If you have a little bible knowledge, then you know the Israelites had some issues with idols. And you should know how much God hates idols (an idol is anything you put before God, ANYTHING). Well, if you didn't before, you do now. They lost faith in Yahweh and turned to false gods, which were made into images, which they worshipped in places that basically smacked God right in the face. Read the next few chapters of Ezekiel if you want more clarity. But this cuts right to the bone for me. My goodness, how many idols, how whorish is my heart? Extremely, if I'm compltely honest. I can think of many things I put before God. Lately I have been neglecting God way too much, not in His word, not in prayer, not in worship, not in community, not being held accountable. I've ventured off that narrow path and strolled along the wide one way to long. It's easy to get off track, but for me it has been a lot harder to get back on. Things like golf, fantasy football, Hokie football, guns, and cameras have creeped in and taken the place of God. I've focused on them way too much, enough that my attitude and walk have been affected. You may be thinking, these things aren't bad. Well let's flesh this out a bit. If you spend more time watching YouTube videos on how to fix your slice or how to fix your chipping woes than being in the Word. If you spend hours trying to perfect your shooters grip. If you click the fantasy football app on your phone more than the bible app. If you know more about the Hokie roster than the Gospels. If you are constantly looking for that great deal on a camera lens you can't afford anyway. I think you get my point. And again, these things aren't bad if they are prioritized so that God comes first and are known to be a gift from God to enjoy, not worship. Because what happens is these suttle idols or sins creep in and fill up the space in your head and your heart. And they grow bigger and bigger, driving you further and further away from God. It's like a wedge in a tree, the further you drive it in, the more it splits the wood. Don't let your wood get split by some worthless idol.
So I confessed this to the Lord and my prayer now is for complete humility and surrender to Him. I want to rid myself of these ways and put Him first where He belongs.
I hope this is encouraging to someone. Someone who may be struggling in their walk. Someone who may have let these seeminglingy harmless things take over. Don't be prideful like me and neglect the Lord. Repent and turn from those idols and yourself. Ecclesiastes 1:2 tells us that "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Romans 8:20, 21 "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
For His Glory
