We typically think of an idol as a foreign god, such as Allah of Islam, Buddha of Buddhism, or one of the thousands of gods of Hinduism. As Christians, it is unthinkable to consider worshiping one of them because we have come to know the one true God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who declared in the second of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”
Although I worship Jehovah God, I recently found myself the willing participant of an insidious form of idolatry.
Five years ago, my daughter Carolyn and family transferred from Colorado to California, then to Florida. It was a difficult time for me. She had asked me to move to Colorado and then after a few years, left. I was so disappointed. My daughters and grandchildren had become my all. Now this precious family was out of the reach of my arms..
I have spent my vacations flying to their home for Christmas and spring vacation, in order to have some special time with Austin, Kamryn, and Lillian, who were 3, 5 and 12 when they moved away. Those short visits were never enough. I missed the shopping trips with Carolyn, and the laughter she and Kristi and I shared when we were together. And most of all, I so wanted to leave a legacy for my grandchildren, and invest in their hearts for God?
I tried to find ways to grandparent long distance, but not being one who likes the phone or even Skype, it hasn’t been the best scenario.
As time passed since Mark’s death (2003), I have become increasingly lonely. Since I hadn’t met anyone whom I could call my own,, someone to build a life with, I missed my family all the more. I sometimes went through phases of questioning my purpose, and wishing life were different. Although I have a wonderful ministry and appreciate it tremendously, and have a good relationship with Kristi, who is in the same city, the hole in my life where the children should be, impacted my happiness and even my joy.
What does all this have to do with idolatry? I heard a message by Pastor Jimmy Dodd (pastorserve.net) last weekend. His teaching was entitled, “Twisted – Confronting Empty Idols.”[1] I sat down in my usual place in the sanctuary and, as I often do, asked God to speak to me by His Spirit. And, oh, did He.
Pastor Dodd had quoted Ken Sande, who described an idol this way: “An idol is any desire that has grown into a consuming demand that rules our hearts. It’s something that we think we must have to be happy, fulfilled and secure.” Jimmy added: “If you find yourself feeling uncertain, abandoned, anxious, humiliated, or depressed, you may have an issue with idols.” OUCH!
I asked the Lord: Could loving a family; needing a family, be an idol? I recognized, to my dismay, that I had not been simply loving my family. I had been counting on my family to fill a need in me…a need for joy, purpose, and hope. I prayed and prayed that God would unite our family in one city. As mentioned, idolatry is “…something that we think we must have to be happy, fulfilled and secure.” It hit me hard: somehow, I had slipped into a spiritual malaise where God was not enough for me.
I sat in that pew and repented of putting my purpose, hopes, and deepest wants on my family, instead of my Lord. I was ashamed that I had been worshiping the idol of children and grandchildren. My spiritual eyes were opened, and I recognized that I had gone beyond loving my family to depending on them to be for me what only God can be.
When I got home from church last Sunday, I pondered and prayed over this disturbing realization. I asked the Lord to fill me with Himself, with His “enoughness.” I promised to love and trust Him whether or not He chose to unite our family in the same city again. I let it go into His loving and all-knowing care. The result was peace, a peace that had been eluding me.
Three days later, Carolyn called me at work (she never calls during our workday, but only texts or emails). I wondered what was wrong. To my joy, she was bursting with happiness. I could almost see the smile on her face. “Mom, Mike got the job in Colorado! He got a two-grade promotion. We will be moving back to Colorado Springs by Thanksgiving. And we don’t plan on moving again!!”
On hearing this, I had to pinch myself. I was afraid I would wake up and find I had been dreaming. “Thank you, Jesus for this blessing.” Later, as this wonderful news sank in, I asked the Lord, “Was I the one causing you to withhold Mike’s promotion because of my idolatry? Did you wait until I repented to give our family this gift? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do know He will withhold blessings because of sin. This was a humbling revelation, to be sure.
Today, I smile a lot! I praise often! I am humbled and grateful for God’s amazing grace. And I’m aware how easily our desires can become idols, separating us from the true God who deserves our full heart and complete submission to His will, no matter what it might be.
Read
1 John 5:18-21 - We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
1 John 5:18-21 - We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Reflect
- Meditate on the verses above. The very last verse warns of idolatry. It seems to come out of nowhere. What is it about the previous verses that would prevent falling into idolatry?
- Is God revealing, as He did with me, an area of idolatry in your life? Remember the meaning? "An idol is any desire that has grown into a consuming demand that rules our hearts. It's something that we think we must have in order to be happy, fulfilled or secure."
Respond
Ask God to highlight any area of your life where He is not sovereign Lord. Then repent, and trust Him to free you from that si. If you have no areas of idol worship, praise Him that He is enough.
