Golden Calf, ancient mosaic, Assyria
All over the world, people pay allegiance to many deities/gods believed to govern and protect their lands. Of the many are some popularly known for their exploits in human affairs. There was a time in the world when the face of idolatry was an odd-looking image carved into wood or metal, revered as sacred and worshipped. People of diverse cultures and religions offered sacrifices to these deities who they believed were benevolent unless provoked. Indeed, as a Christian reading about these diverse gods, there is one common theme, they were usually referred to as ‘the god of’ something or another. If you increase the power of your lenses further to the attributes of these so-called ‘gods’, you will find out just how and why people fell for their own schemes; fertility, war, beauty, wealth, creation, the list goes on. It is as though one god cannot claim to be everything, there must be some kind of division of labour. Even mortal men have claimed to be gods; Pharaohs, Roman emperors, Japanese emperors, Picasso, and Alexander the Great. There are of course those who are called or worshipped as gods but not of their own making. These are majorly Bible characters or patriarchs of the faith. In India, congenitally deformed children are paid homage to as gods. All these, summarized, is the failed attempt of man in finding the one true God.
“Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.” Deuteronomy 4:32-36 (NIV).
Where did it start?
There is an innate response within us to keep searching for more. The man who has nothing wants to get something, and the man who has something seeks to acquire more. We are always unsatisfied without God. The unbeliever is unsatisfied because he does not know God, likewise the believer if he does not learn to find rest in God. We know we need help, and so we go carving out some with our hands or with our minds. Our separation from God created so great a void within us that nothing is enough to fill it except Himself. God breathed Himself into Adam when He made him, a breath no one can give except Him. That is why the harder we try, the more unsatisfied we become because the void is too great and specifically designed for only the nature of God to fill. The receptors in our bodies act like the post office. They receive signals from one cell or antigen and transmit them to another cell. For this to happen, there must be a binding point of connection. If the cell or antigen is not of the body, it cannot bind to the body’s cell receptor because its ligand is not shaped to fit in. If it is from the body, it must have the exact shape to enable it to fit into, bind, and activate the receptor of the body’s cell to transmit its signal. Our whole being is designed to act the same way, even our hearts. The void in a dead soul who has not come to Christ is constantly seeking to be filled. Hence, the quest to satisfy those longings begins. Some have sought satisfaction in glamorous career paths, in idols, beauty, wealth, fame, power, marriage/relationships, and even education. We have also created a standard from these. When one is of age, they go to school. In school, they do well to be the best. Along the line, sexual characteristics develop, and the longing is deepened with a desire to be married. Now, another standard is set up to make one believe that is what it takes to be fulfilled. Once married, the void increases to wanting children. One toils and prays to get them. Once gotten, it changes to the family income. The fear and worry of not being able to provide for your family ensues. It goes on till death, even at death, our souls yearn for a better place. All indeed is vanity. These things cannot fit into God’s place in our being. So, what happens is that the more we try, the more frustrated we become, therefore, the more we pursue to fill in the void.
Dangers of an empty, swept and cleaned house (Luke 11:25, 2Cor 2:11)
Now, foreign antigens can mimic the body’s antigen to stimulate the same or a different response from the body cell; but this time, the purpose is entirely different/selfish. Hence, it can harm the proper functioning of the body. For those who do not know God in his Son, Jesus Christ, the void in them is open to a lot of potential ligand/suitors. As a bride with no filter, any groom is welcome, including those from the dark ends. The devil is a great mimic of all that God does. The way the coronavirus develops antigens that can bind to the receptors of the cells of the airway, and starts reproducing and weakening the immune system, that is an example of how the devil creeps into an unbeliever’s soul to steal, kill and destroy (2Cor4:4). The devil takes mastery of an unbelieving vulnerable soul and turns it to serve his purpose. He is not, however, all that God is, and cannot fill the void in the soul. The more demons fill this vulnerable soul, the stronger hold they will have, and the deeper this soul dies in sin (Luke 11:25). They do not transmit anything good for the wellbeing of this soul. They only use, misuse, trample and, finally, kill the body in its sinful state. They produce works of unrighteousness. The man possessed by a legion of demons in the Bible was said to have violent fits that threw him into the fire. That is not the result of anything that wants good. We often hear testimonies of those who, being demonically possessed, are lured into destructive lifestyles. Some are thrown into cycles of depression and oppression because he grips their minds. However, while some unbelievers are not specifically possessed by demons, they still follow the patterns of the world ruled by princes of the powers of the air, who mean no good for humans (Eph 6:12). As a result of the influence darkness has on them, the standards are changing. Because they hold the world system in their hands, they can enact laws and cause havoc wherever and however they wish, and this is throwing the world into deeper darkness and immorality. The fruit of disobedience is death, and unbelievers are dead in their sin because they do not meet up to God’s standard of holiness.
