The folly of worshiping idols!
Reading: Isaiah 44:14-17.
“A man cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; with this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.”And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
Here is a craftsman, making a wooden idol for himself. He chisels away at the block of wood until the figure of a man appears. Maybe he himself had planted the tree. He uses some of it as fuel to warm himself, some to bake his food, and some to make a god. Then he falls down and worships a god of his own creation.
What is an Idol?
1. A. An image used as an object of worship.
1. B. A false god.
2. One that is adored, often blindly or greatly.
3. Something visible but without substance.
The craftsman makes his OWN GOD, an idol before which he bows and cries for deliverance! The chips from the production of a god are used to kindle a fire for the man to warm himself and to bake bread. This is the only practical and helpful contribution that comes from the making of a god. In fact, the wood chips are helpful, but that idol is no good to you at all.
It cannot warm you!
It cannot cook your food!
It cannot help you!
It cannot save you!
An idol cannot do anything for you.
My dear reader, many of us give ourselves to those things that take us away from God.
They do not help us!
They do not lift us up!
They do not bring us joy!
It is a fact that they can never save us!
Can I leave you with a warning? Never, never trust in a MAN MADE GOD, for it will fail you every time! Seek the LIVING GOD!
“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2 Corinthians 6:2.