Focus: Beware of Idols (Pt.1)

Text: 1Jh.5:21

"Little children, keep yourselves from IDOLS. Amen."

John the Apostle is exhorting his beloved children in the Lord to stick to the true God by keeping themselves away from idols.

Idols are images that catch or charm the eye and pull the heart away from the true God. Idols appeal to us through the eyegate of the soul. They fascinate before they enslave us. They command our attention and demand our adoration.

One thing that caused Paul's heart to boil in anger was seeing the city of Athens overtaken by idols. People worship virtually anything in the name of God. Paul talks about many lords and gods. He talks about people doing service to things which by nature are no gods (1Cor.8:5; Gal.4:8).

There is only one true God; all else are idols. Idols are really for idiots. It makes no sense to worship idols, for they are vanities. Jesus says to the woman of Samaria, "Ye worship ye know not what…" (Jh.4:22). Idol worship is rooted in Ignorance, and it takes knowing God to truly worship Him.

Ezekiel reveals the heart as the home or shrine of idols. God's people harbor idols in their hearts. In chapter 14 of Ezekiel, he says, "Son of man, THESE MEN have set up their IDOLS IN THEIR HEART… EVERY MAN of the house of Israel that setteth up his IDOLS IN HIS HEART… I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the MULTITUDE OF HIS IDOLS… because they are all ESTRANGED FROM ME THROUGH THEIR IDOLS… For EVERY ONE of the house of Israel, or of the STRANGER that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his IDOLS IN HIS HEART" (EZk.14:3,4,5,6,7).

You notice the progression? From men to every man to every one to even the stranger. No one is left out. Idols are everywhere. Our world is full of idols and even church people are not free of idols. Ezekiel calls our idols a multitude. Hearts are charmed by different and many things.

Idol worship is a heart matter. Idols are enthroned in the heart. Idols estrange us from the true God. Idols enslave our hearts and minds. Idols ensnare us. We are caged or trapped by them. We lose our freedom. We imagine and invent them. We are the makers of our own gods. They are the creations of our mind. They sway and seize our hearts. So senseless to have toys as idols - mere man-made gods!

Are you keeping or keeping away from idols? John says, "Keep yourselves from idols." That means don't keep them, but keep away from them. Refuse to make an idol out of anything in this world. Nothing made by God or man is worth being your god.

We will consider tomorrow of what some of these idols are. May God help us live above idols! Blessings!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter