We all know I'm not speaking truth. We no longer have statues, but we sure have plenty of idols, and I'm not talking about the TV show. If an idol is anything that replaces God in our affections, we have lots of those kind. I'm sure you can make your own list, but there is one, I think, that takes center stage -- popular idolatry. It is comfort. It is happiness. It is "what I want." "Now, hang on," some of you thinkers might say, "what if I want Jesus?" Good. But is that the case?
We have an entire section of philosophy and apologetics aimed at defending the goodness of God. It's called theodicy. Basically, if God is omnipotent and God is loving, how can there be evil in the world? Either He is unable or unwilling to fix it, and ... poof! ... your god vanishes in a puff of logic. The truth is the very question belies our popular idolatry. We are our own favorite idol.
Think about it. How many people have you heard of or known who have tossed God out on His ear because He didn't measure up? (Maybe it was even you.) He didn't provide her with the husband she wanted. He didn't save his mother or father or sibling from death or injury. He didn't get you the job you wanted or take away the pain you wanted taken away. He didn't heal me from that recurring sin. He didn't do what we wanted. Do you see where that leaves us? It is not God who is highest; it is what we wanted. As long as God meets our own standards for what we want, we'll be happy with Him. If not, we're going to have a problem.
That's what I meant before. The popular idol is "what I want." If God can provide it, we'll accept Him. If not, He's out. For real believers, that "out" may be temporary, but we won't be on good terms for some time. Because God is not our highest desire; we are. And it occurs among unbelievers and believers alike.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
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