" Idol Worship ! "

 

Romans 1:21-23  "Because that, when they knew GOD, they glorified HIM not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible GOD into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things."

     How easy, yet how foolish, it is to exchange the truth of GOD for a lie and to worship and serve the works of our own hands, allowing them to take the place of GOD in our life. Paul, in his indictment of the Gentile apostasy, wrote in today's text, "Because that, when they knew GOD, they glorified HIM not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible GOD into and image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things." But, idolatry was not (and is not) confined to the pagan Gentile world, for the Israelites time and again submitted themselves to the lifestyle of the idol worshipers who surrounded their land. Foolishly and recklessly, they gave themselves in utter abandonment to the worship of the idols of their enemies. Through the Prophet Isaiah and others, the LORD clearly warned HIS chosen people of the consequences of their sin, but over and over again they paid HIM no heed. We must realize that whatever usurps the place of GOD in our life is an idol.

     It is irrational, according to Isaiah 44, to take a tree, burn part of it for warmth, kindle some and bake bread, and then fashion a god and worship it ! GOD says, "They have not known nor understood: for HE [GOD] hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand" (Isaiah 44:18 & 19 both pictured above). It escapes them that they burned part of the wood in the fire, baked bread upon the coals, roasted flesh to eat, and made the residue an abomination (an idol). Oh, the wicked foolishness of man ! JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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