
Idols are everywhere. Hardly do you cross the street without seeing an idol. Millions around the world worship idols everyday. Have you ever thought about why such devotion to an inanimate object ? We may sneer at idol-worshippers at their apparent absurdity until we realize how deep the problem is. The deeper we probe into the human psyche, the more we realize that there is an unquenchable desire to worship something. Human beings are a worshipping people. History is a witness to the horrific consequences whenever they try to suppress this God-given desire.
The problem is not with the desire to worship but the object of worship. What we worship determines consequences. An object worthy of our worship ( God) brings about spiritual healing, calmness, and joy. That is how we are wired. That is our ‘telos’ ( purpose or goal). We exist to worship God. Whereas, worshipping the wrong object produces death and destruction. Worship and trust go together. We trust what we worship and we worship what we trust. My interest here is, why would anyone want to trust something destructive? Trusting anything apart from God is akin to returning to an abusive husband. What is the pull behind such longing? Idolatry does not make sense until we realize its undeniable power.
Why had Israel, having seen mighty miracles, tempted to worship the Golden Calf at Horeb? One sin that characterized Israel is ‘Idolatry’. Time and again they could not resist the temptation to worship idols. The outcry of the prophets was, “ My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jer 2:13).” Knowing that they faced the death penalty for disobedience, why would they do something they were strictly forbidden to do? What could be the rationale behind such an insatiable desire? It seems an irresistible enticement grows within us after we see the object (Deut 4: 15-16). The object entices and then the heart responds. It is not the physical idol that causes temptation, it is the idea or motivation that is behind the idol.
The analogy James offers is useful to understand what goes on in the heart. He says, “ …but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed…(Ja 1:14).” The irony is we cannot sense the damage that we do to us ourselves.
In Psalm 115, the Psalmist gives inspired reasoning why we are addicted to idols. He says, “ Those who make them will be like them, and so all will trust in them (Ps 115:8).” Knowing that the idols cannot protect, satisfy, and redeem us, we are prone to trust in them. People who worship the sun, moon, and stars, do they not know that human beings cannot have genuine connection with inanimate objects? Does an alcohol addict not know that too much wine damages his liver? People addicted to intravenous drugs know that they are damaging their bodies and souls irreparably? The answer to this question is both yes and no. On the one hand, there is a blinding effect - not knowing what he is doing, his senses have become dull. On the other, there is a sense of utter helplessness. It is a feeling akin to drowning - a sense of utter despair. It is a voluntary submission to the unalterable destruction assuming that it will give them redemption, satisfaction, justification, and forgiveness. It is an attempt to save oneself. Idolatry is a failed attempt of self-salvation. But the irony is we cannot save ourselves. Nothing in this creation has the power to offer us deliverance.
So, what do we do now that we have a fixed bent to worship idols in our hearts? Should we isolate ourselves from all temptations and resign to solitary places? Or should we inflict pain upon our body and mind to repel temptation? Does it work? I suggest there is a better way to escape from the snares of idolatry. I suggest simply changing the object of your worship. We need to re-channelize our insatiable desire towards God. Yes, that is what we must do. We must turn to God. Paul tells, “ …whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away ( 2 Cor 3:16).” Only God can remove the veil - our mindless servitude to idolatry. This removal requires turning away from the idol and turning towards God. How can we turn when we cannot? Turning from idols requires faith, which is a trust in the Lord that he will help us in the process. God gives faith to those who come to him. Once the veil is removed, we begin to see the endless beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ and explore innumerable angles through which his gospel shines in our hearts. The more we behold his glory, the more we are transformed into Christ’s image. That is the one remedy to our idol-wrecked souls.
This article is a great reminder of knowing the heart of the sinners.
Thank you for sharing the article, Brother. I was truly blessed by it. It offers such a beautifully concise exploration of idolatry and its remedy, skillfully guiding readers toward Christ for the solution.