TOPIC: WHOREDOM OF IDOLATRY
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 22-23: James 2
“I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols” Ezekiel 23:30 (KJV)
The idols that are referred to in today’s scripture of which Israel has gone a whoring is both physical and intangible. It represents the acceptance of the ungodly believe, norms, value system, culture and practice of the heathen nations around them. When we begin to associate with ungodly living and practice as lifestyle we are bound to deviate from divine instructions and reverence for God. When this happens our mind becomes polluted with ungodly and corrupt thoughts. It is no wonder the scripture says, “Be not deceived: evil communication corrupt good manners” 1 Corinthians 15:33(KJV). When we begin to imbibe wrong value system through association in ungodly relationships that is not in tandem with the word of God, it is referred to as whoredom.
In our reading of Ezekiel chapter twenty-three we notice that Israel began to associate with the nations around them and began to imbibe their believe system, culture and idol worship and abandoning the true God and His injunction to them. They began to flirt around with nations God warned them about. This resulted in very negative influence that took them away from God and the true worship of God, consequently God promised to do to them many things as a result of their lewdness and pollution. They flirted after heathenism and fell out of God’s favour for them. Israel’s situation can be likened to today’s Christian pilgrimage. The bible says in 1 John 2:16(KJV), “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but of the world.” These are what constitutes worldliness and when we allow them to dominate our mind and become obsessed by them to take a higher preference to serving God it becomes idolatry.
As stated above, Idols go beyond physical objects to things and lifestyles we are obsessed with. For example, when we place great value on certain item of possession and hold on tenaciously to certain behaviour and actions that are no go areas that separates God from our lives, we have invariably set up idols in that area. We have many examples of idols such as our costly possessions like golds and diamond, the things we love that can be valued more than our service to God, e.g. 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 as stated in Ezekiel 14:7(KJV). We must put away these idols from our heart. We must as a matter of serious commitment to God tore away our love for other items and issues of life that challenges the place of God in our life out of our heart. Whatever comes first in our life before God is an idol and whoever that practice such is an idolater. Idolatry has the power of pollution and defilement. These are idols in the 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. True Christianity is to put God first in all things in our life. We must strive to be separated from the world and them that practice worldliness. The bible admonishes us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The scripture mandates us to come out from among them and be separate. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17(KJV)
We must bring ourselves to a total and absolute devotion to God, not allowing anything whatsoever to hinder the 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. Put away the idol and the stumbling block of iniquity!
My dear reader please note that we cannot put away some attitude and behavior that resist God’s love except we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. I truly and sincerely desire you to urgently take that decision now for the next hour may be too late for you.
Prayer: Father I pray for your grace to hold on diligently and in absolute devotion to you as I remain guided by your word.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo