B
brakelite2
Guest
Thus saith the lord. Thus saith the most popular god on earth. Thus saith a self made idol. Thus saith self.
Idolatry today is everywhere. There are more idols today than ever before in human history, and they are just as impotent and powerless as were the graven images of Baal or Ashtoreth.
Todays idols range from rock musicians and actors, to celebrities in the media or politics. Sports teams and individuals are worshipped along with the sport itself. In fact, anything or anyone that takes precedence over Jesus is an idol.
The interesting thing about all that is that it is us which gives them life. All idols have this in common. They need their supporters and their followers or worshipers to sustain them. It is us that give them life. They have no life in and of themselves. Without idolaters, idols cease to exist. And it is our own self interest that causes us to create an idol. But without us they simply revert back to being a statue, or an ordinary person or pastime. For a rock musician or actor for example, self-preservation is the main focus of an idol's existence, and giving anything away to the worshiper is simply a means to that end. Providing entertainment or pleasure is simply a means to gain or continue as a god.
God is exactly the opposite. He has life in Himself. He is self-existent. He has power to give life to whoever and whatever He chooses. He has no need of worshipers in order to sustain Him, nor does He require sacrifice or offering in order to survive. He always has been God and always will be; He never changes.
That is why it is His nature to love. Self-preservation is totally foreign to Him. Witness the life of Christ. He gave Himself completely at the cost of His own life. He lived to serve. That is the God we worship, and that is why we worship. Because of who He is. A God of infinite unfailing love. And He has promised us life. Eternal life with Him. And that is why we have no need for self preservation. This confidence in Him allows us to live our lives in service to others without the constant thought of having to 'look after no.1".
Our future is already secure. We can now die to self and allow God to live His life in us.We have no need to make an idol of ourselves or anything else.
Idolatry today is everywhere. There are more idols today than ever before in human history, and they are just as impotent and powerless as were the graven images of Baal or Ashtoreth.
Todays idols range from rock musicians and actors, to celebrities in the media or politics. Sports teams and individuals are worshipped along with the sport itself. In fact, anything or anyone that takes precedence over Jesus is an idol.
The interesting thing about all that is that it is us which gives them life. All idols have this in common. They need their supporters and their followers or worshipers to sustain them. It is us that give them life. They have no life in and of themselves. Without idolaters, idols cease to exist. And it is our own self interest that causes us to create an idol. But without us they simply revert back to being a statue, or an ordinary person or pastime. For a rock musician or actor for example, self-preservation is the main focus of an idol's existence, and giving anything away to the worshiper is simply a means to that end. Providing entertainment or pleasure is simply a means to gain or continue as a god.
God is exactly the opposite. He has life in Himself. He is self-existent. He has power to give life to whoever and whatever He chooses. He has no need of worshipers in order to sustain Him, nor does He require sacrifice or offering in order to survive. He always has been God and always will be; He never changes.
That is why it is His nature to love. Self-preservation is totally foreign to Him. Witness the life of Christ. He gave Himself completely at the cost of His own life. He lived to serve. That is the God we worship, and that is why we worship. Because of who He is. A God of infinite unfailing love. And He has promised us life. Eternal life with Him. And that is why we have no need for self preservation. This confidence in Him allows us to live our lives in service to others without the constant thought of having to 'look after no.1".
Our future is already secure. We can now die to self and allow God to live His life in us.We have no need to make an idol of ourselves or anything else.