The new face of idolatry
Christians today often downplay the sin of idolatry. Could it be because they still view it from the ancient angle? A physically carved art piece dedicated to a demon/deity? What if it is a fine piece of art carved into the heart and mind? It climbs through another way, not the narrow way through Jesus, it is not producing fruits of righteousness, it exhorts itself against God, distorts God’s word by adding to it or removing from it. The Bible tells us to test every spirit to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1). God’s word, ever the light for our path, illuminates the steps of discerning false spirits. When we study it, it guides our hearts to the right path. When we discern that it is a strange voice, we must run away from it (John 10:5). Oftentimes, we think we are the only ones developing. An advance in technology creates new things that people can idolize. An advance in education creates even more gaps to be filled. Truly, we ate the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The more we claim to see, the darker our vision becomes. The lust for power, fame, beauty, wealth, glamour, relationships, easy living, social media followers, people’s approval, has further driven us away from God. In certain regions of Africa, people sacrifice their families for money. The love of money, as the Good Book tells us, is the root of all evil. The worship of money has even crept into the church of Christ. It is saddening that some of the churches we have today were started because of the lust for money. The lust for relationships has left many in the grave today or on their way to it because of bad decisions they made. God does not condone idolatry, anything that takes his place is his enemy. Do you know what God does to his enemies? Isaiah 42:8.
The house on the Rock
Jesus tells us that, it is not what gets into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of him (Matt 15:11). The laws of the old testament served to gear the people’s hearts towards God and to love their neighbour. In keeping those laws, they would have life in themselves. Life was in the fruit of their obedience. To explain further; If indeed you love God, you would not keep idols. Because you do not keep idols, you seek God instead of other things and in doing so, you are abiding in Him. Life is only found with God. No wonder Jesus tells us in the book of John that apart from Him we can do nothing, we cannot have life in ourselves. Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of the law (Matt 5:17-20), therefore, to have life, you must abide in Him. In my illustration, the law is the antigen, the heart is the receptor. When it binds, it produces fruits of righteousness in obedience to God. The same way we abide in Christ and produce the fruits of obedience which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts respond with praise to being united with God in His Spirit. The Holy Spirit then proceeds in the work of sanctifying us further to prepare us for the marriage ceremony that will be completed in Heaven with Christ, our Head, and Groom (Gal 5:5).
To the one who does not know Jesus, God is a jealous God (Exo 34:14) and whatever keeps you from believing in His son Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, or adds to His work of salvation, is His enemy. It must be put out (Deut 4:2). Else, you cannot see, or hear, or understand and then, be healed (2 Chron 7:14). To the believer, whatever has you replacing your time with God with itself, or consumes your thoughts, or pulls your soul to itself goes against the new commandment; to love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength and to love your neighbour as yourself. Sometimes, the idol is us, or fellow believers. In the old books of the Bible, when the kings of Israel sought revival, they would go through the land, tearing down altars, burning them to ashes, removing and deposing the priests who served in the altars of impurity. Then, they would renew their vows, pay God His homages, often with fasting and much prayer. James 4:8.
“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1John 5:20-21 (NIV).
