From 2 Corinthians 6:11-16, we learn as Christians, with Christ in us and us in Him, we are to live holy lives, totally absent of idols of any kind, for it is impossible for pure holiness and idols of any kind to dwell in our emotions, heart, mind, and will, because what controls us is our idol.
An idol is anything that controls us; anything that controls our thinking, or whatever we spend most of our time thinking about, fearful of, or worried about, for our idol or idols will change us, so we become what our mind is on, for this is our way of life, as we learn from Hosea 9:10.
Romans 14:23 says, “Whatever is not from faith is sin”; therefore, sin becomes the idol those worship who refuse to obey God and His word, who refuse to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Hebrews 11:5-6 says, 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Whenever we think, speak, or act from our flesh and not from “faith in God” (Mark 11:22), is sin because it is our idol.
Second Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind”; therefore, the satanic spirit of fear becomes our idol, when we disbelieve God has given us the Holy Spirit’s power, love, and a sound mind.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Thus, trusting in our ability to solve our problems instead of giving them to the Lord, so He can show us how to do it His way, becomes the idol we worship—our ability to solve our problems.
This is what Jesus commands of us in John 13:34-35, 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” Otherwise, our anger, criticism, intolerant disrespect, and unforgiveness becomes our idol, showing we are NOT Jesus’ disciple.
The more we say, “I am proud”, the more prideful we become, for God does not permit His children to be proud, but God does permit His children to be thankful, so say, “I am thankful”.
We can argue with the Scriptures as much as we want, but until we obey the Scriptures, our Lord cannot answer our prayers or supply our needs, because we love our idols more than Him.
First John 5:18-21 assures us when we keep ourselves from idols, so we do not have any idols of any kind, then Satan, the devil, and his satanic forces cannot touch us, 18 We know whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Christians are commanded to love the people in the world, but not to love the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, for these are not from God, but from Satan, the devil, and his satanic forces; thus, we must obey 1 John 2:15-17, 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
We must have such a close relationship with the Lord, so no idols come between Him and us, for as Christ’s earthly representatives, any idol in us may cause someone to go to the lake of fire.
Tim, Kim, and Jim Nabors
