Jeremiah 51:18 - “Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies!  On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.”  NLT

A rather strong word today from my heart. Several years ago, I was preaching a series of messages on the Ten Commandments entitled “New Light from Old Lanterns”. It was a series of messages that looked at the OT Commandments thru the eyes of NT revelation. The second commandment speaks to this issue of idols.  God says we are not to have any idols, that we are to worship only Him.  I am concerned about the idols we have crafted in American life.  They range from our occupations to computer games, social media and everything in between.  Every year about this time we are inundated with political campaigns for Presidential elections, congressional elections to local elections. As we approach this very important time of year in our national and local elections, I get very concerned we have come close to making idols of people. We look to mere people who will somehow save us from ourselves.  Every election year cycle I stand back and say how crucial this election is this year. We live in an America we have never known before.  We currently face a world we have never known before.  The world as a whole has shifted.  It is as though the world is about to give birth to something not known to us.  It is as though major power shifts are on the horizon.  I even sense there is a major spiritual shift about to take place, not just in America, but the entire world.  What does it all mean?  I only wish I could look behind the curtain and see the next scene, but it is something we only see as though we are looking through a darkened glass.

But there is something I do know.  We tend to set up idols in our lives that replace the deep intimacy of knowing the God of this Universe.  There is something to be said about the reality of Jesus Christ versus the reality of idols.  No idol I know of has gone through the horror of being crucified.  When I reflect on what this man, God’s Son, suffered for me, how can I possibly continue to set up idols in my life and worship them.  How can I possibly believe that any person, elected or appointed, could save us from the trauma of a failing economy, the devastation of the abuses of people and drugs, the greed and envy that has captured the hearts of people, the anger displayed in our streets?  No, idols are worthless, they are ridiculous lies with which we tend to convince ourselves that will somehow save us from all the ills of life.

There is only one Savior from all of this.  He was not elected.  He never ran a campaign.  He never cared what the people thought or said.  And finally, He died a death reserved for only the worst of people.  His name is Jesus Christ, the Only begotten Son of God Almighty!  No idol can save us - only this Man, The Christ.  But, when will we put aside the hopes of some human running to our rescue?  When will we lay aside the idols that have taken the place of an intimate relationship with Almighty God?

Exodus 16:28 - “Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?”  NIV  How long will the church of Jesus Christ refuse to come clean and rid herself of worthless idols?  The hard truth is this, if we will not, then God will.  I choose to be obedient, O Lord.  I rise up this day and confess the idols of my life.  Refresh anew the reality of the crucifixion of Your Son so that my mind is seared and my heart broken over my offense.  Hold before me the torture of the cross so that I may behold the beauty of Your Holiness, O Lord my Savior.  Amen.

You are loved and prayed for,
Pastor Roger