Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14,15: James 2
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?” Ezekiel 14:3 (KJV)
Many have the misconception that idols are physical image placed in a shrine or carried about by the idolater. Our focal scripture of today has debunked this misconception that the word “idol” always meant that one had a physical shrine and poured libations daily on it. While this practice still exists today, we have stronger more deadly idols now than those which required a physical place of abode.
Today, from the main text, we see that idols can reside in the heart! It is so easily mobile and appears not to be burdensome to carry. It can go with us even before the presence of the Lord. This is the idol that we must be very conscious of and must turn away from today. This is so because of its subtle and deceptive nature.
The elders of Israel went to enquire of the Lord before His anointed prophet and they went with idols in their hearts! These were the elders, custodians of God’s word, and leaders of the people of God. Yet, they had idols in their hearts. Idolatry is not an ancient practice; it is a sin of the jet age as well. It is possible to hide from man the idols of the heart, but we cannot hide our hearts from God and it is unto God that we daily present ourselves.
Like those elders, we cannot come to God bearing idols in our hearts and expect to receive answers from Him. God will not accede to the prayers of an idolater. You might say that you have no idols, but in verse 7, the Lord said to the Prophet, “…for every one of the house of Israel… which separates himself from me and sets up his idol in his heart…” When we place great value on certain item of possession and hold on tenaciously to certain behaviour and actions that are no go area where we separate God from our lives, we have invariably set up idols in that area. We have many examples of idols such as our costly possessions such as golds and diamond, the things we love that can be valued more than our service to God. Examples include watching football, wrestling and films, our work drive and ambition in life. When our love for these valuables and actions outweigh our love for God, they are Idols that serves as stumbling blocks that shield our faces from God. We must put away these idols from our hearts.
We must as a matter of serious commitment to God tore away our love for other items and issue of life that challenges the place of God in our life out of our heart. We must bring ourselves to a total and absolute devotion to God, not allowing anything whatsoever to hinder our flow of the love of God in our life. He that comes to God must come fully devoted to God, and be fully dependent on Him. We must fill our hearts with God’s word to properly guide us to take heed to ourselves so that we do not raise idols in our hearts. We must be careful not to separate God from any aspect of our lives. If the elders who were supposed to know better could fall into this sin, then we too must be watchful. Put away the idol and the stumbling block of iniquity!
Prayer: Father I pray for your grace to hold on diligently and in absolute devotion to you as I remain guided by your word.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo