life you think could possibly be idols, fast from them. Choose to fast those things, release them, put them down for a time, and seek the Lord. This is the perfect time, a new year, a new season: join in on the 21 day fast and choose to fast anything that you think could be an idol in your life and see what the Lord shows you. There is so much freedom in casting down the idols and turning back to the one true God.

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” - Psalm 24:3-4

As we enter into this new year, let us all choose to make it all about Jesus. His mercies are new every morning. Rid yourselves of anything that is holding you back from more of Him. Dethrone the idols and choose today to worship God and Him alone.