IDOLATRY

IDOLATRY
Leviticus  26:1  says "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God."

Idolatry is daistorted worship and it remains a huge disobedience to the commandment of the LORD.

Idols could be physical objects, people, mental pictures or spiritual strongholds that individuals hold onto or put a form of trust in, other than GOD, with the hope of gaining some form of solace, assurance, transferred heart aches, solutions etc.

Idolatry is anything, anyone or any circumstance that takes the position of GOD in the life of an individual.

Idolatry is anything, anyone or any circumstance that you raise its capacity or ability above GOD.

Idolatry is anything, anyone or any circumstance that you prefer to dwell upon, giving an ample part of your thought time to, instead of GOD.

Idols as we know it more popularly are physical such that at the mention of the word, a graven image given to people by witch-doctors that is kept in the hidden parts of rooms, the major decorative items in shrines or even wrapped around the waists under garments, all in an attempt to receive protection, offer reverence to, or venture into seemingly difficult situations having a guarantee of safety.

In the physical form, idols could be in the form of money that men would prefer to have confidence due to the number of extra zeros behind their bank figures forgetting that money could grow wings and fly far away (Prov. 23:5).

Other forms of physical idols are jewellery and societal positions, many people would choose to exalt their physical possessions and societal status above the love of GOD claiming that governmental connections and being amongst the creme of the society would solve whatever challenges instead of putting all their trust and confidence in GOD.

As for other people, instead of trusting in the ability of GOD to deliver them, to save them from whatever challenges life could throw at them, they would depend on fellow human beings in the form of parents or pastors. Now there is nothing wrong in believing that help could come from these above sources from time to time but at the time where the strength and ability of GOD is ignored and the focus is put on the physical object is idolatry. This conclusion wouldn't include the physical idol's obtained from graven images.

Graven images many at times have a spiritual connection attached to it, whether a demon which the forefathers have worshipped or one who an individual contacts in the view of a difficulty as a means of escape which then becomes a form of vague confidence for such person as the demon seeks to cage the person forever, leaving the person no chance of liberty except at the hands of a greater authority, one present only in JESUS name.

Since we have defined idolatry as a practice which involves assigning trust to anything, anyone or any circumstance besides the LORD as we conclude that the Lord JESUS cannot or wouldn't save or as it were assume that such situation were above the Lord JESUS that we prefer to give so much prominence in our thoughts, words and actions to such situation.

Entertaining objects like Fear, Doubt and Self-pity, such that there exists a situation that you dwell on these circumstances, drooling and feeling put-down assigning some form of glory to such situation instead of focussing on GOD who alone is able to deliver to the utmost. These are mental idols too in my own belief and is becoming a danger amongst believers, one which immediate actions should be taken against. As soon as there arises a difficult situation, the next step of the believer should be to take it straight to GOD letting that situation know fully that our GOD is far bigger than dt circumstance hence giving GOD praise. HALLELUYAH

Psalms  115 had this to say as touching the worship of idols. Verse 5: They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 

Verse 8 then says something quite significant, it says "They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." As a paraphrase, it means idol worshippers would eventually shape up into being just like the idols that they worship, having senses but being unable to make use of it.

In conclusion, at the end of the day, the effect of the consequences of idolatry do not end upon the idol worshipper alone but it is recurrent upon the generations that follow after. (Deut. 5:9)

So friend, do a quick prompt reassessment of yourself and identify if there are anything, anyone or any circumstance that you give prominence to above the power of GOD, review your position today and connect to the saving power of the FATHER. He alone can save to the fullest, no idol can. HALLELUYAH

GOD bless you.