“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape… do not be enticed into bowing down to them…” (Deuteronomy 4:15-16, 19 NIV)
Idolatry does not announce itself. It doesn’t show up at the door and ring the bell and wait to be escorted in. No, idolatry is far more insidious than that. It surrounds our lives and seeps in slowly, like rising floodwaters or a roach invasion. Inanimate objects gain value and over time, and eventually overtake God’s place in our heart. Instead of using things and loving people, we get twisted around: using people and loving things. Almighty God slides into second place in our lives, then eventually third and fourth and so on. Corruption follows. We no longer live to please Him, but ourselves.
God implores us to live on guard against idolatry. He understands the pervasive nature of false worship. He is well-aware of our dusty frame; sin seems so attractive to the flesh. He instructs us to live acutely aware of our propensity toward temptation and eager to repent when we’ve realized our failure.
God gave the Israelites the cure for idolatry in advance because He knew they’d take the devil’s bait and eventually find themselves far, far from their Creator. He puts the path home right here in scripture where any prodigal can find it.
“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV)
We all face spiritual drift toward lesser gods. The question is, will we struggle against it? Will we fight to keep God in first place in our heart? Will we spend our lives in search of Him or will we bow to lesser things?
Lord, forgive us for falling for the idols that sneak into our story. Our culture is laden with false worship and it’s easy to succumb to the loudest influence. Please help us guard our hearts against anything that seeks to obstruct or dethrone You. Give us supernatural strength to walk in discipline. We want to run in the direction of Your commands, not drown in our selfish desires. Give us a plan and the stamina to follow through. Amen.