Keep What You Know

1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
 
THIS is a good verse to memorize, to even print and put in a place where you will often see it. Idolatry is the most persistent and present danger to our relationship with God.
   What is idolatry? God defines idolatry in two parts in Exodus 20:4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5a You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” Idolatry is making an image to represent a deity and then it is worshiping that image.
   Idolatry is the sin that brought great judgment and destruction upon Israel. Judges is the story of a nation that turned to idols and lost God’s blessing. They rejected all they knew about God – even his commands and warnings – to worship useless objects that even led to child sacrifice. How was it possible they became so depraved to exchanged life for death?
   Idolatry was the reason God shut the sky from rain for three years in 1 Kings 17. This great abomination was also the reason God scattered Israel’s 10 tribes into exile among other nations. And idolatry the main reason for Judah’s exile to Babylon.
   Sadly, idolatry did not end with the church. Idolatry is the reason some factions of the church have become an ungodly institution. Certain groups have formed images of itself, and worshiped its own power. Some churches have created earthly authorities to be greater than God’s Word. That means these authorities place themselves above God.
   Idolatry stains and corrupts our lives. What do we worship? It’s obvious that in the U.S. many forms of sports have replaced the worship of God. Great stadiums and arenas are constructed for the worshiping masses to attend events. They idolize participants. Images of teams and players become the focus of too many lives. It’s no wonder people feel empty when the games end.
   Idols are any person, activity or object that you place over love for God and for one another. Idols corrupt the mind to seek self pleasure. They consume finances and resources that are better suited to advance God’s kingdom. Idols keep our minds from God and our hearts from each other.
   John’s closing statement is the perfect warning. He has focused his letter on what “we know”. John knows idolatry would corrupt everything we know about Jesus.  
 
Proverbs 8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion…32 Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”