Bible Reading: Psalm 113,114,115; 1 Corinthians 6
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them” Psalm 115:4,8 (KJV)
In life there will always be something or someone you will put your trust in, whether knowingly or unknowingly. But being conscious of this action goes a long way to determine how your life turn out to be. Trusting so much in something or somebody so as to worship such is idolatry – the worship of other gods other than the One who created the heavens and the earth.
It is a fact that you become like whatever it is you value most in life. Those who value God eventually become a god themselves because we are created in His image and likeness. Moses valued and trusted in God so much he spent many days with Him. On returning to the people, his was so lightened that he looked like God. Stephen valued God so much that he spoke about him without fear even at the risk of losing his life. The people around him saw the likeness of a god on his face before he was stoned.
Those who worship God become like Him, conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). This happens when we give ourselves to the pursuit of His glory and love, then he becomes the object of our worship. This elevates us. In contrast, the experiences of those who worship idols is a degrading one. By worshipping something less than us we are lessoned by such experiences. That is why today’s memory verse says those who worship idols become like the idols they worship (Psalm 115:8).
Idols does not only mean carved images of wood and stone or any material formed. It is trusting and worshipping of things other than God. idols can even be made even from supposedly good things like your career, marriage, families, etc. Trusting in anything other than God will have a devastating effect on that person as such a person ends up a failure and unfulfilled in life. So to live a fulfilled life like Jesus, Paul, Stephen and so many others, make God alone your object of worship and you will be elevated all round.
Action Plan: Take time out to consider the things you value most in life. Are they things that come before God?
Bro. Onyema Aghanenu