Idolatry Replaces God

By Arthur J Licursi built upon some thoughts taken from Watchman Nee.


Genesis 35:1-3 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God,… 2Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you,…3And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, …

Philip. 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Jacob told his household and all that were with him to put away the foreign gods that were among them....Many may claim that they have never had anything to do with idols. Materially speaking, it may be true to say that you have no idols. But we must know, spiritually speaking, what an idol is. An idol is anything that replaces God.

Your education, your ambition, your position, your name or reputation, your desires, and your intentions, these may replace God in your life and thus become idols. If you view the matter in this light, then you will have to admit that you have had many foreign gods.

Today Christians worship idols for the sake of making their life long and have happiness. Satan threatens people, telling them that if they do not worship idols, they will not have long life and happiness, but that if they worship these idols, placing them first in their considerations, then they will have long life and happiness. As we said earlier, happiness includes many things: money, position, ambition, fame, a name or reputation, all of which are of self-interest, rooted in what the Bible calls “the pride of life.” These are the lusts of the flesh and eyes, which are of this world system and its author – Satan.

It is one thing to use our money as good stewards but quite another to use it as a pride of life. Do all the planning you want but know that the financial system of the nation and world are a house of cards ready to tumble as the Lord may will, … for our good. I have a good friend, Bill Landon, who said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” God’s plan for us is to trust Him in all things. He is the only stable and sure One in the universe.

Today many have idols due to their desire to be healthy. I’ve been among Christian groups where they talk more about how they can control their health by certain foods, vitamins and processing of water, than being thankful to God who gives life and knows the number of hairs on our heads. Obviously we are to take care of our temple of the Lord – our bodies, but we are not to be taken with the thought that we can control our life. If our Father wants our new roof to leak, or if He wants to have our 30 year old roof last, He is able. He is GOD.

Why is it that we receive Satan’s temptation to do and value these things such that we give them the preeminence, replacing God as our source? It is simply because that thing may make you happy, we enjoy having control. The basis of the genuine rest and peace of the Christian life is giving up control to Him who is the lover of our souls.

Today, many Christians have never enjoyed, or once enjoyed and lost, the rest that they may have in the Lord, simply by letting go to trust Him. They pursue the foreign gods of money, and control, seeking his happiness in idols. It is in our union with God alone that is our long (eternal) and enjoyable life.

Let us trust Him and reflect that in our considerations of this brief life on this earth. <END>