Today I worshiped eight idols. No, I’m not exaggerating. I worshiped eight different idols in less than twenty-four hours–and that doesn’t even include all of them.
The internet was an idol.
Writing was an idol.
My job was an idol.
Sleep was an idol.
My blog was an idol.
Texting was an idol.
Wearing makeup was an idol.
Exercising was an idol.
I chose to worship 8(+) flawed, meaningless, unfulfilling idols before I worshiped my holy, gracious, loving God.
It’s not that the things I listed are bad things. In fact, they can be used for good.
But before I spent time with God, I chose to use the internet, write, work, sleep, blog, text, put on makeup, and exercise.
All of those things will fade away. They won’t satisfy my heart or fulfill my longings. They just fill my life with pleasure and temporary satisfaction. But God fills us with Himself—His holiness, graciousness, and love.
Do you struggle with idolatry? An idol is anything you choose over Jesus. Maybe your idol is your boyfriend, career, car, or pet. Maybe it’s your hobbies, emotions, or pride. Maybe it’s a goal you’ve been chasing or a dream you’ve always had.
When you wake up in the morning, what do you choose to do? Do you read the Word—or do you check your phone notifications, sleep longer, or hurry to work? Before you go to bed at night, what do you choose to do? Do you thank God for His blessings that day—or do you text a friend, eat ice cream, or read your favorite book?
Honestly, when I wake up to read blogs or shop online instead of spend time with God, I feel guilty. Idols do nothing for us except leave us feeling guilty and unfulfilled. They are completely worthless.
But our God is not worthless. He is worth everything.
Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O Lord our God? Therefore we hope in You, for You are the one who has done all these things. (Jeremiah 14:22 NASB)
Friends, is God our Creator or not?
Is He our Father or not?
Is He our Savior or not?
Is He our Healer or not?
Is He our Redeemer or not?
Is He our Provider or not?
Is He our Forgiver or not?
Is He our Comforter or not?
Do we trust a box of donuts, a best friend, or an Instagram account to get us through a difficult time? Do we run to a boyfriend, a career, or a bottle of wine to make our struggles easier? Do we bow down to our emotions, passions, and dreams instead of the One who gave us those things?
No one and nothing is like our God. He wants us to know Him, love Him, and worship Him only. But we can’t do that if we’re worshipping eight different idols—or even one.
To be honest, even if you resolve to worship God alone, you will still be tempted to worship idols. Even though God’s greatness is too incredible to even be described, you will still fall down before false gods. We are still sinners and often choose the temporal over the eternal. Your car, job, food, clothes, addictions, hobbies, family, friends, and even church can easily become idols.
But remember the One who gives us the rain, just like Jeremiah 14:22 says.
Remember your Creator, Father, Savior, Healer, Redeemer, Provider, Forgiver, and Comforter. For every eight (or fifty) idols that are in your life, there are eight (or fifty) reasons why God alone deserves our worship. God wants us to grow closer to Him and learn to be like Him, but worshipping idols won’t accomplish that. It will just make us committed to temporary pleasures.
Consider knocking down your idols. Today. A good start is waking up earlier to pray or going to bed later to read God’s Word. Another idea is to set aside your Sundays for a Sabbath day of rest. Whatever has been hindering you from having a better relationship with Jesus, put it aside. Knock it down.
Even the idol that seems most satisfying can never compare to our ultimate Satisfier.
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