Habakkuk 2:18-20
‘“What benefit is a carved image when its maker has carved it, Or a cast metal image, a teacher of falsehood? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork, When he fashions speechless idols.” “Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ‘Awake!’ To a mute stone, ‘Arise!’” That is your teacher? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet there is no breath at all inside it. “But the LORD is in His holy temple.”‘
This is a sad commentary on humanity. It violates the first two commandments. ‘”I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth”, (Exodus 20:1-4).
Prior to the 1900’s most were in one religious group or another. Their seriousness about that group would fluctuate. Some may agree to christian principles, but not apply them to their lives. Since the 1900’s there has been an undeclared war on the spiritual. Many don’t take the spiritual world seriously. If they do, they see any viewpoint as valid.
Even though these eras appear different they can all be divided into two groups, worshippers of God or idolators. Yes, there are gradations or degrees of each. Many wouldn’t agree with that label of being an idolator.
Another way to look at is which way are you taking? Matthew 7:13,14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” I know this a difficult statement, but we don’t have to explain God’s reasons. Open hearts will accept it, closed ones will not.
We can say that all who don’t follow Christ are idolators as described in today’s verses. Fewer are exactly that these days. Most are idolators symbolically. How is that so? We all trust in something. If it’s not God, then it’s a variety of other things. That’s an idol.
One’s intellect or talents are common areas of reliance. Others trust in people or a community. Some trust in money or material things. There are philosophies and charismatic people who lead many. We all trust in something, either God or an idol.
Even believers can struggle with idolatry. When we accept Christ, we begin on a pathway under His lordship. We have many things that the Lord will slowly wean us off of. They aren’t all idols. The idols are things we rely on other than God. He slowly strips those things away.
It can be painful to remove an idol. They have become part of us. It’s almost a surgical removal. The Holy Spirit does this in His gentle manner.
While it can be difficult, He is actually freeing us. Romans 6:16 says, “Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?” As we give ourselves to overeating, work and all that can addict us, we are becoming it’s slave. He wants to break those chains.
Thank You, Lord, for freeing us from sin and any form of idolatry. All the enslavement that we willingly gave ourselves to. Thank You, Lord.
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