March 20, 2022 - Shattering the Idols in Our Lives

Many would say today that we are living in a godless age, but what that means in a very narrow sense is that we are not trusting the true and the living God. The reality is that we are living in an age filled with ‘gods’ or as the Scriptures call them, ‘idols.’ Idols are a substitute for God. The tragedy is that instead of carrying our burdens, idols need to be carried as a burden by the worshipper. All people worship. Even the atheist is a worshipper. What the atheist is saying is ‘no’ to God, but that doesn’t mean that he or she is not trusting in something, even if it is simply self-worship. Here in Jeremiah 10 we find one of the most powerful chapters in the bible dealing with the issue of ‘idolatry.’ Simply put, idolatry is a false worship system. “The root of idolatry is to try to find ultimacy within the world or our own control and production.”[i]   In Jeremiah 10, we discover the reason why Israel was about to experience devastation and exile. When a people put their faith in what is false it leads to devastation not only on a personal, but also on a national level. Far too many people are putting their trust in what is false rather than what is true. Real spiritual freedom comes from knowing the person of the truth and allowing that to create authentic hope and freedom. So, why do we create false gods? What is so attractive about idolatry? Jeremiah makes a case against idolatry by comparing the true and living God with dead and lifeless idols. Here we discover three aspects in relationship to idolatry.