Beware of idolatry!

Revelation 9:20 'And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. '

A besetting problem of humanity is stubbornness; another is idolatry. Even when confronted with the most terrible consequences imaginable, humanity largely refuses to change their ways. Unbelievers who are not killed by the events described in this chapter still refuse to repent and neither do they show remorse nor have any desire for a change of mind, heart or actions.

Whether in the literal sense of bowing to statues, or in the symbolic sense of placing wealth, possessions and pleasure above God, idolatry is among the most dangerous and condemned sin in Scripture. Paul warned the Corinthians about idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:19–21), and the apostle John commanded: 'Little children, keep yourselves from idols'. (1 John 5:21).

A dictionary definition of idolatry is that of an extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone and whether that be a possession, hobby, career or worldly personality either religious or secular, we must always be aware of the ever present danger of allowing anything or anyone to replace God in our lives.

In today's world with its powerfully motivating electronic and social media advertising and entertainment industry, the transition to idolatry is not difficult and the transition can be both imperceptible and indiscernible unless one is continuously aware of the possibility.

In Matthew 6:24 Jesus tells us that - No man can serve two masters: for either he. will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, You cannot serve God and mammon.

We take His words lightly at our peril.

EZE. 14:3.
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart,
and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face:
should I be enquired of at all by them?

Derek,
notice the 'LACK' of response??? this is so very sad to us...

you have hit a 'spot-on-observation' and hub and I thank you for this very much...
just keep in mind = if only just (1) gets IT, you have done your 'duty'...

So true, oldethennew. Derek has some great posts, and this one is relevant to things in my own life that I have been praying for God to take away and see me through. It took a lot of time for me to understand that those things in my life ARE idolatry, and keeping me from spending time in The Word, with God, and a home church (or church in general). We may not see certain things as idols, or idolatry, but if we are/were honest with ourselves (and can only speak of myself, even though using "we"), it should not be too difficult to see it for what it is.

And yes Derek, also I thank you for this very much. Definitely hit home for me.

Hence this admonition from the apostle John: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)

What exactly did John mean? He already explained it in chapter 2:
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 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 is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Hi Lafftur,
After the Bible my favourite reading is the book about the truly humble and unpretentious life of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 to 12 February 1691) who served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. It is about the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God and recorded in a book compiled after his death, '"The Practice of the Presence of God". This book been an inestimable blessing and help to me on my journey, revealing how truly simple it is to permanently live in the presence of God.
May God continue to bless you.
Forever in Christ
Derek.

Thanks Derek! I’ll check it out.

Do you like the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young? It’s my favorite devotional. I read it with the Bible in the mornings.

I thank brother Derek for reminding me of brother Lawrence and giving the name of the book about his life. Brother Lawrence was an inspiration of the wealth the Lord gives us that isn't the wealth of material possessions.