Monday, November 17, 2014

I D O L S




I D O L S.
That big, ugly, bad word that starts with an I. 
This is what God has laid on my heart for the past week. This is what he has been whispering in my ear, telling me to give up, to let it go, to realize what is actually important in life. 
When I was younger, I thought that an idol was something that was made out of gold or wood, like the Old Testament describes. Like when Aaron made the people a golden calf to worship. Then, my pastor taught on idolatry a while back and it all seemed to click. 
An idol is ANYTHING that takes God's place in our lives. It could be a physical object, a person, or even a habit. But I want to take it a step farther...an idol is anything we think of or devote more time to than God. I'm just going to be real here: school, netflix, Matthew, and wedding planning has become my idols here recently in this season of my life. A few of those seem to be decent things to devote time to (wedding planning, school, and the fiance) but the other is just ridiculous (Gilmore Girls on netflix...I mean really? get yourself together Lacey. I may or may not have gotten through four seasons in a month.............) 

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape that you might be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
1 Corinthians 10:13-14
-------I used to always think of this verse as an encouragement to flee from temptation, and never went on to verse 14. But as I was studying, and went on to the next verse, I realized that it was saying this verse on temptation in relation to idols. God will always provide a way of escape from the idols in your life. They have no hold on you. 

Idolatry is that big ugly cloud that hides us from shining our light.
Idolatry is sin, and sin separates us from God, so obviously replacing him is sin. 

"Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses but do not smell.
They have hands but do not feel;
feet but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them."
Psalm 115:4-8

I don't know about you, but I do not want to be like that verse described. 
I want to experience LIFE. All of life. And the ONLY way to experience this life to the fullest is through passionate, radical, undivided devotion to God. I don't want to spend this brief life chasing things of this world. Chasing idols and things that will make me numb to the Holy Spirit. 
If I do ANYTHING at all on this earth. I want to be devoted to my Savior. not kinda devoted to Him and kinda devoted to schoolwork. I refuse to allow Satan to come in and distract me. This life is wayyyyyy too short for distractions. 

I believe idolatry is a sneaky way for satan to come in and wreck havoc in our day to day lives.
You know, the devil is a sneaky guy. he is actually really beautiful and captivating. he is also really good at portraying a bad thing good, OR making something good be bad. Ever heard the saying "too much of a good thing is bad" or "not all good things are God things"? 
Gilmore Girls is not necessarily a bad show, but watching it when I should be spending time with God before I go to bed is a bad thing. And planning a wedding is a good thing! but too much time with it and stressing out about it is NOT a God thing. satan just gets in our heads, you know? 

The only way to prevent idolatry is time with our Savior. I really feel like this is all I post about...time with our Savior. Because how in the world are we going to fight the schemes of the devil if we are not digging deep into God's word and praying without ceasing? We guard ourselves with God's truth. and just think about it. How scary must it be to the devil to see all of Christs followers getting up every morning and putting on the armor of God. Then the devil is powerless! We will be this huge army standing up for Christ. Deliberately dying to self on the daily and living for Christ. His schemes will fail and God will get the glory. But how are we to do that when our main focus is elsewhere? on idols? 

"We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but the one who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know 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, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
1 John 5:18-21

If we are not for Christ 100%, we are against Christ 100%
We MUST die to self. Die to idols. 
and live life for the Savior of our souls. 

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